How much do our language services cost? It depends. Each project is different, so we create customised quotes for each one individually. When we price your project, we consider several factors to come up with a price that’s fair for everyone involved and allows for quality work.
Since projects vary so much, we can’t offer a set list of prices on our website. That said, for transparency’s sake, here’s the inside scoop into how we price your project and the factors we take into consideration.
Step 1: Examine the project requirements.
The first step in our pricing process is to examine the project requirements. What type of content is being translated? Are other types of work involved? For example, some projects may need to be redesigned or reformatted to accommodate the destination language.
Step 2: Consider source and destination languages.
Next, we take into consideration the language pairs you require. When it comes to pricing a translation project, this is one of the most critical factors. The reason is simple: supply and demand. At K International, we can translate your content into 150 languages. However, commonly requested language pairs like English and Spanish will be less expensive because it’s easier to source quality translators.
There are just fewer translators available for the less common languages. So, the more uncommon the language pairing, the more you should expect to pay.
Step 3: Consider the purpose of the project.
Next, we consider the purpose of the project. Is it meant to inform? To persuade? Is it aimed at a specific industry, like legal or medical, that uses a specialist vocabulary? What regulations must we abide by? Different types of writing require different skills, and the same is true of translation. Translators don’t just swap one word for another. Their job is to recreate the content in the target language, with the original meaning and impact intact.
By considering the purpose of the project, we can determine what unique skills and qualifications the linguists involved need to have. For example, some fields, like legal and medical, have specific terminology and jargon that translators need training and experience to understand.
Step 4: Consider the timescale.
Turnaround time is another crucial factor. We are happy to meet rush deadlines (within reason, of course) but it does cost more to do so. On average, most translators can handle about 2,000 words of content per day. So, getting a large project done quickly may require additional translators. Meanwhile, using more than one translator often means more editing is necessary for a consistent end product.
Step 5: Consider the scale of the task itself.
Next, we need to consider the scale of the task. How much content do you need to be translated? How much other work will need to be done to finish the project?
On the flip side, we’ll also look at factors that could reduce the scale of the project. For example, if we can leverage existing translation memories, that cuts down on the amount of work our translators have to do from scratch.
Step 6: How much proofreading is required?
Finally, we consider your proofreading requirements. For example, translations may be edited by a second translator who suggests revisions to improve clarity and ensure that industry-specific terms are used correctly. After the document has been revised, a proofreader will check it for spelling and grammar errors. Along the way, you might have an in-house or in-country review, where someone from your own team reviews the translated document and makes suggestions.
Not every project requires all of these editing and proofreading steps, so we adjust the price accordingly.
Step 7: Special Considerations.
Finally, some types of projects have special considerations of their own.
Packaging and Label Compliance
For packaging and label compliance, our rates depend on the following factors (in addition to those mentioned above):
- The type of product.
- Where it’s being sold.
- Number of SKUs involved.
Transcription
Audio length is key here, instead of the number of words. The quality of the audio you provide matters, too. If it’s low quality, it will be harder for our transcriptionists to understand, and you can expect to pay more for it.
Multilingual Voice-Overs
An additional factor that impacts the cost of voice-over projects is the availability of voice talent in the chosen language. Less common languages will be more expensive.
Also, if most of the translators for a given language live in a country with a high cost of living, that language will be more expensive to translate.
Interpreting
For interpreting projects, we take into account the length of time that you’ll need the interpreter. We also consider:
- The distance the interpreter will need to travel or whether they’ll be able to interpret over the phone.
- The certifications they need to do the job.
Braille and Sign Language
For Braille projects, the existence of graphs and charts in the source text can affect price, because it’s more complicated to get these into a format that works for Braille readers.
For BSL interpreters, we consider factors like the expertise needed, the amount of travel required, and whether CRB or CTC clearance is required.
Transcreation
Since transcreation involves recreating advertisements and marketing campaigns from the ground up in the target language, they are usually priced by project instead of by word. After all, a slogan may be just a couple of words, but they’re important words. Our multilingual copywriters will invest their time, effort and creativity in building a campaign that evokes the same emotions as the original but takes into account linguistic and cultural differences.
Transcreation
Since transcreation involves recreating advertisements and marketing campaigns from the ground up in the target language, they are usually priced by project instead of by word. After all, a slogan may be just a couple of words, but they’re important words. Our multilingual copywriters will invest their time, effort and creativity in building a campaign that evokes the same emotions as the original but takes into account linguistic and cultural differences.
Studio
Studio work is usually quite complex and requires significant knowledge and expertise. Because of this, the pricing is unique to each project. When planning and pricing Studio work, we consider a variety of factors, including (but not limited to):
- The format of the source file (software/application used, is it editable or not?)
- The languages required,
- Any other specifications, such as required fonts, desired output, etc.
Most of our multilingual typesetting is done in InDesign by our team of experts. We do occasionally use different software if the project requires it.
How much time and skill is involved in multilingual typesetting? Probably more than you think! There are a variety of typesetting considerations that can affect the final cost of your project.
For example, if the target language reads right-to-left, the project is typically more time-consuming.
Consultancy
Do you have a complex language-based problem you don’t know to solve? Give us a call! We’ll put our experience to work for you to design an effective, efficient solution. Our rates for this service are determined by the complexity and scope of the problem you’re trying to solve and the type of assistance you need.
Curious about our prices? Contact us for a quote on your language services project today.