# 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 interval: 365 days. Disclosure: none.

## 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
```

## Download

[Download the project brief](https://admas.net/resources/templates/downloads/localization-project-brief.md)

Version 1.0. License: CC BY 4.0.

## 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.

## Methodology

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

- [Guide to Buying Translation Services](https://www.atanet.org/client-assistance/guide-to-buying-translation-services/) — American Translators Association; verified 2026-08-20.
- [Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — Creative Commons; verified 2026-08-20.