Poll: What stops you from raising your rates? थ्रेड पोस्टर: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "What stops you from raising your rates?".
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Nothing stops me for raising my rates when I feel the occasion is right…
| | | | | Who says I should raise my rates? | Jul 16, 2025 |
Where is the option for ´I think my rates are fine, and I don´t need to raise them?´
Everyone complains about agencies offering low rates, but realistically, there are clients who pay fair rates, and translators who work for them.
Maybe too many translators try to catch clients by claiming to be cheap, when clients might actually prefer to pay more for quality. Try selling your services as value for money! AI is fast and cheap, but where can clients go if they want ... See more Where is the option for ´I think my rates are fine, and I don´t need to raise them?´
Everyone complains about agencies offering low rates, but realistically, there are clients who pay fair rates, and translators who work for them.
Maybe too many translators try to catch clients by claiming to be cheap, when clients might actually prefer to pay more for quality. Try selling your services as value for money! AI is fast and cheap, but where can clients go if they want more than that?
I just think it is a mistake to assume that rates are always low and impossible to raise. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Raising rates? | Jul 16, 2025 |
Is this a joke?
Trying to RAISE your rate when AI is obliterating our profession?
Good luck.
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Lieven Malaise 
Belgium
Local time: 00:32
सदस्य (2020)
French to Dutch
+ ...
| Depends on one's situation | Jul 16, 2025 |
Everything depends on "the quality" of one's rates. I apply rates that allow a decent profit margin and at the same time a more or less constant stream of job requests. I can't be completely sure, but I believe this to be a delicate balance. So considering the current pressure on rates in general I don't feel the need to raise them. Instead I keep on trying, even after 25 years in this business, to become even faster and to work even more efficient, in which I succeed to a certain extent.
... See more Everything depends on "the quality" of one's rates. I apply rates that allow a decent profit margin and at the same time a more or less constant stream of job requests. I can't be completely sure, but I believe this to be a delicate balance. So considering the current pressure on rates in general I don't feel the need to raise them. Instead I keep on trying, even after 25 years in this business, to become even faster and to work even more efficient, in which I succeed to a certain extent.
I obviously would raise my rates nontheless if one day it would become a necessity to achieve my financial goals. I will never allow to work myself into poverty.
[Bijgewerkt op 2025-07-16 10:36 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Dan Lucas
United Kingdom
Local time: 23:32
सदस्य (2014)
Japanese to English
| Highly unrealistic | Jul 16, 2025 |
Even setting aside the potential issue of AI, I have always assumed that I work in a competitive field and that my clients never stop trying to find ways to cut costs - and I am a cost to them.
As far as I can tell, my rates are already higher than those of most of my potential competitors. Do I really want to raise them further?
On the assumption that the only way is down for rates, I am working hard to become more efficient so that I can absorb any reductions I may ha... See more Even setting aside the potential issue of AI, I have always assumed that I work in a competitive field and that my clients never stop trying to find ways to cut costs - and I am a cost to them.
As far as I can tell, my rates are already higher than those of most of my potential competitors. Do I really want to raise them further?
On the assumption that the only way is down for rates, I am working hard to become more efficient so that I can absorb any reductions I may have to take in future. This it is not/has not been easy.
Dan ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Rates is not everything | Jul 16, 2025 |
Lieven Malaise wrote:
Everything depends on "the quality" of one's rates. I apply rates that allow a decent profit margin and at the same time a more or less constant stream of job requests. I can't be completely sure, but I believe this to be a delicate balance. So considering the current pressure on rates in general I don't feel the need to raise them. Instead I keep on trying, even after 25 years in this business, to become even faster and to work even more efficient, in which I succeed to a certain extent.
I obviously would raise my rates nontheless if one day it would become a necessity to achieve my financial goals. I will never allow to work myself into poverty.
[Bijgewerkt op 2025-07-16 10:36 GMT]
Same here. I strive to become faster and more efficient when translating. For some of my customers, I still charge the same rate I offered them a few years ago. However, I now translate faster, so it pays off in the end. I would definitely raise rates if needed in the future.
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It sounds pretentious, but I feel that raising your rates when you have worked hard to become an excellent language service provider is fine. If people prefer to use AI, it is ok. But when they have to hire someone, you could charge the proper rates for your professional language services.
On the other hand, if you are using AI for your services, I would say that it is an added complement to your services. So, you would have to raise your rates because of that. I think that the mos... See more It sounds pretentious, but I feel that raising your rates when you have worked hard to become an excellent language service provider is fine. If people prefer to use AI, it is ok. But when they have to hire someone, you could charge the proper rates for your professional language services.
On the other hand, if you are using AI for your services, I would say that it is an added complement to your services. So, you would have to raise your rates because of that. I think that the most important thing is to meet clients who can appreciate your effort to learn and work with new tech tools. ▲ Collapse
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| Regular jobs is preferable | Jul 17, 2025 |
It seems that raising rates is not an option, in general. We are trying to have regular jobs and regular income, aren't we?
| | | | | Raising your rates | Jul 17, 2025 |
I'm still charging the same rate I did 32 years ago.
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