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Agency makes 35% profit!
스레드 게시자: Joanne Parker
Marijke Singer
Marijke Singer  Identity Verified
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Why make more work for yourself? Jan 16, 2003

Quote:


On 2003-01-15 21:04, parker wrote:

Until now I have completed the work for this agency without any questions, technical issues or negative feedback, which is why I feel their 35% is an unnecessary amount to take for their involvement. It makes me think that I should really be asking them loads of questions and really checking up on formats etc, just to make sure we are both getting value for money ... See more
Quote:


On 2003-01-15 21:04, parker wrote:

Until now I have completed the work for this agency without any questions, technical issues or negative feedback, which is why I feel their 35% is an unnecessary amount to take for their involvement. It makes me think that I should really be asking them loads of questions and really checking up on formats etc, just to make sure we are both getting value for money





They are obviously happy with the work you provide and that is what is important. You don\'t have to check up on them. They probably do the QA and other jobs without bothering you. Great, I would say!



I work for a number of agencies and the percentages they \'make\' range from 20 to 70%. Amongst these agencies, there are a few like yours and also a few that do ask for feedback. I know for a fact that all these agencies check my work before delivery. This ensures the end product is better and it makes it easier for me, since I know that someone else will check up and find my \'blind spots\'! The 70% agencies usually provide added value like finished pdf manuals (i.e. done in FrameMaker). I don\'t object to this at all. I cannot provide a manual in 20 languages, they can (with all the hassle this implies). ▲ Collapse
 
horse
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35% sounds very reasonable ... Jan 16, 2003

It was my conception that the agencies take 50% !

When I have direct work from clients I usually charge them more than my usual rates for the agents.

I\'ve even had the experience in being lucky enough to be hired by the original clients through a newpaper add but they only pay me 25% more than before. That means the client and I share the profit that was in between.

Of course, I still work for the original agency who have declined to increase my monthly work load.... See more
It was my conception that the agencies take 50% !

When I have direct work from clients I usually charge them more than my usual rates for the agents.

I\'ve even had the experience in being lucky enough to be hired by the original clients through a newpaper add but they only pay me 25% more than before. That means the client and I share the profit that was in between.

Of course, I still work for the original agency who have declined to increase my monthly work load.

I thought this sort of thing was quite normal. ▲ Collapse
 
Parrot
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35% is quite fair Jan 16, 2003

I once acted as a consultant to a language school that wanted to put up a translation branch, and gave them the costing for reasonable margins around that figure (pay for overhead, negotiations, margins for volume discounts - because an agency should be able to afford them). And they backed down, saying it was awfully low: you see, they had been making 60-70% on their language teachers.
 
Erika Pavelka (X)
Erika Pavelka (X)  Identity Verified
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Agree with Elvira and Nina Jan 16, 2003

Hi Joanne,



Look at it this way: if you are happy with the amount of work you get and the rate your client pays, then why ditch them? Do they pay on time (according to established payment terms)? Do they call you during business hours or at any time of the day for urgent jobs?



You also mentioned that they asked you to lower your rate. For all you know, the rate you saw on their PO could have been a reduced rate for their client.



In an... See more
Hi Joanne,



Look at it this way: if you are happy with the amount of work you get and the rate your client pays, then why ditch them? Do they pay on time (according to established payment terms)? Do they call you during business hours or at any time of the day for urgent jobs?



You also mentioned that they asked you to lower your rate. For all you know, the rate you saw on their PO could have been a reduced rate for their client.



In any case, I don\'t consider this a reason to drop your client. I\'d drop them if they didn\'t respect payment terms (speaking from personal experience!) or if they were just generally difficult to work with. Naturally, you can look for new clients to build up your client base.



My two cents,



Erika

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Reino Havbrandt (X)
Reino Havbrandt (X)
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35 % is ok Jan 16, 2003

In my early years as a translator, I often noted that the agency took 50% or more. Today, I work mainly for direct customers, and actuually I am migrating into being an \"agency\", or at least a group leader of DeFiEnSe. As my policy is to proofread everything, comment translations, give feedback to my freelancers, and also pay them before I get the money from the end customer, I belive that 35% is quite ok. I have normally lover percentages, but in the case I took 35% it was a younger translato... See more
In my early years as a translator, I often noted that the agency took 50% or more. Today, I work mainly for direct customers, and actuually I am migrating into being an \"agency\", or at least a group leader of DeFiEnSe. As my policy is to proofread everything, comment translations, give feedback to my freelancers, and also pay them before I get the money from the end customer, I belive that 35% is quite ok. I have normally lover percentages, but in the case I took 35% it was a younger translator with no technicla background (we translate diesel engine manuals). And, as he works for Bowne as a freelancer, I suggested that I would give him a 18% rise of hes fees.



R ▲ Collapse
 
María Alejandra Funes
María Alejandra Funes
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50% or more Jan 16, 2003

I totally agree with Laura, Elvira and most of you... You take it or not.



Rgds,



Alejandra

 
Arthur Borges
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There is indeed confusion between profit and markup Jan 17, 2003

Most agencies I\'ve ever worked with had a markup between 100% and 400%. They also had overheads and expenses for marketing and whatever they needed for added value.

What their profits were remain a mystery to me.

Needless to say, it\'s none of my business and if they have healthy cashflow, it may mean I get paid sooner, which avoids turning the thin fragile roof & walls of my office into anybody\'s dream: the interest-free bank.
 
Kemal Mustajbegovic
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Business is business Jan 17, 2003

I don\'t know, I don\'t ask and I don\'t care about the % agency charges as long I have been paid my rates (and they are not under the average line).



Cheers!
 
NancyLynn
NancyLynn
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Two new points Jan 19, 2003

Arthur makes an excellent point aboiut being an interest-free bank. An agency with an unhealthy cashflow may never pay you at all.

In addition to overhead expenses, we have to consider the risk an agency takes that the work will not be done properly, or indeed ever at all.

I know that\'s not the case with you, which is why the markup is only 35%.
 
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Agency makes 35% profit!







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