Certified translation service
Business Translation Services
Translation and localisation for companies working across languages.
What are business translation services?
Business translation services are the professional conversion of corporate documents — contracts, financial statements, marketing content, HR policies and technical manuals — from one language into another by qualified linguists, delivered under an ISO 17100 workflow with a signed certificate of accuracy accepted by UK companies, regulators and courts.
How much do business translation services cost in the UK?
Business translation services in the UK cost £0.10–£0.20 per word for longer texts, or from £25 per document for short standard business certificates and one-page items.
How long does business translation take?
Standard turnaround is 2–3 working days for every business document type, single-page or multi-page.
What types of business documents can we translate?
We translate the full range of UK business documents, including commercial contracts, NDAs, master services agreements, board minutes, annual reports, financial statements, HR handbooks, employee policies, marketing collateral, pitch decks, technical manuals, product specifications, patents, tenders and audit reports.
Which industries commonly use business translation services?
The industries that most frequently commission business translation in the UK are legal and professional services, financial services and banking, life sciences and pharmaceuticals, engineering and manufacturing, technology and SaaS, marketing and media, and the public sector.
How do we ensure quality on every business translation?
We ensure quality through a five-step ISO 17100 workflow: project scoping, translation by a subject-qualified linguist, revision by a second linguist, final QA, and a signed certificate of accuracy.
Business Translation Services are a certified corporate language service that converts contracts, financial statements, HR policies, marketing copy and technical manuals across 150+ languages, produced under an ISO 17100 workflow with a signed certificate of accuracy for UK business use.
What are business translation services?
Business translation services are the professional conversion of corporate documents — contracts, financial statements, marketing content, HR policies and technical manuals — from one language into another by qualified linguists, delivered under an ISO 17100 workflow with a signed certificate of accuracy accepted by UK companies, regulators and courts. Every project is assigned to a CIOL, ITI or ATC-registered translator working exclusively into their native language, ensuring idiomatic precision across complex commercial subject matter.
The scope of documents covered is broad: from board minutes and annual reports through to patents, audit reports, pitch decks and tender submissions. We have served clients across legal, financial services, life sciences, engineering, technology, marketing and the public sector — drawing on more than 30 years of experience supporting UK organisations trading across borders. That depth of experience means our project managers understand the regulatory and commercial stakes attached to every file we handle.
- Coverage: 150+ languages, including French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Russian, Turkish, Korean, Czech and Norwegian.
- Standard: ISO 17100 workflow with mandatory second-linguist revision before delivery.
- Translators: CIOL, ITI or ATC-registered linguists working into their native language.
- Artefact delivered: Signed certificate of accuracy included at no extra cost.
- Turnaround: 2–3 working days for standard business documents; large projects scoped individually.
- Pricing: From £0.10–£0.20 per word, or from £25 for short standard documents.
How much do business translation services cost in the UK?
Business translation services in the UK cost £0.10–£0.20 per word for longer texts, or from £25 per document for short standard business certificates and one-page items. Final price depends on language pair, subject complexity, document length beyond 250 words, and urgency, with same-day or weekend delivery adding a 30–50% surcharge.
| Item | Price basis | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Short business document (1 page) | From £25 per document | 2–3 working days |
| Longer certified business text | £0.10–£0.20 per word | 2–3 working days |
| Standard (uncertified) internal translation | From £0.08 per word | 2–3 working days |
| Same-day or weekend delivery | +30–50% surcharge | Same day / weekend |
| Large legal, technical or regulatory project | Quoted individually | Scoped case by case |
What are the four factors that drive business translation pricing?
Four factors drive the price of a business translation quote: language-pair rarity, subject-matter complexity, document length beyond a 250-word standard page, and urgency of delivery.
- Language-pair rarity: Common European pairs sit at the lower end; rarer African, Central Asian or Nordic pairs sit higher.
- Subject complexity: Legal, medical, patent and financial texts need expert translators and second-linguist review.
- Length beyond 250 words: Documents over one standard page shift from per-document to per-word pricing.
- Urgency: Same-day, overnight or weekend delivery adds a 30–50% surcharge.
How much should you pay to translate a business document?
For a short standard business document, expect £25 per document; for longer contracts, reports and manuals, expect £0.10–£0.20 per word certified. Standard (uncertified) internal translation is cheaper, from around £0.08 per word. Prices below this range often signal unqualified translators and carry commercial risk.
How does UK VAT apply to business translation quotes?
UK VAT at 20% is added to translation invoices for UK business clients, while eligible overseas business clients are billed under the reverse-charge mechanism with no UK VAT. We show VAT as a separate line on every quote so procurement and finance teams can reconcile the cost cleanly.
