Editor’s note: This article was first published in November 2010. The rate of up to €300 an hour, e-books as a new business and the state of the Spanish market for this work date from 2010. The market has since been reshaped by automated tools.
Another business emerging thanks to globalisation is translation companies, which are creating plenty of jobs for people who have a good command of languages and can work as translators. The internet’s role is to take companies to other parts of the world, and in most cases that means building several platforms in different languages. Those platforms are put in the hands of specialist translation companies.
Likewise, the new businesses springing up thanks to the internet, such as the e-book business, need to be translated into several languages if their authors want to make them known in different countries. In this case, either a company or an individual is hired.
Companies that are starting to trade abroad need translators to make sure there are no misunderstandings in negotiations. Depending on the level and size of the company, a translator taking part in a negotiation can charge up to €300 an hour, plus travel expenses, a travel allowance and so on.
Hotel chains are constantly looking for public relations staff who speak several languages to make sure the most exclusive tourists are properly looked after.
Without a doubt, people who trained properly in languages, and even more so those who specialised in less common languages such as Chinese, Japanese, Arabic or German, have a great opportunity both to start a business and to find work.
There are few companies in Spain today devoted to text translation, and in many cases this work is subcontracted to companies outside the country. That shows there’s a real chance of building a profitable business within Spain, because if there’s one thing Spain needs, it’s the creation of new and innovative businesses.
See also: 14 secrets and truths about selling
To start a translation business, all you need is your experience and a way to make yourself known, either by going directly to companies or by investing a little in advertising. If you can carve out a place in this business, it works these days.
Further reading
- How to attract your first customers to your business
- Business ideas: virtual assistant companies
- How to start a business with no money
- Advantages of starting a business in times of crisis
- How to be a successful entrepreneur
Featured image: Cpl. John Lamb, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
