Poll: How long did it take you to have a regular income in language services? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How long did it take you to have a regular income in language services?".
This poll was originally submitted by Young.K. View the poll results »
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 20:23
Spanish to English
+ ...
First of all, define "regular"…
Before getting into translation full-time, I was a TEFLA trainer and depending on the institution or course in question, some of them paid more promptly than others. I suppose it was years before I was earning what you might call a regular monthly income.
| | | | | I don't know how to vote | Dec 15, 2023 |
As my income has never been regular...
P.S. I should have said my freelancing income is never regular unlike my pension, which is paid at the end of every month...
[Edited at 2023-12-15 16:20 GMT]
| | | | Kay Denney 
France
Local time: 20:23
French to English
Good point Teresa.
I took it to mean an income that covers my expenses without any worries. Of course it fluctuates: I billed over 10,000 euros in January (big translation I started in November) and not even 300 in September (I was away without my laptop for most of the month). The main thing is that it's steady enough not to worry unduly.
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| Freelancing and regular income? What sorcery is this? | Dec 15, 2023 |
Translators did the whole "gig economy" thing before it became a... thing. Puts us in the same company as rockstars, but I'm not yet sure about the lifestyle.
More seriously, I think at some point you just stop thinking in terms on monthly income and consider things on a per-year or per-quarter basis.
At least that's what happened to me when I started to feel like I'm getting "established."
When I started out, I mixed translation and teaching (I guess that counts ... See more Translators did the whole "gig economy" thing before it became a... thing. Puts us in the same company as rockstars, but I'm not yet sure about the lifestyle.
More seriously, I think at some point you just stop thinking in terms on monthly income and consider things on a per-year or per-quarter basis.
At least that's what happened to me when I started to feel like I'm getting "established."
When I started out, I mixed translation and teaching (I guess that counts as language services) to get some sort of a steady income, balance the gigs with something "stable" (though anyone who did tutoring can probably attest that it is everything but stable). Took me a bit over a year to find my feet,
get into interpreting and let go of teaching. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Straight away | Dec 15, 2023 |
I don’t quite equate regular with stable or consistent, but there is no reason you can’t have a steady income as a freelancer.
When I traded as a company I paid myself (and my employees) a monthly salary. I still effectively do the same now I am self-employed. I transfer £2000 a month from my business account to my personal account for normal living expenses. The rest I save.
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we must consider the annual income, my income is regular enough every year.
| | | | | Circumstances gradually change | Dec 16, 2023 |
A translator's income and work schedule is subject to so many different factors - economic, political and personal. The concept of starting a business and gradually increasing the profits, year after year, scarcely applies to any small freelancer's business, let alone a translator's business, that is subject to all the extra fluctuations in various fields. Income may become irregular at any time - not least, because, in economically diffcult times, the population spends its money on food rather ... See more A translator's income and work schedule is subject to so many different factors - economic, political and personal. The concept of starting a business and gradually increasing the profits, year after year, scarcely applies to any small freelancer's business, let alone a translator's business, that is subject to all the extra fluctuations in various fields. Income may become irregular at any time - not least, because, in economically diffcult times, the population spends its money on food rather than on academic services. Much more there is to the story as well - but please do not encourage anyone starting out in the profession to believe that it is uphill all the way. That is not the case when you are selling intangible academic services instead of goods. ▲ Collapse
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Felipe Tomasi
Brazil
Local time: 15:23
Member
English to Portuguese
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| After two years | Dec 18, 2023 |
In my opinion, freelance translators should think about their earnings on an annual basis.
In my case, I was able to establish a consistent income after two years of full-time dedication.
[Edited at 2023-12-18 01:41 GMT]
[Edited at 2023-12-18 01:42 GMT]
| | | | Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 20:23
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
I interpret "regular" to mean that you have reached a point where you are confident that you will definitely have enough income during the next month to cover your regular expenses.
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