What does a business document price table by document type look like?
The table below maps 12 common UK business documents to their price basis and standard 2–3 working-day turnaround.
| Business document | Price basis | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Master Services Agreement (MSA) | £0.10–£0.20 per word | 2–3 working days |
| NDA (single page) | From £25 per document | 2–3 working days |
| Board minutes | £0.10–£0.20 per word | 2–3 working days |
| Financial statements | £0.10–£0.20 per word | 2–3 working days |
| EHS manuals | £0.10–£0.20 per word | 2–3 working days |
| HR handbooks | £0.10–£0.20 per word | 2–3 working days |
| Pitch decks | £0.10–£0.20 per word | 2–3 working days |
| Patents | £0.10–£0.20 per word | Scoped individually |
| Tenders and RFPs | £0.10–£0.20 per word | 2–3 working days |
| Terms & Conditions | £0.10–£0.20 per word | 2–3 working days |
| Audit reports | £0.10–£0.20 per word | 2–3 working days |
| Product specifications | £0.10–£0.20 per word | 2–3 working days |
How long does business translation take?
Standard turnaround is 2–3 working days for the full range of business document types, whether single-page or multi-page. That window covers the full ISO 17100 workflow: initial translation by a specialist linguist, independent second-linguist revision, and final quality sign-off — so speed is never achieved by cutting quality steps. Large technical, legal and regulatory projects are scoped and quoted individually, with a dedicated project manager providing a timeline before work begins.
Do you offer urgent or same-day business translation?
Same-day and weekend business translation is available at a 30–50% surcharge, subject to translator availability in the required language pair and subject area. Urgent projects follow the same ISO 17100 two-linguist quality path; what changes is scheduling — a compressed scoping call is completed immediately and a dedicated project manager remains on shift throughout delivery. This approach reflects the reality that the quality standard cannot be lowered simply because the deadline is tighter.
For context, projects covering a high volume of languages — such as technical manuals or instructions for use spanning 17 or more languages — are always individually quoted with a phased delivery plan, ensuring each language version receives the same rigour regardless of the overall scale.
What types of business documents can you translate?
We translate the full range of UK business documents, including commercial contracts, NDAs, master services agreements, board minutes, annual reports, financial statements, HR handbooks, employee policies, marketing collateral, pitch decks, technical manuals, product specifications, patents, tenders and audit reports. Every document type follows the same ISO 17100 quality chain.
What are legal and contractual business documents?
Legal business documents include commercial contracts, NDAs, MSAs, T&Cs, shareholder agreements and litigation exhibits, translated by legally qualified linguists under ISO 17100. Legal translation is delivered with a signed certificate of accuracy accepted by HM Courts, HMRC and UK regulators.
What are financial and audit documents?
Financial translations cover annual reports, statutory accounts, audit letters, investor decks and IFRS-aligned statements for cross-border filings. Our finance translators hold sector experience in banking, asset management and audit, and use client-locked terminology bases for consistency.
What are HR, compliance and internal communications documents?
HR translations cover employee handbooks, contracts of employment, DE&I policies, safety notices and internal communications for multilingual workforces. UK GDPR-aligned data handling applies to every HR file we process.
What is marketing, website and transcreation translation?
Marketing translations include websites, brochures, press releases, campaign copy and transcreation for adapted brand voice, with desktop publishing for print-ready output. Website localisation includes SEO metadata, currency and UK regulatory phrasing.
What are technical, engineering and product documents?
Technical business documents cover product specifications, installation manuals, EHS documents and patents. Complex industrial projects are routed to our Technical Translation service for CAD-aware DTP and engineering-grade terminology control.
Which industries commonly use business translation services?
The industries that most frequently commission business translation in the UK are legal and professional services, financial services and banking, life sciences and pharmaceuticals, engineering and manufacturing, technology and SaaS, marketing and media, and the public sector.
Which legal, financial and professional services in the City and Canary Wharf use business translation?
Law firms, banks and consultancies in the City of London and Canary Wharf commission certified translation for contracts, deal documents, KYC files and regulatory filings. Deal timelines are tight, so second-linguist review is scheduled from day one of scoping.
How is business translation used in healthcare, pharma and life sciences?
Pharmaceutical companies, CROs and NHS trusts use business translation for clinical trial documents, patient-facing materials and pharmacovigilance reports. Regulated medical work is handled by our Medical Translation service.
How is business translation used in engineering, manufacturing and technology?
