How to Bill for Interpreting Services

It is sometimes necessary to hire an interpreter when you travel to a foreign country.

If you are bilingual, you may be thinking about starting your own translation service. Translation services are very valuable for those who are in a country where they do not speak the language. When a medical situation arises, these people often benefit greatly from the aid of an interpreter. Before you begin interpreting for people, you will need to decide what you are going to charge them for your services.

Instructions

1. Decide on a first-hour rate. Many interpretation services offer one rate for the first hour and a discounted rate for subsequent hours. According to the London Borough of Hounslow, a good place to start is to bill around $40 for the first hour and then around $30 to $55 for each additional hour. Rates for medical, legal and technical interpretation should be higher than regular rates.

2. Decide how much you will charge for traveling fees. Many interpreters charge a certain amount of money per mile that they must travel or an hourly fee for travel charges. This fee is completely up to you. You may wish to lower or raise this fee according to gas prices.

3. Determine a fee for appointment cancellation. If a client cancels an interpretation appointment, you should charge them a percentage of the cost of the consultation. If less than 24 hours notice is given, usually a fee is applied. Some interpreters charge the same rate as their first hour interpretation price for a canceled appointment.

4. Determine your emergency or weekend prices. You may wish to charge more for weekend or night appointments. Some interpreters add a little to their hourly fees if the appointment is outside regular business hours. If there is an emergency, such as a medical need, where your services are needed, you may also charge an additional fee for that.

5. Create a billing sheet for all your clients using the prices that you have determined in steps 1 through 4.

References

• Translation Services
• Russian Translation Pros