You Never Think You’ll Need a Translator
The Partnership That's Redefining Small Business Success
WRITTEN BY: CLARE SUTTIE, DIRECTOR, ATLAS TRANSLATIONS LTD
Translation? Surely that’s for the big guns—multinational companies with offices in New York, London, and Skegness, right? Well, not quite.
Run a business? Solopreneur? Boutique agency? Or maybe you're just trying to sort out paperwork for a visa? Whatever your situation, translation has a way of sneaking up on you. One minute, you're coasting down the “Everything’s in English” highway. Next, you're two hours into a staring contest with a document in German, with no clue on what you just e-signed.
You don’t have to be a global player to need translation. It happens all the time—to individuals, to small businesses, to folks who never saw it coming.
“That’ll Never Be Me. Right?”
Most people assume translation is for someone else. The bigger company. The flashier brand. The international spy. In other words, probably not you.
But then...
You get an email from a potential non-English speaking client
The local council is asking for a translated birth certificate
Your e-commerce product starts shipping to Japan
Your UK English website baffles your American audience—what even is a “courgette”?
Whether it’s a business deal, personal paperwork, or a hilariously awkward moment on social media, translation can quickly go from “someone else’s problem” to yours.
Surprise! These Aren’t Just Business Problems
Translation doesn’t only show up in multi-million-pound deals. It pops up in the everyday:
A small business owner receives a product enquiry from Belgium and doesn’t want to reply using Google Translate.
A freelance designer needs their contract translated into Spanish to land the client of a lifetime.
A newlywed needs a marriage certificate translated for a visa application.
Your social media reel gets shared by a French influencer—suddenly your comments are en feu.
That visa application? Now they want medical records translated. Today.
These aren’t hypotheticals. They’re real-life inbox moments. Cue internal screaming.
Speaking of Google Translate…
Look, we’re not here to bash it. It has its moments. Great for reading a menu in Milan or figuring out what milk you’ve just bought in Denmark.
But—and it’s a big but—if you’re translating anything with emotional weight, legal implications, or professional stakes, Google Translate is not your friend.
One company used it to translate an “employees must wash hands” sign. What they ended up with was closer to “staff must launder hands before returning to war.” Not ideal, not even close (unless you work in retail during the holidays…)
When real people are reading your content—partners, police, immigration officers—don’t you want to get it right the first time?
The Calm, Confident Guide to Translation (Zero Panic Required)
Here’s how to handle any situation when the need for translation help pops up like your morning toast:
Step One: Pause. Ask yourself—who’s going to read this? If it’s just you decoding a Milanese menu, you’re fine. If it’s tied to your business, your legal status, or your credibility, time to tag in the pros.
Step Two: Find a professional. Not your bilingual mate. Not someone who took GCSE French. A proper, human translator who knows the difference between literal meaning and cultural nuance.
What to look for:
Sector-specific experience (legal, medical, marketing, etc.)
Native speaker ability, not just fluency
Understanding of tone, nuance, and regional differences
Happy client references
Whether it’s a business proposal, visa document, or subtitles for your viral video—professional translation saves time, money, and major headaches.
Words Are Important. But Being Understood Is Vital.
(Warning: incoming philosophical metaphor…)
Think of translation as a bridge. A strong, steady one—not the wobbly kind that makes your stomach drop. Allowing you to leave the land of one language behind and arriving with clarity and confidence in another.
Your intent shines through like the incandescent lights illuminating the road ahead of you. You travel smoothly across the bridge, avoiding the rough waters of cultural insensitivity. Nuance is ever-present, like those nifty reflective thingies that divide the traffic lanes.
I should probably get the Pulitzer for that.
What Should I Take Away From This?
From overseas clients to legal forms, from social media to medical records—translation matters more than most people expect.
Whether it's business or personal, getting it right means finding the right translator. You’ll need a team who provides smart, accurate translation through understanding the culture, context, and impact.
When that moment comes along and you need translation help; I know of a fantastic team who can help! 😉
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Clare Suttie is the founder of a brilliantly human translation agency that covers over 340 languages and counting. From written translation and spoken interpreting to subtitling and voiceovers, Clare’s team help individuals, startups, and global brands communicate clearly, confidently, and accessibly across borders. Known for her speed, discretion, and warmth, Clare’s team understands tight deadlines and tight-lipped contracts, regularly working under NDA. When she’s not bridging language gaps, Clare can be found sea swimming, stopping foxes from eating her chickens, yarn bombing local monuments with colourful crochet, or convincing her kids that languages are, in fact, a Very Good Thing.
