(Last Updated On: October 20, 2017)One of the greatest advantages about phone interpreters is the affordable price they charge for their services. Their fees are considerable cheaper than face to face interpreters.

Why phone interpreters are cheaper

• Phone interpreters do not need to go to client´s location. They offer their services by phone and therefore they don't have to spend their time traveling. It is not necessary to pay for transportation, accommodation or food.
• As interpreters are in remote zones, they do not need to be available at the office waiting for the assignments; therefore employers do not need to pay for the time they do not effectively work and it allows lowering the fees for the final client.
• When the client contact phone interpreters they only need to pay the time they stay on the phone without any extra fees associated to their work. Therefore a phone interpreter has more free time in his hands.
• As the interpretation business has gone global, there are more interpreters available and therefore more competition that lower the price. While this is a disadvantage for the interpreters, lowering their rates may bring them more customers.
• Phone interpreters do not need expensive and sophisticated equipment to deliver their services. Usually a telephone and headset equipment is sufficient to deliver interpretation services. This also translates into spending less money for maintaining the equipment.
• As interpreters might be located in remote zones with more affordable living conditions than the country where the services are delivered, some clients can get benefits of this difference and find better fees. Also, the interpreter living in such an area would make more money compared to others.

As the technology improves and the market grows the natural tendency is that interpreters keep lowering their fees. However, it is important for interpreters to provide high quality services so clients are happy with the interpretation and would come back for more.