| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: When are you usually paid? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
|
|---|
| |
When? It depends on the agreed payment terms! My longest-standing customer (a Belgian translation agency) has been paying me the day after receiving my invoice and I have 3 new regular clients who do the same, most of the others pay at 30 days, one at 45 days. I have been quite lucky as in over 30 years I only had 5 non-payment issues (4 agencies and 1 direct client), solved with the help of a lawyer for 2 of them.
| | | | Kay Denney 
France
Local time: 09:35
French to English
According to my accounts, the vast majority of clients have paid within two months. My direct clients mostly within one month.
One client pays me the minute I deliver the work, based on my estimate, she doesn't even wait for me to issue the bill. If ever it turned out that I had to add more words that didn't get counted for the estimate, I would have to send in the bill along with the translation. Except I'd probably just let her know and tell her it's free because she's my favouri... See more According to my accounts, the vast majority of clients have paid within two months. My direct clients mostly within one month.
One client pays me the minute I deliver the work, based on my estimate, she doesn't even wait for me to issue the bill. If ever it turned out that I had to add more words that didn't get counted for the estimate, I would have to send in the bill along with the translation. Except I'd probably just let her know and tell her it's free because she's my favourite client (she sends me my favourite kind of translations too! Oh and she even credits me on her website so I can send the link to potential clients as a sample of my best work).
[Edited at 2021-12-19 09:29 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 09:35
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
| Not after delivery but after invoicing | Dec 19, 2021 |
A poll asking about periods of time after delivery is not entirely meaningful. Payment terms are often measured after the point of invoicing, not delivery.
[Edited at 2021-12-19 12:34 GMT]
| | |
|
|
|
| 1-2 Weeks After Submission Of Work, Together With The Invoice, Sometimes Under A Week | Dec 19, 2021 |
Some of my most highly-esteemed clients have been right here in the United States, for which reason I ask for a check, for the most part, instead of using PayPal, to avoid the fees associated with the latter. A check for a very large sum for a book translation was sent to me from Texas on December 13, and it arrived here, in Ohio, two days ago, on December 17, after I submitted the work earlier this month. Well worth waiting for!
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 09:35
Spanish to English
+ ...
From my point of view, the query lacks the "other" option.
As it happens, I usually get paid "when my clients get around to it".
My best client pays me at the end of every month. Another long-standing client sometimes pays me promptly, and sometimes they don't, depending on their circumstances. I've been working with them a long time and I know they will all stump up in the end.
Academic clients usually rely on outside funding to pay for their translations or proofreading serv... See more From my point of view, the query lacks the "other" option.
As it happens, I usually get paid "when my clients get around to it".
My best client pays me at the end of every month. Another long-standing client sometimes pays me promptly, and sometimes they don't, depending on their circumstances. I've been working with them a long time and I know they will all stump up in the end.
Academic clients usually rely on outside funding to pay for their translations or proofreading services, and sometimes different institutions will take longer to shell out than others - and sometimes their accounting systems are also more labyrinthine than others. I've gotten to the stage now where I realise that fretting about 30-60-90-120 day payment periods is a waste of time and energy, and 99% of the time I am prepared to wait until the clients get round to paying me.
As for agencies, I only work with one nowadays, and even then only occasionally, and they usually pay within 30 days, as long as I issue the invoice before the end of the month.
PS: I also have some clients who pay me in advance.
[Edited at 2021-12-19 13:02 GMT]
Which is nice, because back in the day when I used to do TEFL courses, some of the ones relying on EU funding would take over a year to pay.
[Edited at 2021-12-19 13:04 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:35
Member (2008)
Italian to English
Question "When are you usually paid?"
Answer: for some clients; as late as they think they can get away with it. I have one client who pays me at 3 months + 10 days. Fortunately I hardly ever do any work for them.
Others pay promptly and even, sometimes, immediately (within minutes)
In other words, it varies.
What really annoys me is that some clients expect me to deliver the translation urgently, ASAP- whilst they delay the payment to ALAP. (Made tha... See more Question "When are you usually paid?"
Answer: for some clients; as late as they think they can get away with it. I have one client who pays me at 3 months + 10 days. Fortunately I hardly ever do any work for them.
Others pay promptly and even, sometimes, immediately (within minutes)
In other words, it varies.
What really annoys me is that some clients expect me to deliver the translation urgently, ASAP- whilst they delay the payment to ALAP. (Made that up. ALAP = as late as possible).
[Edited at 2021-12-19 13:14 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | IrinaN
United States
Local time: 02:35
English to Russian
+ ...
| 30 days +/- 3-5 days | Dec 19, 2021 |
My clients tend to issue payments or checks on certain week days, say, on Wednesdays, so sometimes i get a direct deposit or a check 2-5 days earlier, and sometimes it takes the same on the other end. I submit invoices either with every translation/assignment, or bi-weekly in case of longer interpretation assignments out of town, when my expense reports run high, but I never wait for a whole month.
