Invoice templates for localisation specialists billing software companies and global brands for content adaptation and cultural localisation.
A localisation specialist invoice is issued by a professional translator and cultural adaptor to a software company, global brand, media company, or game publisher for the localisation of digital products, software interfaces, apps, websites, marketing materials, and multimedia content for specific target markets and cultures. Localisation goes beyond translation to adapt content culturally, technically, and linguistically for a target market. A localization specialist working on a UK market adaptation of a US product might adjust date formats, currencies, measurements, cultural references, and spelling conventions, not just translate the words. The localisation industry in the UK is supported by the Localisation Industry Standards Association (LISA, now subsumed into GALA) and uses industry-standard tools such as SDL Trados, memoQ, or Phrase (formerly Memsource). Translation memories and glossaries are key assets in professional localisation projects.
| Service | Typical Rate | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Localisation (new words, per word) | 0.12 | word |
| TM leveraged (75-99% match, per word) | 0.05 | word |
| TM exact match (100%, per word) | 0.02 | word |
| Software UI localisation (per string) | 1.5 | string |
| Localisation QA and review (per hour) | 60 | hour |
| Terminology glossary development | 500 | glossary |
Localisation work is typically invoiced per word using a translation memory analysis report. Provide the client with the word count analysis showing new words, leveraged matches, and exact matches at their respective rates. For software and app localisation, pricing by string (individual translatable text unit) rather than word count may be more appropriate, as short strings (buttons, error messages) take disproportionate time relative to their word count. For large projects with multiple target languages, invoice per language as separate line items. This gives the client clear visibility of per-language costs and makes budget approval easier. For ongoing localisation programmes, establish a monthly retainer or per-project rate and invoice monthly. Translation memories grow in value over time and TM leverage benefits both you (faster production) and the client (reduced cost). Factor this into your pricing model.