Today I was sent a request to translate a PDF file and asked to convert it and format it to an equivalent Word file before working on it. The agency wanted me to quote a sum for the whole job (formatting + translation).
It is certainly not the first time this happens to me, but every time it does, I keep wondering how I should act and if my colleagues do the same or what they do differently. Today I thought I should come here and ask around ?
Some agencies take care of the formatting side themselves and always send you the files ready to be worked on.
Others don't do that and expect you to take care of the formatting without adding any extra price to the translation rate itself.
A third option (ours) is, you have the chance to give a value the time spent on formatting, which I think should always be done. What do you take into account in quotes? Do you calculate the time it will take you based on experience or what other factors?
