Kenelle
Light entrepreneurship for translators
As a light entrepreneur working in translation, here's how it works: you take on an assignment, translate the text, and invoice for the work through the Truster app without a Business ID (Y-tunnus) of your own. Truster handles the invoicing, tax withholding and reporting for you, and your pay lands in your bank account. Light entrepreneurship suits the translation field especially well, since assignments are often irregular and come from many different clients.
Translation assignments and pricing
Typical assignments include document and website translations, localization of marketing copy, UI text for software and apps, subtitling, proofreading and language review, plus interpreting jobs. Clients range from translation agencies and companies to publishers and private individuals. Many translators subcontract for agencies while building direct client relationships alongside, where they set their own pricing.
In translation, pricing is most often based on the word count or page count of the source text. Proofreading, post-editing and less clearly defined work are billed at an hourly rate. Specialized subject matter, urgent deliveries and rarer language pairs justify a higher price. Set a minimum fee for small jobs, so that even short assignments are worthwhile.
Invoicing frequency varies by client: translation agencies often prefer a monthly summary invoice for completed work, while direct clients are invoiced on delivery. Both work fine in the Truster app, and you can use a previous invoice as a template for a new one.
Tools and expenses for translators
A translator's expenses are mostly software and ergonomics-related: translation memory and terminology tools, dictionaries and specialized reference material, a computer and monitors, an ergonomic workstation, plus professional training and association memberships. Interpreting work also generates travel costs. Log your expenses and mileage in the Truster app, and they'll be factored into your pay automatically according to tax authority guidelines.
If you produce authorized (certified) translations, make sure your qualifications and stamping practices are in order: up-to-date requirements are available on the Finnish National Agency for Education's website. Ordinary general-text translations require no separate authorization.
How much do you actually take home?
Truster's service fee is 3.99% of your invoicing or a flat 55 €/month. After the service fee, tax is withheld from your pay according to your tax card, and the remainder is paid to your account as salary. VAT is usually added to the invoice — the standard rate is 25.5% — and the client pays it on top of the invoice amount. Estimate your own take-home pay with our calculators at truster.com/laskurit.
Payment terms from translation agencies can be long. HetiPalkka pays your salary even before the invoice due date, so you get access to the money as soon as the job is done.
You can see the status of your invoices in the app in real time, and for overdue payments, Maksuvahti sends reminders on your behalf for 1.99 €/invoice. Foreign clients can also come up in translation work: if that happens, ask Truster's customer service how best to handle the invoicing, so VAT and other details are handled correctly.
Getting started as a translator
Download the app, create a free account, and invoice for your first translation with no setup costs. Many translation agencies require subcontractors to be ready to invoice: as a light entrepreneur, you have that readiness immediately, without setting up a company or taking on bookkeeping obligations.
Work in translation often comes in cycles: one week might bring three assignments, the next none at all. The cost-free baseline of light entrepreneurship suits this well, since you only pay for the service when you invoice. Build direct client relationships alongside your agency clients, where you set your own pricing: there's steady demand for website and marketing material translations among small and medium-sized businesses.
Truster takes care of tax withholding, VAT and reporting, so you can focus on the language. If translation work becomes your main occupation, you can consider setting up your own company later.
Frequently asked questions
Does a translator need a Business ID (Y-tunnus)?
No, you don't. As a light entrepreneur, you invoice for translation work through Truster without your own company. This also works for subcontracting for translation agencies: just let the client know that invoicing happens through an invoicing service.
How should I price translation work?
The most common approach is a per-word price based on the source text, with proofreading and editing billed hourly. Demanding specialized fields, urgent jobs and rare language pairs justify a higher price. Always agree on the price and delivery time in writing before starting the work.
Who owns the copyright to a translation?
A translation receives independent copyright protection, and the right belongs to the translator. In client work, the transfer of usage rights is agreed in the assignment terms. Practices vary in publishing and audiovisual work, so read contracts carefully before signing.
Can I deduct translation software and dictionaries as expenses?
Yes, work-related purchases such as translation memory software licenses, reference material and equipment are logged as expenses in the Truster app. They're factored into your salary payment according to tax authority guidelines. Keep your receipts and log expenses right after purchase.
Start invoicing today
The account is free and comes with no obligations. You only pay when you invoice.