Nearly 20% of people in the United States, 67.8 million, spoke a language other than English at home in 2019, according to the United States Census Bureau. The most popular languages other than English were Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese and Arabic.
If you speak another language and are looking to a little extra money on the side, consider leaning on your double ease. There are many avenues to explore in terms of what you might translate, and the the gig is often flexible. It’s the kind of hustle and bustle that can be done “24/7,” says Kathy Kristof, founder and editor-in-chief of Sidehusl.com.
Here’s how to start a side business as a translator.
Create a profile on sites like Thumbtack or Fiverr
People hire translators for all kinds of tasks. This includes translating articles, press kits, scripts, novels And so on. Some gigs may require specialized training, such as those hiring to translate legal documents. But some may just require a general command of the language.
There are several ways to find a translation service:
- Sites like smart cat offer translation services, in particular. Translators can create a profile and the site connects them with clients. “They have software that will half-translate,” says Kristof. Once you’ve reviewed the AI translation, you can edit it to smooth out the language and make sure it makes sense.
- Sites like Fiverr, Upwork And Bug allows you to create a profile listing your skills and how much you seek to be paid for them. You can also search and apply for translation gigs on the sites.
- Sites like Freelancer.com, LinkedIn, In effect, Freak, career builder, ZipRecruiter and so on list part-time in-person and remote translation roles.