Why is it beneficial for clients to engage a translation company rather than a freelancer? Costs may seem higher but any translation company worth its salt will proofread/edit any translation performed on its behalf as a minimum service. An even better translation company will offer a quality assurance process which will include post-editing reviews and pre-translation consultations depending on the nature of the text. 

Translation companies often have in-house staff who perform linguistic tasks and many hire freelancers to perform translation, editing/proofreading and review tasks.   Reputable companies respect the freelancers they hire as independent professionals and build a long-lasting working relationship with them.

Respecting freelancers means treating them as they would any other professional when it comes to the rate or fee for a project, providing support at all stages of the project and – very important - making timely payment.

As for fees, some negotiation is acceptable as in all commercial relationships and is dependent on the particular assignment. Support means being available to respond to terminological or cultural queries. Timely payment means acknowledging that the work has been undertaken in good faith and that both parties are adhering to their agreement.

Let’s say you are aware that having a translation independently proofread by someone other than the translator is a good idea especially if you are unfamiliar with the target language. After all, translators, whatever their employment status, are only human and a second fresh pair of eyes can only be an advantage. You have to hire two freelancers whose experience, qualifications and rates are acceptable to you. This is where it is useful to compare these combined, yet separate, services to those offered to you by a translation company.

A reputable translation company will have worked with many freelancers before finding the right ones it wants to keep going back to. It will also have verified its freelancers’ qualifications, professional memberships and experience and discard applications which don’t meet the desired criteria.

In many instances, freelancers offer reduced rates to translation companies or agencies while charging their direct clients their standard fee. Why do they do this? Well, you may hire them one time only or once or twice a year, whereas the established translation company is likely to hire them far more regularly and the freelance translator will be keen to maintain this relationship.

In summary, don’t discount a translation company simply because you think it will be “more expensive”. Consider the nature of the work you wish to have performed and consider how you want the finished project to be. Compare as you would with any other product or service: freelancer v freelancer, company v company and ascertain the pros and cons for yourself from the facts and figures presented to you.