With my clients, any non-payment instances are simply impossible.
| | |
|
|
|
| Faster payments | Dec 19, 2021 |
In my case, agencies pay from 30-45 days while direct clients tend to pay much faster. As a rule, I’ve improved my payment terms by simply asking “would it be possible to be paid a little earlier”? My work is valued, and my requests are usually met. Two or three have begun automatically paying me after 10-14 days - just to sidestep my request, most likely.
I also instituted a minimum fee, which eliminates those clients who want to pay me some minuscule fee for a sentence or p... See more In my case, agencies pay from 30-45 days while direct clients tend to pay much faster. As a rule, I’ve improved my payment terms by simply asking “would it be possible to be paid a little earlier”? My work is valued, and my requests are usually met. Two or three have begun automatically paying me after 10-14 days - just to sidestep my request, most likely.
I also instituted a minimum fee, which eliminates those clients who want to pay me some minuscule fee for a sentence or phrase. In the past, banking fees exceeded the payment which was a lose-lose; lost time and money.
I think setting boundaries as a professional translator is a good first step towards equitable business practices. It definitely doesn’t hurt to speak up. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Kevin Fulton
United States
Local time: 03:35
German to English
| Paid 30 days after invoicing (+/- a few days) | Dec 19, 2021 |
I always send my invoice on the last day of the month.
I haven't quite figured out the payment rhythm of some of my customers. Sometimes they pay on the last working day of the month, sometimes on the first working day of the succeeding month. Occasionally payment comes in a day or so before the end of the month. Another factor is acknowledgement of receipt of foreign deposits by my bank.
I once had a regular customer who generally sent a check upon receipt of my invoice, whic... See more I always send my invoice on the last day of the month.
I haven't quite figured out the payment rhythm of some of my customers. Sometimes they pay on the last working day of the month, sometimes on the first working day of the succeeding month. Occasionally payment comes in a day or so before the end of the month. Another factor is acknowledgement of receipt of foreign deposits by my bank.
I once had a regular customer who generally sent a check upon receipt of my invoice, which was some compensation for the lower rate he paid. I eventually stopped working for him when I started accepting only editable documents, as the effort required to convert PDF files lowered my effective rate.
[Edited at 2021-12-19 16:04 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Anna Herbst
Australia
Local time: 17:35
English to Swedish
+ ...
MODERATOR SITE LOCALIZER | Client's decision | Dec 20, 2021 |
The payment date is determined by the client. The fact the I request payment within 15 days of receipt of invoice just about always goes unnoticed. I wish I could do the same with the bills I have to pay...
| | | | matt robinson
Spain
Local time: 09:35
Member (2010)
Spanish to English
| After invoicing? | Dec 20, 2021 |
Some clients pay almost immediately, one pays at 20 days, others (probably the majority) at 30 days and a few at 60. The majority pay like clockwork, but I have one client that I usually have to "nudge", probably as a result of an aversion to admin on their part.
| | |
|
|
|
Tom in London wrote:
What really annoys me is that some clients expect me to deliver the translation urgently, ASAP- whilst they delay the payment to ALAP. (Made that up. ALAP = as late as possible).
I think that should join the official ProZ glossary of abbreviationz.
We could have one section for the cynical old guard: ALAP, HISIP…
And one for beginners: OOO, EOD, CET…
| | | | Baran Keki
Türkiye
Local time: 10:35
Member
English to Turkish
| I've never understood | Dec 20, 2021 |
the need for prolonging the inevitable (that is paying up the translator one way or the other/sooner or later). If your cash flow is so effed up that you feel obliged to set a payment term of 2 months + 17 days from the second Monday of x calendar month for a 36 EUR invoice, then stop running a business.
| | | | | Difference between agencies and direct clients | Dec 20, 2021 |
Most translation agencies pay me within 30 days (the maximum I accept is either 45 days, or 30 days end of month), and direct clients within 14 days. I always take care of due diligence with new clients, so I hardly ever have to chase payments and - up to now - always got paid eventually. And some clients, mostly colleagues who outsource work, pay within days though I also put a due date of 30 days on their invoices.
[Edited at 2021-12-20 08:11 GMT]
| | | | | Pages in topic: [1 2] > | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Poll: When are you usually paid? | Anycount & Translation Office 3000 | Translation Office 3000
Translation Office 3000 is an advanced accounting tool for freelance translators and small agencies. TO3000 easily and seamlessly integrates with the business life of professional freelance translators.
More info » |
| | Wordfast Pro | Translation Memory Software for Any Platform
Exclusive discount for ProZ.com users!
Save over 13% when purchasing Wordfast Pro through ProZ.com. Wordfast is the world's #1 provider of platform-independent Translation Memory software. Consistently ranked the most user-friendly and highest value
Buy now! » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
