Translation agencies act as translation brokers. They generally have a small number of employees, or none at all and rely almost exclusively on freelance translators from any location in the world. They charge a certain amount per word in the original document to cover their advertising and other running expenses plus profits, paying the translator 50% or more of the job’s price as part of a subcontracting arrangement.

Translation agencies carry out work for prices lower than companies, but may not include, or include less added services, apart from checking the translator’s work and formatting documents according to clients’ instructions. Translation agencies may not be able to satisfy fast deliveries the way translation companies do.

The cost of a translation is generally estimated according to the amount of words in the original document. Once you have decided to use the services of a translation agency, it is recommended that you ask what is covered by the price per word, or the quote you have received. Proofreading is the most important element you may consider. This step should be carried out when the translation job has been finished. If proofreading is not included, you may request a quote before the job is assigned. To ensure the translation shows an appropriate, naturally flowing style, you can also send the translated document to someone you know, who is a native speaker of the language to which your document has been translated. It is essential that the original document be written and styled correctly, though a good translator will advise and even make suggestions when errors are found.

You are advised to ask the name of the person who has been assigned to communicate with you during the entire project.

Despite the effort to fill these pages with clear and reliable information, it must be understood that it is at times difficult to determine whether a translation business should be classified as company, agency or intermediary. If some entries are less informative than others, this is because some important elements have not been made freely available.