Starting Your Own Interpretation Services

If you worked for an interpretation agency for several years but you’re not satisfied with the salary or lack of career advancement, you can start your own interpretation services. This would especially a good idea if you’re skilled in more than two languages. The first thing you should do is formulate a business which states the purpose of your company, Also mention your company’s future projected sales and any business In addition, you should also apply for business grants for the agency.

Another thing you want to do is check with your city regarding zoning permits and business licenses for the agency because you want to make sure you start the business with everything in place legally. You should also get a tax ID or employer ID number from the IRS for tax purposes. Another thing you should do is locate a building after you obtained the funds. You want a building that’s near government buildings, hospitals and churches since these places will benefit greatly from your interpretation services.

After you do this you want to seek out certified interpreters who are looking for employers and aspiring interpreters. Visit university foreign language departments in the city and pass out business cards to the graduating seniors in that department. Another idea is to set up a booth at local job fairs and explain to attendants the benefits of working with your agency. For example, if you secured contracts with social service agencies and government agencies, emphasize this to attendants.

Now you’ll need to promote your interpretation services. Call local radio and TV public stations and inquire about underwriting opportunities as a form of advertising. Another thing you can do is hold interviews on these stations if you’re unable to underwrite programming. Place large ads in local independent magazines and advertise your business at community fairs..

Contact hospitals, social services, universities, radio stations, police stations and nursing homes and arrange to visit with the managers of these places to talk about your agency’s services.  Offer a discount on your services and bring some of your staff members so they can do a little interpreting as a showcase of your services. A fun idea would be to have a professional build your website and turn it into a mobile app for people to download to their faces.

In conclusion, an interpreting agency will benefit the community and as our world becomes more globalized, there will be a strong demand for interpreters.