How do I start a translation agency from scratch?

Pick a niche first — legal, medical, technical, marketing. Specialisation gets you better clients faster than being a generalist. Register the business (a sole proprietorship is the simplest starting point), build a small team of trusted freelancers, and create a basic online presence. Then focus on your first clients. Local businesses, law firms, and export companies often need translation but don't know where to look. Once you land early projects and deliver reliably, referrals and repeat business do the heavy lifting.