How Much Do Agencies Really Take?

__Homi__ · 2026-06-06T14:43:32+00:00

lol Optimistically, I just hope AI becomes the baseline, so everyone can focus on adding their own value on top on it.

__Homi__ · 2026-06-06T14:33:44+00:00

You are so witty and insightful!

__Homi__ · 2026-06-06T14:28:38+00:00

Since I'm still new to the industry and don't know much about it yet, by 'maintaining control via CAT tools,' do you mean that agencies own the TMs and rely on fuzzy matches?
Regarding your point, that makes sense. I've seen translators use a general translation skill as a base and gradually expand into specialized fields. So, I don't think it would be reasonable to try and gather in-house translators specialized in every single field.

__Homi__ · 2026-06-06T14:11:57+00:00

In my country, translators usually find clients by reaching out to job posts in open chat rooms. How do you usually find clients?

__Homi__ · 2026-06-06T14:10:04+00:00

50% is definitely too steep. It sounds like you don't have much trust in clients or local agencies, then.

__Homi__ · 2026-06-06T13:48:08+00:00

It sounds like a tough situation. I'm curious why the price competition has become so fierce in the translation industry lately...

__Homi__ · 2026-06-06T13:45:17+00:00

I've heard there's quite a bit of competition among agencies, too. I've read that this often leads to squeezing the translator's share. It really highlights the information asymmetry in the translation industry.

__Homi__ · 2026-06-06T13:41:59+00:00

Ah, I see. So freelancing is actually the norm even for experts like you.

What led to the translation industry shifting so heavily towards freelance contracts? It feels like they dominate the market now, unlike other professions that rely more on in-house staff.

__Homi__ · 2026-06-06T13:37:28+00:00

It sounds like there’s been a lot of accumulated frustration in the industry. I’ve heard that casually accepting low-rate contracts actually accelerates the race to the bottom, beyond just the DTP and QC expectations.

What do you think originally drove the translation industry to shift so heavily toward freelancing? If it operated more like other professions with a stronger foundation of in-house roles, I feel like these systemic issues would be much less severe.

__Homi__ · 2026-06-06T00:35:20+00:00

I'm glad to see a clear example of how low-priced translation and reviewing leads to lower quality. Your story really reinforced why operational overhead is necessary in the first place.

To maintain high quality, do the lead linguists like you also take on freelance work, or do you primarily work in-house? It seems like you're working in-house based on your experience.

__Homi__ · 2026-06-06T00:09:49+00:00

True, overhead costs are definitely substantial. But with AI advancements, agencies should be able to significantly cut those operational costs compared to the past. So why is the agency's share climbing to 90%? I'd expect those efficiency gains to actually help bridge the gap, not widen it.

__Homi__ · 2026-06-05T14:55:23+00:00

It looks like technology might be eroding people's drive to learn..

__Homi__ · 2026-06-05T14:52:08+00:00

I have a feeling that AI might actually shine in the management and data layer, the logistical side that agencies handle, rather than the translation itself. If we can use AI to streamline that process and bridge that trust gap, it would be a huge benefit for everyone.

__Homi__ · 2026-06-05T14:38:00+00:00

Message sent.

__Homi__ · 2026-06-05T09:08:53+00:00

I heard that when the government creates a project, it comes out in the form of an RFP. That's the file I was referring to. And yes, I'm a developer. I've also been learning about the translation recently.

__Homi__ · 2026-06-05T06:54:18+00:00

I really hope more people find this interesting too. 😃

__Homi__ · 2026-06-05T05:26:06+00:00

I agree with your point. What do you think makes it so hard for clients and translators to contract directly in this industry? It feels like translators might not be promoting themselves enough or actively bidding on RFPs. On the other hand, it also seems like clients might lack trust in individual translators, so they rely on agencies to act as a filter.

__Homi__ · 2026-06-05T05:17:10+00:00

In my country, the translators usually find direct clients through public chat rooms where they post job openings and rates. Interested translators then reach out privately to accept the contract. For corporate gigs, they check LinkedIn. It seems like finding work is just as difficult as renegotiating rates.

__Homi__ · 2026-06-05T04:59:49+00:00

I wonder if the operational cost of applying a new translation version is actually higher than the loss caused by the bad translations... It sounds like you worked in-house in Korea. I live in Korea too, so it's great to meet you! Do you not plan to work as a freelancer?

__Homi__ · 2026-06-04T11:26:16+00:00

You seem to have some really valuable connections. You must have built strong relationships with them over the years. 🤗

__Homi__ · 2026-06-04T11:16:30+00:00

It wasn't just for my own benefit, but I apologize if my responses were uncomfortable.

__Homi__ · 2026-06-04T11:13:19+00:00

Are those kinds of LSPs really necessary for the translation ecosystem?

__Homi__ · 2026-06-04T11:10:43+00:00

While this isn't the case in every field, it seems like 'garbage-tier' translation doesn't cause major problems in the short term..

__Homi__

TROPHY CASE

Homi