| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: What are your clients' average payment terms? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "What are your clients' average payment terms?".
This poll was originally submitted by Marc Cordes. View the poll results »
| | | | David Wright 
Austria
Local time: 17:50
German to English
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I don't actually think they have any. They pay as and when. Sometimes within two days of invoice, sometimes a couple of months. I've never really worried about it.
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 17:50
Spanish to English
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| Payment is as payment does | Jan 10, 2012 |
David Wright wrote:
I don't actually think they have any. They pay as and when. Sometimes within two days of invoice, sometimes a couple of months. I've never really worried about it.
This is often the way of things in Spain. Unlike David, I used to worry about it a lot, but after working here for so long am used to "Spanish practices". Some agencies and other companies have a 30-, 60- or even a 90-day standard term, and others now even up to 120 days, and if the payer happens to be a local or regional government office, it could be considerably longer...
The more impecunious clients seem to operate on a "wing and a prayer" basis and pay you "when they can". Others may simply forget or lose the invoice...
| | | | Nicole Schnell
United States
Local time: 08:50
English to German
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In memoriam | Depends on the client. | Jan 10, 2012 |
I have a payment policy of 14 days for any amount of $499.99 or less and 30 days for any amount of $500.00 or higher. My regular clients however can apply their own payment schedules, 30 days or 45 days, I don't care because the cash flow is consistent.
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DianeGM
Local time: 18:50
Member (2006)
Dutch to English
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| | Depends on the client | Jan 10, 2012 |
Most in 30 days, but a very dear client of mine pays always (whatever the amount) the day after receiving the invoice.
| | | | Julian Holmes
Japan
Local time: 00:50
Member (2011)
Japanese to English
| Over here in Japan | Jan 10, 2012 |
The generally accepted norm here is "account closed and billed at end of month/payment at end of following month" i.e. about 30 days. This does, of course, vary from company to company.
According to the "Act Against Delay in Payment of Subcontract Proceeds" (sic), the customer is obligated to pay the subcontractor the entire billed amount within 60 days of the billing date. The same law also details customer obligations such as the issue of POs -- which some customers try their hard... See more The generally accepted norm here is "account closed and billed at end of month/payment at end of following month" i.e. about 30 days. This does, of course, vary from company to company.
According to the "Act Against Delay in Payment of Subcontract Proceeds" (sic), the customer is obligated to pay the subcontractor the entire billed amount within 60 days of the billing date. The same law also details customer obligations such as the issue of POs -- which some customers try their hardest to avoid over here -- intended to protect vendors such as yours truly.
If there is any infringement of this law, the vendor is allowed to file a complaint with the Fair Trade Commission here, which I have unfortunately had recourse to do a few times these past years. 
I hope this helps you when dealing with a Japanese company.
Happy translating!
[Edited at 2012-01-10 10:14 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Other: it ranges wildly | Jan 10, 2012 |
If you average the *payments* I've received, it's about 2 weeks, but if you average the *clients*, I have no idea, because it ranges from immediately (via PayPal) to over 60 days.
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| The tail wagging the dog | Jan 10, 2012 |
I never understood why in translation alone it's often up to the client (aka the buyer) to one-sidedly determine both a) the payment term, and b) whether it will be met or not.
In every business other than translation I see the seller presenting their prices, terms, and conditions: This costs 'X', payment in 'Y' days after the order or delivery. If you pay up front, you are entitled to an 'A'% discount; if you pay COD, a 'B'% discount. On the other hand, if ... See more I never understood why in translation alone it's often up to the client (aka the buyer) to one-sidedly determine both a) the payment term, and b) whether it will be met or not.
In every business other than translation I see the seller presenting their prices, terms, and conditions: This costs 'X', payment in 'Y' days after the order or delivery. If you pay up front, you are entitled to an 'A'% discount; if you pay COD, a 'B'% discount. On the other hand, if you pay later than within 'Y' days, you'll incur in a penalty of $'K', plus 'L'% interest per month.
In translation, many buyers say: So your rate is 'X', right? However we don't pay anyone COD. We always pay the net amount on the last day of the next month after the job is delivered. If our accountant is allegedly overloaded with work, sick, on vacation, or quits, it may take longer. We simply don't care - that's your problem! At least we'll have got the job done from you.
