| Страници во темата: [1 2] > | Poll: Are you always sure about your income for the upcoming month? Лице кое објавува дискусија: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Are you always sure about your income for the upcoming month?".
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My average visibility is a few days, sometimes a week or two. Rarely a whole month.
The main thing I am interested in is my yearly turnover.
Philippe
| | | | | I don't understand the question | Nov 26, 2014 |
Are we sure *whether* we will have an income / whether we will have sufficient income / what the exact amount will be? As freelancers the latter would probably be no for most people, while the former hopefully would be yes.
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I could be pedantic and say yes, because I know exactly what *income* I will have because I billed it the previous month.
Or I could stick to what I imagine to be the point of the question and say no, because I don't always know how much *work* I will have. Sometimes I'm booked solid and sometimes I'm not.
That said, maybe I should say yes anyway, because I know I'll have enough to keep me busy one way or another.
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Tim Drayton (X) 
Кипар
Local time: 03:52
турски на англиски
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Demand in the market segment in which I work has certainly improved over the past two years but still remains patchy, with several months of intense work interspersed with periods when I only work a couple of hours a week, so, no, nowadays I can't be sure in advance whether I will earn a lot or next to nothing in any given month.
[Edited at 2014-11-26 09:53 GMT]
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If there is a pattern to the demand, I am yet to discover it...
| | | | Muriel Vasconcellos (X)
Соединети Американски Држави
Local time: 17:52
шпански на англиски
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Five minutes ago I delivered and invoiced a 48,700-word job. Since the client pays promptly, I expect to have income in December.
That said, I have no idea what will come in over the transom. I'm not worried, and maybe a few days off will be nice around the holidays.
| | | | neilmac
Шпанија
Local time: 02:52
шпански на англиски
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Maria Dimitrova
Бугарија
Local time: 03:52
Член (2011)
англиски на бугарски
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| Yes, more or less | Nov 26, 2014 |
Ever since I work as a full-time translator, my workload has been relatively constant, meaning that I get as many jobs as I can handle and often have to refuse some jobs, because usually I am offered more than I can do. So, knowing the average number of words I can translate per day and multiplying it by my rate and the number of working days, I know the approximate income I can expect over the next month. Of course, there are periods when I work too much because I am not willing to turn down a ... See more Ever since I work as a full-time translator, my workload has been relatively constant, meaning that I get as many jobs as I can handle and often have to refuse some jobs, because usually I am offered more than I can do. So, knowing the average number of words I can translate per day and multiplying it by my rate and the number of working days, I know the approximate income I can expect over the next month. Of course, there are periods when I work too much because I am not willing to turn down a regular client and also periods when my son is sick and I have limited time, and also vacations, but as a whole, during the past 3 years my income has been relatively constant, with some occasional peaks. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Thayenga
Германија
Local time: 02:52
Член (2009)
англиски на германски
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I know for sure how much income I have every month from the other source of income. When it comes to translations, I only know what I'll be making one month in advance when I invoice my clients, knowing that they pay like clock work. But even with my regular clients some months I'm drowing in work, while during others I end up seriously considering to take an unscheduled vacation. Such is the nature of the industry.
| | | | | More or less | Nov 26, 2014 |
The nature of freelancing is such that it is never easy to predict from where your next meal is going to come, speaking figuratively.
But over the years I have gained a fairly good insight into my income flows and drawing from the law of averages, I can roughly estimate how much I would be making in a month. At the beginning of every year, I do set myself an income target and work towards achieving it. For last several years I have been exceeding my income targets, even after slight... See more The nature of freelancing is such that it is never easy to predict from where your next meal is going to come, speaking figuratively.
But over the years I have gained a fairly good insight into my income flows and drawing from the law of averages, I can roughly estimate how much I would be making in a month. At the beginning of every year, I do set myself an income target and work towards achieving it. For last several years I have been exceeding my income targets, even after slightly upping them every year.
The key to a steady income flow is to set clear achievable targets and work towards these targets. This forces you to remain focussed and to do things on time that would lead to your achieving your income targets. These could be simple things like invoicing on time or following up on invoices that have become due. My targets also weigh in on the rates I set for each job. If I am comfortable with my income targets, I bargain hard with my clients, if I am falling behind, I become more accommodative in my rates. This has actually won me some very large projects which I would never have won if I had rigidly stuck to a uniform rate for all occasions, with the result that my overall income inflows have improved.
[Edited at 2014-11-26 15:42 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Sheila Wilson
Шпанија
Local time: 01:52
Член (2007)
англиски
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| Feast or famine | Nov 26, 2014 |
That's the normal state of affairs for a freelancer.
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ATT Office
Австрија
Local time: 02:52
англиски на германски
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| I absolutely agree, thats freelancer's life. And it's great. | Nov 26, 2014 |
Sheila Wilson wrote:
That's the normal state of affairs for a freelancer.
| | | | | Yes, but not in translation... | Nov 26, 2014 |
I am a part time permanent hotel receptionist, so my income is guaranteed, but I cannot live on translation, far from that...
| | | | | Poorly worded poll question imo | Nov 26, 2014 |
I feel it should read "Are you ever sure about your income?" For the upcoming month, year or whatever.
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