Manufacturers and technology firms translate technical documentation, patents, software strings and product specifications for global rollout. Software translation includes UI strings, help content and release notes handled through connected translation management.
How do you ensure quality on every business translation?
We ensure quality through a five-step ISO 17100 workflow: project scoping, translation by a subject-qualified linguist, revision by a second linguist, final QA, and a signed certificate of accuracy. Every translator is a member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) or the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) and works only into their native language and specialism.
- Scoping: Word count, subject, glossary, deadline and file format confirmed.
- Translation: A qualified native-language translator drafts the target text.
- Revision: A second linguist reviews against the source line by line.
- QA: Project manager runs formatting, numbers and terminology checks, then proofread.
- Certificate: A signed certificate of accuracy is issued on company letterhead.
What does the ISO 17100 workflow involve?
ISO 17100 requires a qualified translator, a second-linguist reviser, defined project management, and traceable records. Every business translation we deliver follows this chain, and audit logs are retained for our ISO 17100 translation agency status.
Who are your business translators?
Our business translators are CIOL, ITI or ATC-registered professional linguists who translate only into their native language. Each expert translator holds sector experience in law, finance, life sciences, engineering or marketing, so terminology lands correctly the first time.
How do you handle terminology and brand voice?
We build client-specific glossaries and translation memories so terminology, product names and brand voice stay consistent across every future job. Multilingual glossaries are versioned and shared with your team for sign-off before rollout.
Are business translation documents kept confidential?
Yes — every business translation is handled under a standing confidentiality policy, a per-project NDA available on request, and UK GDPR-aligned data handling. Source files are stored on encrypted UK-hosted infrastructure, accessed only by the assigned linguist and project manager, and deleted on request after delivery with written confirmation provided.
Confidentiality is not a bolt-on; it is built into how every project is structured. Each linguist on our panel operates under a standing non-disclosure agreement before any file is assigned to them. For clients in law, financial services or HR — where documents routinely contain commercially sensitive, legally privileged or personally identifiable information — a project-specific NDA can be executed and countersigned by the assigned team before translation begins. Our data handling practices are compliant with the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, and all processing remains within UK-hosted encrypted storage with strict role-based access controls.
Solicitors, accountants, HR directors and financial institutions rely on these protections when entrusting us with contracts, NDAs, board minutes, financial statements and personnel records. Our confidentiality framework is why sensitive business translation UK buyers return to us project after project.
Which languages do you cover for business translation?
We cover 150+ languages for business translation, spanning high-volume European pairs — French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese and Polish — through to major Asian languages including Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hindi and Arabic, and extending to lower-volume African, Middle Eastern and South Asian languages. A native business-domain specialist is sourced for every language pair, ensuring that technical, legal and financial terminology is handled with sector-appropriate precision rather than generic equivalence.
Our language coverage reflects the full breadth of markets served by UK businesses. Whether a client needs a contract translated into Norwegian for a Scandinavian joint venture, a technical manual rendered into Japanese for an engineering partner, or a set of HR handbooks localised into 17 languages simultaneously for a global rollout, a qualified specialist is available. Core pairs — including Spanish, French, German and Arabic — are staffed on a daily basis, while less common language pairs are sourced from our wider panel without compromising on the ISO 17100 quality standard applied to every project.
- European languages: French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese, Polish, Czech, Norwegian, Russian, Turkish and more.
- Asian languages: Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hindi, Bengali, Urdu, Thai, Vietnamese and more.
- Middle Eastern and African languages: Arabic, Hebrew, Swahili, Amharic and further languages on request.
- All pairs: Assigned to a native-speaking, business-domain-qualified translator under the ISO 17100 workflow.
How does business translation compare with interpreting and localisation?
Business translation, interpreting and localisation are three distinct disciplines that address different communication needs — and most UK organisations operating internationally require all three at different stages of a project. Business translation converts written documents; interpreting converts speech in real time for meetings, negotiations, hearings and conferences; localisation adapts digital products and marketing content to a target market's culture, regulation, currency and consumer expectations. Understanding where each service applies prevents costly mis-scoping and ensures the right specialism is deployed from the outset.
| Service | What it converts | Typical business use |
|---|---|---|
| Business Translation | Written documents | Contracts, financial reports, manuals, patents, tenders |
| Interpretation | Live spoken language | Meetings, negotiations, arbitrations, tribunals |
| Localisation | Digital products and marketing | Websites, software UI, e-commerce, campaigns |
| Transcreation | Creative brand copy | Slogans, advertising, brand narratives |
| Transcription | Audio or video to written text | Board recordings, interviews, depositions |
The distinction matters practically. A multinational contract negotiation, for example, typically requires interpreting during the negotiation itself, translation of the executed agreement, and localisation of any associated marketing or compliance materials rolled out in-market. Our translation and interpretation services are delivered by the same specialist team, which means agreed terminology carries seamlessly from the boardroom into the signed document — a consistency that is difficult to achieve when services are sourced separately from multiple providers.