I wonder where, how, and why such culture developed. It seems to take for granted that a translator sells finished translations kept in stock, which were bought on long-term credit. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | about 30 days | Jan 10, 2012 |
but if i average it out, it's 30-45. Most are about 30, some are about 2 weeks and some are 60 days.
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José Henrique Lamensdorf wrote:
I never understood why in translation alone it's often up to the client (aka the buyer) to one-sidedly determine both a) the payment term, and b) whether it will be met or not.
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I wonder where, how, and why such culture developed. It seems to take for granted that a translator sells finished translations kept in stock, which were bought on long-term credit.
Good question!
Scandinavian business culture claims to be efficient, so I write 30 days on my invoice, which tends to be sent at the end of the month. Clients pay in the course of the following month, some as soon as the invoice arrives, but many at the end, so work done now, at the beginning of January, may not be paid for until the end of March.
If the client has not paid by then, however, I send a reminder, or my accountant does, until they pay. As he says, it's MY money, for pity's sake!
I suspect that many translators, like me, are not good at figures, and regard invoicing as a necessary evil and a boring interruption of work and life. I only do it because I have an accountant, tax authorities and BILLS to force me to do it now and then.
But I would never dream of trying the same approach on my dentist, the trusty accountant, the car mechanic or any other professional whose services keep me going. I pay on the dot, because I am afraid if forgetting otherwise.
As long as translators don't take a professional approach to getting paid like everyone else, we can't expect clients to value us more hightly than we value ourselves!
Happy translating, and don't forget, you're worth at least the rate you ask!
| | | | Dr Jérémy Anquetin (X)
France
Local time: 17:50
English to French
I am sorry but, shouldn't the question be: What are YOUR payment terms?
YOU are the providers, THEY are the clients (no matter whether they are direct clients, businesses or translation agencies)!
[Edited at 2012-01-10 11:54 GMT]
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Evans (X)
Local time: 16:50
Spanish to English
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| Extremes make a mockery of averages | Jan 10, 2012 |
My own stated payment terms are 30 days except for private individuals when payment is due on delivery.
It is impossible to say what the average is of when I actually get paid. Taking today as a case in point, I was paid immediately by one private client and I also finally received a long-overdue payment (7 months from the invoice date!) from a client who for many years paid me reasonably promptly but has recently become hopelessly slow.
My good regular clients pay me within my state... See more My own stated payment terms are 30 days except for private individuals when payment is due on delivery.
It is impossible to say what the average is of when I actually get paid. Taking today as a case in point, I was paid immediately by one private client and I also finally received a long-overdue payment (7 months from the invoice date!) from a client who for many years paid me reasonably promptly but has recently become hopelessly slow.
My good regular clients pay me within my stated terms, sometimes well before. Needless to say, such clients tend to get a positive response from me when they request my services. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | I am a service provider... | Jan 10, 2012 |
.... and, as such, I am the one who sends the invoice to my clients being direct or an agency. My invoice states 14 days term of payment. It has never happened to me that the payment was late.
| | | | Rebecca Garber
Local time: 11:50
Member (2005)
German to English
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| My terms are 30 days. | Jan 10, 2012 |
Not a range, just the one number.
I have usually negotiated something with long-term clients, which ends up being totally individual.
The one agency wants an aggregate invoice on the 25th of each month, and they pay the following 25th.
Another wants an individual invoice per project, and the payment schedules vary depending on the department, between 14 and 45 days.
Yet another pays immediately upon receipt.
That said, I do not work for anyone who do... See more Not a range, just the one number.
I have usually negotiated something with long-term clients, which ends up being totally individual.
The one agency wants an aggregate invoice on the 25th of each month, and they pay the following 25th.
Another wants an individual invoice per project, and the payment schedules vary depending on the department, between 14 and 45 days.
Yet another pays immediately upon receipt.
That said, I do not work for anyone who does not pay within 45 days, and I charge higher fees to those clients. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | 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: What are your clients' average payment terms? | Anycount & Translation Office 3000 | Translation Office 3000
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