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Localization project brief

Turn a vague request into a usable brief covering content, audiences, languages, markets, review, security, deadlines, and acceptance.

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 project brief

Name the release, campaign, file set, or repository reference.

List files, URLs, strings, minutes, screenshots, builds, and approximate volumes.

Include markets and language varieties; mark any still undecided.

Describe who will use the content, what they need to do, and specialist knowledge required.

Example: translation, transcreation, editing, MTPE, subtitling, LQA, or engineering.

Link approved assets and state which source controls in a conflict.

Include time zone, dependencies, required formats, and partial deliveries.

State approved providers, prohibited processing, confidentiality, retention, and accessibility needs.

Name reviewers, approver, response times, and what counts as complete.

Use it before pricing

A quote is only as reliable as the scope behind it. Complete this brief with the client, mark unknowns explicitly, and attach the actual source files before committing price or schedule.

  • Use language plus market, not a country flag
  • Count every asset and channel
  • Name who can answer questions and who can approve
  • Record what is out of scope
  • Version the brief when the source changes

Minimum viable brief

Source: product-ui@release-4.8
Targets: fr-CA, ar-AE, ja-JP
Services: translation + bilingual review + in-build LQA
Audience: consumer banking customers
Volume: 8,420 new source words; 1,130 repeated words
Deadline: staged handoff, final 2026-09-18 17:00 Europe/Berlin
Acceptance: no critical functional, meaning, terminology, or accessibility defects
Owner: client PM; approver: market lead per locale

Frequently asked questions

Who should complete the brief?

The client owns business intent and approval; the provider should challenge gaps, normalize the scope, and record assumptions. Completing it together is usually faster than exchanging an unstructured email thread.

What if the word count or files are not final?

Label the quote as provisional, state the counting method and included volume, and define how added or changed content will be priced and scheduled.

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.

  1. Guide to Buying Translation ServicesAmerican Translators Association · verified 2026-08-20
  2. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 InternationalCreative Commons · verified 2026-08-20