How do I keep my translation agency’s rush-job clients happy during the sale?
Keep rush work moving exactly as before: same contact, same turnaround, same quality checks. Tell your most urgent clients early and personally, name who is on call during the handover, and avoid any change to workflow or invoicing until the sale has closed.
Clients who send rush work care about one thing above price: that someone answers and the job is done on time. A sale is when that confidence is tested, so protect the routine. Identify which clients send urgent work, who handles each, and which translators they rely on. Make sure those people stay available, and that a backup exists for anyone who might leave during the process. Tell the key rush clients yourself, before rumours do. Say what is staying the same, who they should call during the handover and how quickly problems will be answered. If you can, introduce the buyer once the deal is firm. Do not ask clients to accept new terms or contact methods until the buyer takes over.
During the sale, watch for stress points. A missed deadline now will be remembered. Keep a log of rush jobs, delays and any worried messages so you can respond fast and so the buyer sees the real picture. Be honest about weak points, such as a language that depends on one freelancer, and plan how to cover them. Clear communication lets clients feel the handover is planned, not a gamble.
Key takeaways
- Keep the same contact, process and turnaround for rush clients until the sale closes.
- Tell urgent clients personally and say who is on call during the handover.
- Name backups for key translators and log any problems for the buyer.
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to minimize negotiations when selling your business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaIndustryHow to sell your business
- 03Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernment7 steps to increase your business’ value—before you sell it
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