Freelance Professional Skills Workshop – learn the techniques to make you and your business thrive

By Sue Leschen, 10am – 4pm, one- and two-day tickets available

Who is this workshop for?

Most language professionals are not naturally entrepreneurs and have to acquire the know-how to set up, maintain and enhance their businesses. This two-day workshop with Sue Leschen is for all freelance interpreters and translators working into and from English – both experienced and starting out – who are running their own businesses in today’s challenging and competitive climate.

Dates

Click the dates you wish to attend to book your place.

Thursday 29 June to Friday 30 June 2023
Thursday 19 October to Friday 20 October 2023

Cost

Two-day ticket: CIOL member

£280

Two-day ticket: Non-member

£340

One-day ticket: CIOL member

£150

One-day ticket: Non-member

£180

Course Outline

Day 1

Part 1: Business Plan

Essential to have a (realistic) plan “A”
Just as important to have a plan “B”
Services offered by business
Aim(s) of business
Annual SWOT review of initial plan “A”
Business structure: sole trader or limited company

Part 2: Money

Accounting systems
Accountants or DIY?
Keeping receipts
UK Taxes: Income Tax, VAT
Non – UK taxes?
Estimates, Invoices, Quotes, Receipts
Fees and basis for charging for translation; source/ target languages/ 1000 words, characters, line, hourly rate
Fees and basis for charging for interpreting ; per hour, minimum 2 hours, half – day, full day , travel time, paid breaks
Supplementary charges; preparation and research, conversion to PDF, anti – social hours charge
Deposits, discounts and payment by instalments
Currency and exchange rates
Cash flow: feast or famine
Bad, late and non – payers; daily interest
Debt collection: Proz.com Blue Board: http://paymentpractics.net/: Small Claims Court
Running businesses not charities
Pro bono work – does it pay?

Part 3: Clients

Mass and premium market
Direct and indirect clients
UK / Europe
Pareto Principle 80: 20
Client obtention and retention
Difficult and demanding clients

Part 4: Colleagues

Good and bad
Networking
Collaboration: proof readers and translators
Collaboration for sourcing work; Business Language Boutique: Bournemouth Translators and Interpreters (40 languages) ; Interpreters Collective
Home alone office or co – work space with colleagues and/ or other professionals?