How fast can you deliver?
My translation pace depends on several factors, including :
- Content type and difficulty
- File format
- My current availability
In general, a professional translator can handle about 2,000 to 3,000 source words per business day. I also try to avoid same-day deliveries in order to be able to proofread my translations with fresh eyes.
My project is really urgent…
If you need your files translated as soon as possible, we can discuss the deadline.
I offer several options depending on how soon you need your French translation:
- If the negotiated turnaround time is reasonable, I may give your project priority at no extra cost
- For tight deadlines, I may charge an extra fee. The exact rate will depend on how tough the deadline is
- If it seems clear a single translator won’t be enough to make in time, I can work with a team of freelance translator colleagues. This is subject to an extra fee to cover project management and harmonization costs
How much is this going to cost? Can I get a discount?
Prices can vary considerably depending on the following factors, among others:
- Content type and difficulty – End-user manuals are easier to translate than highly technical or creative texts
- File format – Files in plain text are cheaper to translate than heavily formatted documents
- Urgency of the project
To get an accurate estimate, simply send me your source files or at least a sample of them. I will prepare a personalized quote within 24 hours.
Regarding discounts: I only charge what I believe is fair, pondering all of the above factors. Thus, I don’t offer discounts as a general rule. I treat all my partners equally, so you get maximum value for your money. No hidden markup.
I’m on a tight budget…
A big mistake translation buyers make is to turn to cheaper providers when they’re on a tight budget. As the saying goes, “If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur.” A sub-par translation can ultimately cost you much more than what you saved with a cheap vendor.
There are several ways you can optimize the costs of your translation projects without any quality compromise. For example, here are a few tips for software/app developers. Please feel free to contact me and I will happily offer you guidance for your specific needs.
What are your guarantee terms?
I commit to deliver high-quality translation by the agreed deadline. After delivery, you may get back to me with any questions or edit requests you may have. I will promptly answer your queries and update my translation if needed.
If style/tone is a concern, I can send a partial delivery early in the project so we can discuss these points.
Do you also translate from French to English?
As a professional translator, I only translate into my native language, French. However, I would be more than happy to introduce colleagues who will be able to assist you.
Can you translate all types of content?
No translator can accurately handle all types of content. I am comfortable with most technical and general fields. I may handle other types of texts depending on how specialized the content is.
The best way to know whether I can help is to send me samples. I never accept projects I am not comfortable with. In this case, I will happily refer you to suitable colleagues.
So what do you specialize in?
Translation is a vast industry, and it is impossible for a translator to specialize in everything.
Having said that, with over 10 years of experience in the language industry and through my personal hobbies and interests, I have developed my skill set to include the following subjects. Hopefully you will find some place where our stories connect.
- IT/Software/Computer hardware: As an IT graduate, that was one of the first specializations in my portfolio. The content I translate ranges from user manuals to technical documentation to press releases and more. I keep up with this fast-moving industry, and recent technologies such as AI, machine learning, virtualization and cloud computing hold no mysteries to me
- Games: A hobby since my childhood. I have been playing games as far as I remember, that is since the NES days. Incidentally, my career as a translator started in a video game localization agency. I am credited in a number of console games (and uncredited in many, many more, unfortunately), and I have worked on hundreds of smartphone titles during the past few years
- Industrial and consumer electronics: A common field of work since my early days as a translator. Broad range of document types, including technical documentation, manuals, specifications and promotional materials
- Cryptocurrencies/Forex: As a freelancer dealing with different currencies, this has always been a topic of interest. As for cryptocurrencies, I’ve been on board pretty early – some years back, I was offered a payment in Bitcoin for what was worth 1 Bitcoin at the time, when the rate was still under $100. I politely declined, and the mistake still haunts me today. Still, it didn’t stop me from translating various websites and white papers related to cryptocurrencies in the meantime
- Business/Marketing/Entrepreneurship: Again, as a freelancer/de facto business owner, who once considered starting his own agency, these are topics I have been studying rather intensively, both in French and in my working languages. I frequently translate websites, press releases, marketing collaterals and communications for fellow entrepreneurs and small businesses
- SEO/Websites/E-learning: Here again, my former experience as a professional webmaster comes in handy. And I have been honing my SEO skills for over 10 years now, as I know how powerful of a sales tool it can be. I hope you will find this website a convincing testament of my ability in this area. From keyword research to search engine-friendly content writing, you can count on me
- Sports: I keep up with a number of sports in both my native French and my working languages (English, Japanese). I have personally played tennis and handball in my childhood, and I have been a close follower of soccer, rugby and motorsports (Formula 1, Moto GP, WRC mostly) for decades now. More generally, I enjoy translating content related to sports, such as news, match reports and technical analyzes
- Fitness/Health: I regularly exercise and do resistance training to stay in shape, while keeping an eye on my nutrition. This has led me to read a lot about these topics in different languages, and that’s also one type of content I can enthusiastically work on
- Travel/Tourism: A common hobby, especially for translators, I reckon. I do, however, have significant experience in this field, including promotional assets for my local town (descriptions of temples, specialty food, crafting techniques) and brochures for various touristic areas
- Children’s books: As a father of 3, I have naturally developed an interest in this literary sub-genre. I like how great stories can be beautifully told with simple words. Writing with a young audience in mind is always a pleasure
What are your payment options?
