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