The verdict in three sentences
For a technical translation agency in Berlin, a website with an instant quote by file upload costs, as a 2026 order of magnitude, EUR 8,000 to 16,000 excluding VAT, including EUR 3,000 to 7,000 for the module that counts words and applies the rate card. With displayed rates of EUR 0.09 to 0.16 per word and an average order of EUR 600 to 4,000, a few extra orders a month pay back the project. ISO 17100 compliance and visible confidentiality (NDA, encryption, file deletion) are what reassure a procurement buyer at an engineering firm or a law practice.
What a B2B buyer expects on your site
A buyer at an engineering firm in Adlershof, a mobility start-up in Kreuzberg or a law firm on Potsdamer Platz has an 18,000-word technical manual or a contract bundle to translate into English, French or Polish, a tight deadline and confidentiality constraints. They want to know within two minutes what it costs, how long it takes, and whether their files are safe. A contact form with a 24 to 48 hour reply often sends them to the competitor who answers first.
| Content type | Rate per word (2026 order of magnitude) | Standard output | Typical requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical documentation (manuals, datasheets) | EUR 0.12 to 0.16 | 2,500 words per day per translator | Client terminology, ASD-STE100 for aerospace |
| Legal (contracts, terms, articles) | EUR 0.13 to 0.16 | 2,000 words per day | Legally trained translator, revision |
| General industrial | EUR 0.10 to 0.13 | 2,500 to 3,000 words per day | Translation memory |
| Marketing and web | EUR 0.11 to 0.15 | 2,000 words per day | Cultural adaptation |
| Revision only | EUR 0.04 to 0.06 | 6,000 to 8,000 words per day | Second linguist (ISO 17100) |
| Machine translation post-editing | EUR 0.06 to 0.09 | 5,000 words per day | Client consent to AI use, ISO 18587 |
Displaying these rates, even as ranges, filters out unqualified requests and signals expertise. ISO 17100 requires a second linguist to revise every translation, which justifies rates above freelance marketplace levels.
The file-upload quote module
The client uploads a Word, PDF, Excel, InDesign or XLIFF file, selects languages and service level. The module extracts the text, counts words, detects repetitions and applies the rate card. It shows a price and turnaround, then offers an electronic NDA and either a deposit payment or a purchase order.
| Feature | In a EUR 8,000 site | In a EUR 16,000 site |
|---|---|---|
| Service pages by sector and language | 8 to 12 pages | 20 to 30 pages |
| Word count for Word, text PDF, Excel | Yes | Yes |
| Scanned PDF (OCR), InDesign, XLIFF | No | Yes |
| Discount for repetitions and memory matches | Simple grid | Fuzzy-match bands |
| Electronic NDA and automatic file deletion | Deletion at 30 days | Online NDA, configurable deletion |
| Online deposit payment | No | Yes (card, SEPA) |
| Client portal and quote history | No | Yes |
| Delivery time | 8 weeks | 10 weeks |
On security, files are encrypted at rest, hosted in Germany or the EU, and access is logged, which aligns with GDPR and German clients' expectations under the BDSG. For defence-related clients, state clearly that export-controlled documents must not go through a web form and route them to a dedicated channel.
SEO: target the queries that buy
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Searches such as "technische Übersetzung Englisch", "Fachübersetzung Maschinenbau" or "legal translation Berlin" are low volume but highly qualified. One page per sector and language pair, with examples of document types and real turnaround times, ranks better than a generic services page. The languages offered on the site are set in the quote.
Mini case study
Katrin, owner of a Berlin technical translation agency (6 in-house translators, 25 freelancers, ISO 17100 certified), receives 90 quote requests a month by email and converts 25%, with a EUR 1,500 average order and 40% margin. Her 24-hour reply time costs her fast-moving tenders.
After a EUR 13,000 site with instant quotes, conversion rises to 32% on a volume lifted to 110 requests through SEO. Calculation: 110 x 32% = 35 orders versus 22.5 before, so 12.5 extra orders x EUR 1,500 x 40% = EUR 7,500 extra margin per month. Add 15 hours a month of manual quoting saved. The site pays back in under 2 months once activity stabilises.
FAQ
Is automatic word count as reliable as a CAT tool? For Word and Excel, the gap with Trados or memoQ stays under 2%. For complex PDFs, the quote is flagged as indicative and confirmed by a project manager within 4 hours.
Can the module connect to our translation management system? Yes, the main tools (XTRF, Plunet, Protemos) offer APIs. Integration is priced in the quote, usually 1 to 2 weeks of work.
How do we reassure clients on confidentiality? Display your deletion policy (for example 30 days), encryption, EU hosting and the option to sign an NDA before upload. ISO 17100 and ISO 27001 certifications shown prominently weigh heavily in German procurement.
Should we show per-word prices? Yes, as ranges, for example EUR 0.12 to 0.16 for technical content. Buyers compare 3 to 4 agencies and drop those offering no benchmark.
What should we budget after launch? Maintenance and monthly SEO are priced by number of pages and languages. Allow at least 3 to 6 months of regular publishing before the first strong rankings.
Let's scope your project. We define sectors, accepted file formats and the quote calculation rules with you, for launch in 8 to 10 weeks. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
