Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in freelancing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Bertille Bougrat, an audiovisual translator based in Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I am a translator specializing in audiovisual translation from French to English and vice versa. I translate video games, scripts for films and series. Also, I translate, create and synchronize subtitles. I specialize in creating subtitles and audiovisual content for the deaf and hard of hearing, as well as for the blind and visually impaired. In addition, I offer proofreading and localization services. My clientele is varied; I work for translation companies but also for private clients.

Tell us about yourself

I have always had a passion for traveling, sharing cultures, and, therefore, a passion for languages. I studied French and English literature at university before starting a Masters in translation. For me, translation is one of the best ways to allow people to better understand, discover and appreciate each other. It is really rewarding to help transmit ideas and values and participate in the broadening of the world.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I would say that my greatest achievement as a business owner is connecting and working with leading translation companies. This is because these companies allow you, as an individual translator, to work on very interesting and large-scale projects that can have a real impact on the world.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

I would say that the biggest challenge for a business owner is the inconsistency of the amount of work. You can be very busy for a period of time and then have no work for several weeks, especially in the beginning. Once your business grows and you find a customer base, this tends to diminish but never completely goes away.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Don't give up. Use the time without a project to work on other things that could help your business grow, such as creating or improving your website or social media platforms.
  2. Be organized. It is very important to be able to meet deadlines and keep a clear agenda to make your customers happy.
  3. Don't be afraid to communicate clearly what you can and cannot do. This will save you time, and transparency with the client is important for building trust.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.audiovisual-translation.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bertille-bougrat33a209148/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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