| To be or not to be: operate as a freelancer or as an | | | | of obvious and significant benefits. The most |
| employer? | | | | important advantage is that by setting up a team |
| | | | you will be able to generate far more turnover than |
| Are you planning to set up a translation business? | | | | as a freelancer - provided that you generate |
| Then there are two or three fundamental questions | | | | sufficient business to keep the team running. By |
| you will need to consider if you want your business | | | | multiplying your translation capacity you will be in a |
| to be a success. One of these, and in fact the most | | | | much better position to land large-scale orders. If you |
| obvious one, is how to attract clients. However, the | | | | also manage to find high-quality marketing & sales |
| marketing effort and insight needed to tackle the | | | | specialists, moreover, you will be able to convince |
| issue of client acquisition is the subject of another | | | | bigger, high-profile companies of your professional |
| article. In this specific issue I would like to | | | | approach and ensure them of the continuity of your |
| concentrate on a fundamental dilemma that many | | | | business, even when you are not there yourself. |
| self-employed translators will face: to work as a | | | | There is an adage that says that big companies |
| freelancer or to take staff on board. | | | | prefer to do business with big partners, and even if |
| The answer to this question depends in part on you | | | | there are many exceptions to that rule, there is no |
| ambitions as a translator. If translation is a job on the | | | | denying that highly reputed global businesses will |
| side for you, if you are able to combine your | | | | obviously tend to select high-profile suppliers for |
| translation work with a host of related business | | | | whatever it is they might want to purchase. Even so, |
| concerns, from technical to administrative, and if you | | | | you don't need to be a mega-employer to provide |
| don't mind working in solitary confinement, then it is | | | | translation services to major industry names. In the |
| probably a good idea for you to set up shop as a | | | | commercial translation business, individual agencies |
| freelancer. From that position you will be able to | | | | with five employees already count and those with |
| work for translation agencies and specific clients alike, | | | | twenty or more are the major players. |
| decide for yourself how much work to take on and | | | | Of course, employees are a mixed blessing. They will |
| when to take days off. One drawback is that you | | | | need to be seen to. Employees need attention, |
| will not always be able to satisfy your clients, | | | | encouragement, and guidance. Even if no problems |
| especially in terms of volume, forcing them to also | | | | occur, you may find that you are spending more time |
| engage the services of other translators who may | | | | sorting out employee-related administrative matters |
| be more specialised or have more capacity. Another | | | | than working as a translator - unless of course you |
| drawback is that you will generally be working on | | | | hire other employees who can look after employee |
| your own, without the company of colleagues to | | | | issues. As long as business is booming - which it may |
| chat with or consult. Most of the people you do get | | | | well be if your agency is run effectively, because |
| in contact with will probably never be known to you | | | | demand for translation services is immense - there is |
| other than as a person at the other end of the | | | | a risk of ending up in an employment spiral. The |
| telephone line. In addition, you will always be | | | | dialectics of progress rule that the more you grow, |
| responsible for all the aspects of your business, | | | | the less benefit your growth will bring, so clearly this |
| without having the possibility to delegate tasks to | | | | is a situation you want to avoid. Carefully controlled |
| people who may be more suitable for them than | | | | expansion is crucial. |
| yourself. This means, for example, that you will have | | | | In summary, a freelance business offers a great deal |
| to generate your own business and find ways of | | | | of personal freedom but imposes clear and inevitable |
| attracting clients. On the upside, however, if your | | | | limits to the scope of your work. Another downside |
| translation work is of good quality and you acquire a | | | | is that it condemns you to a solitary and essentially |
| reputation as a reliable partner, even among a few | | | | domestic career. If you prefer a more dynamic |
| clients, then you may soon find that business | | | | business environment and do not fear employee |
| generates itself. | | | | issues or serious competition, you might consider |
| If a freelance existence does not appeal to you, one | | | | setting up an agency and taking on people to work |
| alternative is to hire people - translators or other | | | | for you. The size and success of your business will |
| specialists - and to become an employer, rather than | | | | ultimately depend on your professional and |
| principally a translator. This strategy offers a number | | | | commercial ambitions. |