Whom should you entrust the translation to: a translation agency or a freelance translator?

If you have never applied for the services of translators, then you will definitely have a question: whom to contact? What is the difference between the work of an agency and a specialist who works for himself/herself?

Let's figure it out.

Peculiarities of working as a freelance translator

A freelancer is a specialist who works for himself/herself. Such a translator directly interacts with the client, independently builds a work schedule and the cost of services. A specialist can work from anywhere in the world, not have an office, and conduct all business communications on the Internet.

The advantages of working with a freelance translator include:

• low prices due to the absence of additional costs in the form of office rental, etc.;
• direct communication between the customer and the contractor;
• flexible work schedule;
• high-quality translation on 1-2 topics.

If you need regular translations, but you cannot hire a translator on staff, then the option of a freelancer may be the best solution.

Please keep in mind that working with one specialist may have a number of disadvantages:

1. Low operating speed. One translator will not physically be able to process a large amount of information.
2. Limited number of topics and languages that one freelancer works with.
3. No contract. Not all specialists work officially, signing a contact that sets out clear conditions for the provision of services.
4. Lack of additional services: notarization, paperwork, etc.

Before starting work, be sure to evaluate what is your priority and only then look for a specialist. Don’t forget to check the qualification level of the specialist you trust with your order.

Features of working with a translation agency

Here the services are provided by a company which team includes a large number of specialists. These are not only translators, but also managers, editors, proofreaders, layout designers and others. The translation agency provides comprehensive services, so that clients do not need to contact other specialists after translating the text.

The main advantages of working with a translation agency:

1. A large number of topics and languages for translation. The agency will translate both personal documents and branch texts for your business. Moreover, translation can be done into dozens of languages.
2. Possibility to order a large volume and receive service in a short time. Several specialists will work on your project simultaneously, which speeds up the process.
3. High quality translation. The staff employs only qualified specialists with many years of experience. The text will be checked by an editor and a proofreader.
4. Work under contract. Strict compliance with conditions.
5. Opportunity to receive several services in one place: translation, notarization, apostille, etc.

The disadvantages of working with an agency most often include 2 points:

• The cost of services is higher than that of freelancers.
• Inability to communicate directly with the translator. Usually the manager interacts with the client.

Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages. Thanks to modern technologies, you can work with both a freelancer and a translation agency. The main thing is to decide what exactly you need.