| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: If you are a freelance translator/interpreter, do you aim to have your own agency? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "If you are a freelance translator/interpreter, do you aim to have your own agency?".
This poll was originally submitted by Ana Escaleira. View the poll results »
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 05:38
Spanish to English
+ ...
No way. The very idea is anathema, as "running a business" and employing or managing other people is my idea of a living hell. It already takes me all my time and effort to take responsibility for myself and my own actions, never mind having others depending on me for their bread and butter.
| | | | Mary Worby 
United Kingdom
Local time: 04:38
German to English
+ ...
Running an agency is not the same as being a translation. It's all about coordination and project management. I enjoy translation and working from home too much to give it up to become a manager, with all the stress that that entails.
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I was going to say it before I saw Neil's response. I was head of a translation office in a large organization. I hated the pressure and being responsible for everyone's work. The only reason I stuck with it was that I knew that being a translator *under* someone who didn't understand translation was even more challenging. I took early retirement as soon as it was a possibility, and I have been freelancing ever since.
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| Another NO, never! | Mar 23, 2012 |
It takes all sorts.
I am happily married to one of those people who would be good as a PM. I simply do not have the right skills - to find a person who would be good at the job, delegate, coordinate, show interest and follow up, but not interfere, and only chivvy when necessary.
I know what helps and what drives me mad, but not how to manage others.
I've been called a-social, anarchistic and a lot of other things over the years. Just be thankful I'm not trying to ... See more It takes all sorts.
I am happily married to one of those people who would be good as a PM. I simply do not have the right skills - to find a person who would be good at the job, delegate, coordinate, show interest and follow up, but not interfere, and only chivvy when necessary.
I know what helps and what drives me mad, but not how to manage others.
I've been called a-social, anarchistic and a lot of other things over the years. Just be thankful I'm not trying to survive as a PM or run an agency, because we would all hate it!
Greetings to the lovely PMs and agencies out there who are GOOD at it. 
[Edited at 2012-03-23 09:21 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 05:38
English to French
+ ...
I would say NO (capitalised in horror) but the articles of incorporation of my one person company include the possibility. Besides, when I outsource some jobs (to other languages than my own), I am actually acting as an agency, aren’t I? I hate it, but will continue offering this service to a handful of direct clients
| | | | Maria Amorim (X)
Sweden
Local time: 05:38
Swedish to Portuguese
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| It depends - sometimes is not a question of own option | Mar 23, 2012 |
In Sweden is like this: you must be registered for VAT, if you are going to charge your customers VAT. If you have a VAT, irrespective of the size of your sales, you are running a commercial activity. If you run a commercial activity, you are a commercial entity - bookkeeping and tax declaration obliged. There is no difference at all between being a VAT freelancer translator and “ enskild firma” , that is, a sole trader business enterprise, a Swedish type of agency where the owner responds f... See more In Sweden is like this: you must be registered for VAT, if you are going to charge your customers VAT. If you have a VAT, irrespective of the size of your sales, you are running a commercial activity. If you run a commercial activity, you are a commercial entity - bookkeeping and tax declaration obliged. There is no difference at all between being a VAT freelancer translator and “ enskild firma” , that is, a sole trader business enterprise, a Swedish type of agency where the owner responds for the agency as a physical person although him/her can hire people and services. So in Sweden there is no such a difference; the difference relies mainly on the nature and size of the agency/company. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Sometimes I think about it... | Mar 23, 2012 |
Sometimes I think it could be an option... but then I realize I'd have to spent most of my time being a manager instead of a translator and I don't really want that, so I discard the idea... and then after a while I consider the idea and discard it again... Maybe some day the thought of being a manager instead of a translator will be attractive enough for me and I will reorientate my professional career... but not right now, no...
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Anna Haxen
Denmark
Local time: 05:38
Member (2005)
English to Danish
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For precisely the same reasons that Christine and neilmac have already given.
| | | | Allison Wright (X)
Portugal
Local time: 04:38
It would turn me into a nervous wreck in two days flat!
| | | | Ty Kendall
United Kingdom
Local time: 04:38
Hebrew to English
| Translator > Administrator | Mar 23, 2012 |
Personally, I see that as a downgrade, so no.
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I already have! I'm part of a small cooperative of professional freelance translators (we stand by the principle that «small is beautiful») specialized in European Portuguese...
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DZiW (X)
Ukraine
English to Russian
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having worked at a corporate office I think that I'm quite apt and capable to handle it properly. The only thing I constantly keep observing is that translators usually are rather poor businessmen (let alone poor translators), whereas interpreters are good negotiators what makes them decent businessmen! Therefore a real intercommunication is a must, but most translators are too shelled and miss it.
As far as most translators answer 'No' I think they are but conservative subordinate ... See more having worked at a corporate office I think that I'm quite apt and capable to handle it properly. The only thing I constantly keep observing is that translators usually are rather poor businessmen (let alone poor translators), whereas interpreters are good negotiators what makes them decent businessmen! Therefore a real intercommunication is a must, but most translators are too shelled and miss it.
As far as most translators answer 'No' I think they are but conservative subordinate changephobia business-illiterate agents--even the price competition proves it
Why, I'm a conservative coordinate changefilia corporate agent and a little biz-educated background coupled with some managerial skills) ▲ Collapse
| | | | Tim Drayton
Cyprus
Local time: 06:38
Turkish to English
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Tried it once. Never again.
| | | | Heini Aronen
Finland
Local time: 06:38
English to Finnish
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What neilmac and others already said. I want to translate, not work as a manager and coordinator. I don't have to try it in order to know that it would be a nightmare for me.
[Edited at 2012-03-23 12:36 GMT]
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