Freelancer templates · Practical guide

Freelance translation quote & estimate

Present scope, units, assumptions, review, complexity, minimum fees, expenses, taxes, schedule, validity, and acceptance in a client-ready quote.

Published: 2026-08-20
Updated: 2026-08-20
Last verified: 2026-08-20
Review cadence: Every 365 days
Disclosure: none

Version 1.0 · CC BY 4.0

Use the worksheet

Inputs stay on this page and are not submitted or saved.

Download the quote template

Quote number, date, and validity

Use a unique reference and an expiry date.

Client and billing contact

Include the legal or billing name, address, and purchase-order instructions.

Included scope and source version

List service, languages, files, volumes, review, and deliverables.

Price lines

For each line: service, quantity, unit, unit price, multiplier or discount, and subtotal.

Schedule and client dependencies

State milestones, time zone, required answers, and feedback windows.

Assumptions and exclusions

Examples: source changes, engineering, layout, glossary creation, or extra review rounds.

Currency, expenses, taxes, minimum, and payment

Use the tax and payment wording appropriate to your jurisdiction.

Acceptance

Provide name, date, signature or written-acceptance instruction, and quote reference.

Quote the work, not only a rate

A per-word or hourly rate is not a complete commercial offer. Show the source version, included work, quantity, unit, review level, delivery, and what will trigger a revised quote.

Keep discounts and surcharges as visible line items
State whether counts use source or target units
Separate pass-through expenses
Name the currency and tax treatment
Give the client an acceptance line and quote-expiry date

Set prices independently

Community data and calculators can inform your own decision, but they are not tariffs. Independent providers must determine their own commercial terms without coordinating prices.

Frequently asked questions

Is an estimate the same as a fixed quote?

No. An estimate forecasts cost from stated assumptions; a fixed quote commits to the defined scope. Say which one you are issuing and how changes will be handled.

Should I show my hourly or per-word rate?

Show the unit that makes the work understandable and auditable. Mixed projects often need several units, such as source words, hours, finished minutes, minimum fees, and pass-through costs.

How this was built

Admas designed this plain-language working template for transparent language-service delivery. The downloadable file contains no macros, remote formulas, tracking links, or hidden fields. Adapt it to the project, jurisdiction, client requirements, tax rules, language pair, service, and professional advice relevant to you.

Source register

Official and primary references reviewed for this page.

ProZ.com rate calculatorProZ.com · verified 2026-08-20
Antitrust Compliance PolicyAmerican Translators Association · verified 2026-08-20
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 InternationalCreative Commons · verified 2026-08-20