Cost Of Document Translation Services: What To Expect
If you are in the market for document translation services, you’re trying to figure out what company to work with. You’re trying to determine the best course of action for your needs and one of the major contributing factors is what the cost of translation will be for your documents.
Whether you have a business manual, pricing sheet, or legal documents that need to be translated, knowing what to expect with the pricing will help you determine the best route for you to take. Discover the pricing structure of documents services below and what to expect when it comes to factors that can affect the price of your translation services.
Pricing Structure Of Document Translation Services
When it comes to the pricing structure of document translation services, the most popular way to pay is per word. It can vary greatly depending on the company you use, but most common rates run from $.09 to $.40 per word.
In most instances you’ll find that the per word rate is on the source document that the company is translating for you. However, it will depend on the language you’re translating to. Some languages, such as Japanese and Arabic, may charge you per the word it will become in the translated document. Some languages will cost more to translate than others.
Technical manuals or documents will cost more to translate than a document that is less technical in nature. You’ll find that the more specialized the document is the more cost you’ll have to endure.
Quality of the document is another concern in pricing structure when it comes to the cost of document translation services. You can have a lesser quality for an item that is simply for information, whereas a more technical document you’d need a precise translation from one language to the next.
Another possibility to consider is if you need certified translations. These can be required in government documents, adoption agreements, medical documents, and pieces that will be used in court rooms. Certified translations means that the company you work with certifies that it is an accurate representation of the source document. If this is needed, it will be an item structured into the pricing of your translation services.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Document Translation Services
There are a variety of factors that go into determining the cost of document translation services. These factors include:
- Price per word versus price per page – Some companies will charge you per page if you have documents that have pictures on them. Others charge per word rates. The more detailed the item is, the more it will cost to translate it properly.
- Rush fees – When you need your document returned can also determine the pricing as well. If it is not a rush job, then you’re pricing would be the typical rates provided by the company. However, if you need the job sooner than later, it can cost extra to perform the translation.
- Complexity of the document – As mentioned above, some languages can shift the cost, as well as the technicality of the document. For those documents that are medical, legal, or technical in nature, you can expect to pay more.
- Formatting – Do you need the document translated into a certain format such as Adobe or Word? Then you can expect a formatting fee to ensure that it is done properly as you require.
- Certification – If you need certification, this can definitely be a contributing factor to the change of prices depending on what type of document you have.
- Type of language – The language you need the source document translated into can also be a determining factor in the cost of your document services. Some languages such as Norwegian, Egyptian, or Persian will cost more to translate as there are fewer options to get those results. More common languages such as Chinese or Spanish are less expensive because there more people who can perform the task.
These are just a few factors that go into the pricing and cost of document translation services across the board. Work with a company that can meet your translation service needs while providing quality and affordability. Remember the more complex a document, the more you’re going to pay for the quality you want. ac