Help needed with submitting a quote Thread poster: Veronique Cubilie-Ratio
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Hello,
I am getting started as a freelance translator in the UK and I have been contacted by a direct client who would like a quote for a translation job. Would anyone be able to provide me with some advice about what a standard quote should look like? I am in the process of registering as self-employed so my business is not yet officially set up. I was wondering if this could be a problem as the client is an institution and that he will probably expect official quotes/invoices.
... See more Hello,
I am getting started as a freelance translator in the UK and I have been contacted by a direct client who would like a quote for a translation job. Would anyone be able to provide me with some advice about what a standard quote should look like? I am in the process of registering as self-employed so my business is not yet officially set up. I was wondering if this could be a problem as the client is an institution and that he will probably expect official quotes/invoices.
Thank you for any piece of advice that you can provide. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Phil Hand 
China
Local time: 16:25
Chinese to English
| Just a number | Jan 20, 2013 |
There's no fixed pattern. Quotes are generally a price per word (ideally word of source text, some clients prefer it expressed as words of target text). For direct clients, it's helpful to include the total price as well. And you should tell the client how long it will take.
It's also worth checking document format - is the client giving you Word? What format do they want the translation in?
In the UK, you don't have to register before going into business, so there are... See more There's no fixed pattern. Quotes are generally a price per word (ideally word of source text, some clients prefer it expressed as words of target text). For direct clients, it's helpful to include the total price as well. And you should tell the client how long it will take.
It's also worth checking document format - is the client giving you Word? What format do they want the translation in?
In the UK, you don't have to register before going into business, so there are no legal problems with just starting. All you have to do is pay your taxes at the end of the year. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | corporation tax and NIC in the first year | Jan 20, 2013 |
Hi Phil,
thank you very much for the tips. That's very helpful. I thought that the client might want to have a company registration number so I have already registered with HMRC online. With regards to taxes, am I right to think that if you don't reach a certain threshold you may not need to pay any corporation tax? what about NIC? As I don't expect to make much in the first year, can I apply to be exempt?
Thanks a lot!
Veronique
[Edit... See more Hi Phil,
thank you very much for the tips. That's very helpful. I thought that the client might want to have a company registration number so I have already registered with HMRC online. With regards to taxes, am I right to think that if you don't reach a certain threshold you may not need to pay any corporation tax? what about NIC? As I don't expect to make much in the first year, can I apply to be exempt?
Thanks a lot!
Veronique
[Edited at 2013-01-20 23:15 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Phil Hand
China
Local time: 16:25
Chinese to English
| A bit beyond my ken | Jan 21, 2013 |
Not sure what you mean there - have you actually set up a company? Corporation tax is for registered companies, not for the self-employed.
Most of us don't set up companies, so I don't know how that works. You certainly don't have to. You just pay tax on what you actually earn. NICs kick in at a fairly low level, though, so you'll probably have to pay those. They're very low.
If your clients are in the UK, they don't need any numbers or codes. Just your name will do. UK... See more Not sure what you mean there - have you actually set up a company? Corporation tax is for registered companies, not for the self-employed.
Most of us don't set up companies, so I don't know how that works. You certainly don't have to. You just pay tax on what you actually earn. NICs kick in at a fairly low level, though, so you'll probably have to pay those. They're very low.
If your clients are in the UK, they don't need any numbers or codes. Just your name will do. UK law is quite different to what I understand of French law in that regard. Sometimes when you work for European agencies they expect more in their paperwork (like VAT registration), and you have to show them that that doesn't apply in British law.
I hope someone with more experience in the UK will chip in, because I've only worked there for a very limited time, so my knowledge is rather piecemeal! ▲ Collapse
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