Businesses entering new markets often underestimate the role of localisation. A direct translation of a website or pitch deck is not the same as a localised one: localisation accounts for regional legal requirements, cultural references, date and currency formats, and the expectations of a local audience. We offer all three services under a single engagement, managed by one project lead, for coherent multilingual communication at every touchpoint.
How do you get a quote for business translation services?
To get a business translation quote, send the source files, target languages, deadline and any reference glossary to our London office by email or the on-page form. We reply the same working day with a fixed price, delivery date, ISO 17100 process outline and NDA if required.
What information do you need to price a business translation project?
To price accurately we need the source language, target languages, subject area, document format, word count or file, deadline, and whether a signed certificate of accuracy is required. VAT treatment and reverse-charge status are confirmed at quote stage.
Where are you based and what are your office hours?
Our London office is at Suite 544, Unit B, 63-66 Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8LE, reachable on +44 20 4569 1419, open Monday to Saturday, 9:00–18:00. As a London-based translation agency, we deliver across the UK and internationally.
Below are the questions UK business buyers ask most often before commissioning a certified translation project.
Frequently asked questions
What our clients say about our business translation services
Don't just take our word for it. Businesses across the UK trust us to deliver accurate translations, delivered on time, at competitive prices. Here is what some of our clients have to say about working with our award-winning translation agency and its expert translators.
- "A reliable translation partner for our board-level financial reports — precise translation, delivered on time, every quarter." — Head of Finance, UK-listed group.
- "Their certified translation services agency handled our patent portfolio across 12 languages without a single terminology query missed." — IP Counsel, engineering manufacturer.
- "A leading provider of quality language services for our HR rollout — 8 languages, one glossary, seamless coordination." — People Director, SaaS company.
- "The best translation and interpreting services we have used for international business — a genuine leader in translation for legal deal work." — Managing Partner, City law firm.
To brief a project with our language service provider, call +44 20 4569 1419 or email our London team — services for your business are scoped and quoted the same working day.
How much do professional translation services typically cost?
Professional certified translation in the UK is typically priced at £0.10–£0.20 per word, depending on the language pair and subject matter. Short personal documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, diplomas and passports are usually quoted at a fixed price per document — starting from £25. Large technical, legal or regulatory projects are quoted individually. A signed certificate of accuracy is included in every certified translation at no extra cost.
What is business translation?
Business translation is the professional rendering of commercial documents — contracts, financial reports, corporate filings, HR policies, marketing materials and regulatory submissions — from one language into another. Unlike general translation, business translation requires subject-matter expertise in areas such as law, finance or compliance, as well as precise terminology. For UK-market work, certified business translations produced under an ISO 17100 process and checked by a second linguist are accepted by bodies such as the Home Office, HM Passport Office, courts and regulators.
How much do translation services cost in the UK?
In the UK, certified translation is typically charged at £0.10–£0.20 per word, with the exact rate depending on the language pair and technical complexity. Single personal documents — such as birth, marriage or death certificates, passports, IDs and diplomas — start from £25 per document. Standard turnaround is 2–3 working days; same-day or weekend delivery is available at a 30–50% surcharge. Large or highly specialised projects are quoted individually.
How much should I pay someone to translate a document?
For a certified translation accepted by UK authorities, expect to pay £0.10–£0.20 per word or from £25 for a single personal document such as a certificate or passport. The price varies with the language pair, subject complexity and urgency. A reputable provider operating to ISO 17100 standards includes a signed certificate of accuracy and a second-linguist review at no extra charge — these are requirements for Home Office, court and university submissions, so avoid services that omit them.
Can I translate a document for free?
Free or machine-translated documents are not accepted for official UK purposes such as Home Office visa applications, court proceedings or university admissions. Authorities require a certified translation — a human translation accompanied by a signed certificate of accuracy confirming its completeness and correctness. While free tools can give a rough personal understanding of a foreign document, only a certified translation produced by a qualified translator and reviewed by a second linguist meets the legal and institutional standards required in the UK.
Need a certified translation today?
Send us your document and we will confirm the price and delivery date. No obligation.
Mon–Sat, 9:00 – 18:00 · Suite 544, Unit B, 63-66 Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8LE