Paying in Installments? Thread poster: Rita Pang
|
|---|
Rita Pang 
Canada
Local time: 16:43
Member (2011)
Chinese to English
+ ...
Moderator of this forum
Hi all,
I am new to Proz and to the forum. I have worked on and off as a freelance translator though only locally, so I usually receive my payment in cash or cheque (personal or certified). I have recently been offered a job for translating a large scale business proposal, which I think the final sum can go up to 1000 USD (a lot for me, I usually work on much smaller projects).
The client is located in Europe and I'm in North America. I just signed a confidentiality ag... See more Hi all,
I am new to Proz and to the forum. I have worked on and off as a freelance translator though only locally, so I usually receive my payment in cash or cheque (personal or certified). I have recently been offered a job for translating a large scale business proposal, which I think the final sum can go up to 1000 USD (a lot for me, I usually work on much smaller projects).
The client is located in Europe and I'm in North America. I just signed a confidentiality agreement with the client but no work contract. I am hoping to ask the client to pay in installments. After all, I won't be receiving the whole proposal in one go, as the potential business partner will only be sending the proposal in installments.
In that case I'm wondering if I should draft a contract. I have zero experience dealing with remote projects like this, so I would REALLY appreciate it if someone can give me some advice on this matter.
Many thanks! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Nicole Schnell
United States
Local time: 13:43
English to German
+ ...
In memoriam | You should make this amount in less than a week | Sep 20, 2010 |
... or you have to seriously reconsider your rates.
Did you mean 10,000 and was 1,000 a typo?
| | | | Neil Coffey
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:43
French to English
+ ...
| No special measures needed | Sep 20, 2010 |
I agree with Nicole -- for a business in Europe, 1000 USD is generally petty cash. I don't see the reason for any special payment measures -- just do the work then send them an invoice as usual. Or was it a typo?
| | | | Nicole Schnell
United States
Local time: 13:43
English to German
+ ...
In memoriam | I do realize that this project will be sent in parts | Sep 20, 2010 |
As you described in your original post. And I do realize that it can be really annoying if such a relatively small project might be stretched over several months, meaning that you might be paid many months later. Please remember: There are always two parties involved in a contract. You are a business partner, not a temp. Simply tell your customer that you wish to receive individual POs for each part and that you will invoice each part of the job individually.
| | |
|
|
|
Rita Pang
Canada
Local time: 16:43
Member (2011)
Chinese to English
+ ...
Moderator of this forum TOPIC STARTER
Hi,
Thanks for the comments- 1,000 is not a typo. I forgot to mention that this is a start-up where the company consists of roughly 3 people. This is why I'm hesitant about the whole deal. 1000 might be small business for them in the end but obviously for me its quite a bit, especially as Im making a "jump" here compared to my normal, very-small-scale projects.
I'll definitely contact the client to sort out the installment parts.
| | | | Neil Coffey
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:43
French to English
+ ...
| Find the balance... | Sep 20, 2010 |
sputnik906 wrote:
Thanks for the comments- 1,000 is not a typo. I forgot to mention that this is a start-up where the company consists of roughly 3 people. This is why I'm hesitant about the whole deal. 1000 might be small business for them in the end but obviously for me its quite a bit, especially as Im making a "jump" here compared to my normal, very-small-scale projects.
I'll definitely contact the client to sort out the installment parts.
If there's a large-ish gap between the pieces of work they'll be sending, then it's completely normal to invoice each part separately. The only thing I would say is: if you make things overcomplicated for your client you might put them off. See what tradeoff you can reach...
| | | | Nicole Schnell
United States
Local time: 13:43
English to German
+ ...
In memoriam | You might want to avoid the word "installment", though. | Sep 20, 2010 |
When dealing with your client. Credits and loans are paid off in installments. So far, you have not started work yet.
| | | | Rita Pang
Canada
Local time: 16:43
Member (2011)
Chinese to English
+ ...
Moderator of this forum TOPIC STARTER | you are right... | Sep 20, 2010 |
Thanks! There will indeed be a gap between. Im just not sure (yet) if its days or weeks. Anyway I will keep those tips in mind, thank you.
nicole, what would then be an appropriate term to use?
| | |
|
|
|
Edward Vreeburg
Netherlands
Local time: 22:43
Member (2008)
English to Dutch
+ ...
| if it seems funny - weird...or to good to be true | Sep 20, 2010 |
then it probably is...
So you're doing several small jobs, over a period of time, and the end is still a relatively small job anyway (or they are promissing more work in future, or something...)
So even it this 1000,- USD, it's only around 10.000 words max in total - 1 week of work - why should you be worried you won't get paid ?? Is this an investement you can make (time wise, any company could go bust, and you wouldn't get your money)
Probably because yo... See more then it probably is...
So you're doing several small jobs, over a period of time, and the end is still a relatively small job anyway (or they are promissing more work in future, or something...)
So even it this 1000,- USD, it's only around 10.000 words max in total - 1 week of work - why should you be worried you won't get paid ?? Is this an investement you can make (time wise, any company could go bust, and you wouldn't get your money)
Probably because your feeling said so, are you sure this company checks out OK, (no anonymous adres, correct chamber of commerce / VAT details, names, telephone, etc.
- also, ask yourself why have they selected you - you seems to have no experience with larger(ish) jobs, are they trying to scam you??
===
Ed ▲ Collapse
| | | | Nicole Schnell
United States
Local time: 13:43
English to German
+ ...
In memoriam | Edward - may I ask a question? | Sep 20, 2010 |
According to your calculation - what exactly makes you think that any translator in North America would get out of bed in the morning for a rate of 10 cents a word?
| | | | Nicole Schnell
United States
Local time: 13:43
English to German
+ ...
In memoriam | Concerns about small companies | Sep 21, 2010 |
sputnik906 wrote:
I forgot to mention that this is a start-up where the company consists of roughly 3 people. This is why I'm hesitant about the whole deal.
Hm, to this day and after 10 years our company only has two owners, that is our company concept. What makes you think that a business with 3 people or less is less reliable?
| | | | | Completely agree | Sep 21, 2010 |
Nicole Schnell wrote:
You should make this amount in less than a week
.. or you have to seriously reconsider your rates.
Indeed. Something is wrong here, either the throughput per day or the rate.
| | |
|
|
|
Edward Vreeburg
Netherlands
Local time: 22:43
Member (2008)
English to Dutch
+ ...
Nicole Schnell wrote:
According to your calculation - what exactly makes you think that any translator in North America would get out of bed in the morning for a rate of 10 cents a word?
simply because they are hungry??
Nah, it's just a simple way of calculating, of course I can use 0,18 or something else but I'll have to use a calculator to see how many words and how many days etc..
so 10.000 at 0.10 is 1000,- USD and 2000 words a day is 5 days...
Of course you earn more (well I hope so anyway, although recent offers from all over the world are not very promising in that aspect...)
===
Ed
| | | | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Paying in Installments? | Trados Studio 2022 Freelance | The leading translation software used by over 270,000 translators.
Designed with your feedback in mind, Trados Studio 2022 delivers an unrivalled, powerful desktop
and cloud solution, empowering you to work in the most efficient and cost-effective way.
More info » |
| | Trados Business Manager Lite | Create customer quotes and invoices from within Trados Studio
Trados Business Manager Lite helps to simplify and speed up some of the daily tasks, such as invoicing and reporting, associated with running your freelance translation business.
More info » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
Translation news
