Poll: Do you charge a minimum fee? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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| | | Depends on the client! | Apr 22, 2011 |
In case of regular clients I don't charge it.
| | | | Nicole Schnell 
United States
Local time: 11:36
English to German
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In memoriam
I don't charge a minimum fee if a clients wants to add a line to their website or any other ongoing project, but any small and unrelated bit of text out of context requires a minimum fee.
| | | | | Not for regular clients | Apr 22, 2011 |
But for new customers, unreliable clients etc, I think it is advisable.
It is also v frustrating to have to chase up tiny amounts - you tend to think that the amount of time you spend doing so is not compensated by the amount, and might even contemplate writing it off beccause it's such a small amount. But if you have imposed a minimum fee, at least it makes that chase a little more worthwhile! And remember, even small amounts mount up... ("look after the pennies and the pounds wil... See more But for new customers, unreliable clients etc, I think it is advisable.
It is also v frustrating to have to chase up tiny amounts - you tend to think that the amount of time you spend doing so is not compensated by the amount, and might even contemplate writing it off beccause it's such a small amount. But if you have imposed a minimum fee, at least it makes that chase a little more worthwhile! And remember, even small amounts mount up... ("look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves") ▲ Collapse
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neilmac
Spain
Local time: 20:36
Spanish to English
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| Depends on client | Apr 22, 2011 |
Regulars, who give me lots of work over the years, are proactive, listen, and pay on time, may even be rewarded with the odd freeby.
For others, depending on which side of the bed I've rolled out of and how I perceive the client's attitude, I might apply a minimum charge equivalent to my basic hourly rate, which is more or less equivalent to 500 words.
| | | | Michael Harris
Germany
Local time: 20:36
Member (2006)
German to English
| You took the words out of my mouth | Apr 22, 2011 |
neilmac wrote:
Regulars, who give me lots of work over the years, are proactive, listen, and pay on time, may even be rewarded with the odd freeby.
For others, depending on which side of the bed I've rolled out of and how I perceive the client's attitude, I might apply a minimum charge equivalent to my basic hourly rate, which is more or less equivalent to 500 words.
| | | | Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:36
Russian to English
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In memoriam | A few words for nothing, repeated a few times - too much | Apr 22, 2011 |
A long time ago, an agency not known to me asked me to do a few words for them free. They did the same again a few months later. When they asked it for the third time in a year, during which time they had never sent me any actual paid work, I demanded a minimum charge. They reacted with indignation - but they did pay it.
| | | | | My clients expect it... | Apr 22, 2011 |
it's a standard procedure in many professions and, as professionals, we should apply it. Of course, I give the occasional freeby too...
A side remark: to those who do not apply a minimum fee, do you think that your client (in case of an agency, obviously) doesn't apply it to their end client? I doubt it very much.
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Rebecca Garber
Local time: 14:36
Member (2005)
German to English
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| for certificates | Apr 22, 2011 |
I translate some diplomas. They are often short, but rather convoluted, as the languages (Latin>Engish) do not follow the same organizational structure. I charge a minimum fee, as a per word fee isn't worth my while.
OTOH, I have done freebies for regular clients who pay on time.
Freebies come after THE CLIENTS have proved themselves to ME.
Likewise, I do very short translations for my regular clients and bill per word/line.
| | | | Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 20:36
Member (2009)
English to German
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| It all depends | Apr 22, 2011 |
Michael Harris wrote: neilmac wrote:
Regulars, who give me lots of work over the years, are proactive, listen, and pay on time, may even be rewarded with the odd freeby.
For others, depending on which side of the bed I've rolled out of and how I perceive the client's attitude, I might apply a minimum charge equivalent to my basic hourly rate, which is more or less equivalent to 500 words.
I agree with both Michael and Neil.
If a regular client, who provides me with good, continues work and pays on time, needs me to take a quick look at something or translate a line or two, Freebee is the word of the hour.
I've done a freebee once for a prospective client. It was just editing one sentence - a matter of perhaps half a minute. And also for another client - who's yet to pay me because the due date hasn't rolled in yet - which was only a 3-word translation. It would require more time to send said client an invoice for... peanuts. It#s not worth my time, and also this client is beginning to become a regular.
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I charge a minimum fee equivalent to one hour of my time. I never used to, but then I ended up spending time invoicing, tracking and following up on tiny little amounts, and it just wasn't worth my time. Now something might only take me half an hour to do, but I get paid for my admin time too. If it ends up taking me more than an hour, the customer effectively gets a discount, and I don't feel too short-changed.
(Obviously there are exceptions. If a good customer sends me a one-par... See more I charge a minimum fee equivalent to one hour of my time. I never used to, but then I ended up spending time invoicing, tracking and following up on tiny little amounts, and it just wasn't worth my time. Now something might only take me half an hour to do, but I get paid for my admin time too. If it ends up taking me more than an hour, the customer effectively gets a discount, and I don't feel too short-changed.
(Obviously there are exceptions. If a good customer sends me a one-paragraph memo or an out-of-office reply to look over, I don't charge them for that 5 minutes!) ▲ Collapse
| | | | wonita (X)
China
Local time: 14:36
for the first order. But I am very generous with regular clients, especially those I like. They don't need to pay for a few words, or even a few lines.
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I charge a minimum rate, and sometimes with new clients I will start with that rate and raise it later. For editing jobs I will charge a flat rate for smaller projects in localization.
| | | | | I *always* charge a minimum fee | Apr 23, 2011 |
Even with my regular clients. In addition to the tracking and billing time, I have to gear up to the subject matter and put other work aside. Which is the point: if I'm losing time from other work or miss out on a job that come in, then by gum, I want to be paid decently to make up for all that.
I have given freebies, but then that's a different story.
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