- PayPal
- Credit card (via PayPal)
- International bank transfer
- Other options available on demand (to be discussed before project start)
What do you need from me?
Ideally, the source text in an editable format. The tools I use can handle most formats, from Office files (Excel, Word, etc.) to programming code (HTML, PHP, etc.). Non-editable files (scanned PDFs, images, etc.) are subject to an extra fee.
Contact me if you don’t know how to get started, and I’ll guide through the file preparation step.
How much do your translation services cost?
You can use this tool to get a quick, general idea of translation costs. However, rates can vary considerably depending on a number of factors, the main ones being:
- Content type and difficulty
- File format – Files in plain text are cheaper to translate than heavily formatted or non-editable documents
- Urgency of the project
For an accurate estimate, the best way would be to send me your source files or at least a sample of them, together with any specific needs you may have, such as formatting or deadline. I will prepare a personalized quote within 24 hours.
How do you ensure the quality of your translations?
All translation jobs and projects come with their own context and needs. If you have a specific style in mind or existing localized materials, we can discuss it and establish a style guide and bilingual glossary.
I use translation memories to further ensure consistency and accuracy of translated materials, even when translations are spaced out in time.
Finally, I follow a strict quality assurance process that includes manual proofreading and automated checks with advanced, professional solutions.
I have a very large/urgent project, can you handle it?
For very large projects or ones that require very quick turnaround times, I can build a small team of trusted French translators to meet deadlines while keeping a high level of quality. Please contact me with more details so we can find the best solution.
I need to translate my documents in several languages, can you help me?
I only translate into French myself, but you can hire me as a freelance project manager and I will work with colleagues who have my professional trust to handle multilingual projects. While I can’t handle just any language this way, I have built an extensive network of quality linguists over the years to cover the most common language combinations.
Do you also offer interpreting services?
Interpretation is a different discipline altogether. I have some interpreting experience and may help, but can’t guarantee it. I mostly offer text translation services. However, I can recommend qualified candidates for your interpreting projects.
Do you offer transcription services?
Yes, I offer French verbatim and edited transcription services. Please e-mail me with details for a quote.
Do you offer copywriting and localized SEO services?
Yes, I offer French copywriting/creative translation/transcreation/localized SEO services. Please e-mail me with details for a quote.
Are you a native French speaker?
Yes, and I only translate into my native language. Although many freelance translators claim to be bilingual linguists, most of us have a preferred language. I grew up in France speaking French, which is why I focus on translations from English into French rather than the other way around.
Can you translate into Canadian/Swiss French?
Yes. Although my native dialect is French from France (also called Parisian French or Continental French), I work with several companies based in Canada and Switzerland.
Variations between each dialect are relatively minor and I am trained to handle them. For creative works, it may be a good idea to ask a local to check the content for cultural appropriateness, but it’s a good practice you should follow for any localization project.
Do you work with professional software?
Yes. To achieve high levels of quality and consistency, I work with professional translation environments. SDL Trados Studio 2017 for translation/Xbench for QA are my daily tools, but memoQ, Memsource, Passolo, Idiom WorldServer and others are just as fine.
Are you interested in in-house jobs/contracts with a fixed salary?
I only offer freelance services although work on-site is a possibility. I define rates after taking various factors into consideration rather than charging a determined salary or hourly fee. Long-term and recurring projects are always welcome, but I can only book my time for confirmed assignments. I am self-employed and have no plans to change that status.
For a translator who can work a fixed number of hours every week, you should consider hiring a full-time employee.
I need my product localized, but I am not familiar with the process
Besides translation services, I offer articles to help you optimize the process. They cover various topics, including best practices and cost reduction tips. Here are a few examples of articles I’ve written to assist clients in the localization field: