The Sign Language Company

What The Sign Language Company does

The Sign Language Company is a private, for-profit American Sign Language interpreting agency founded in 1986 by Bill Pugin and headquartered in Sherman Oaks, California. The company coordinates a curated nationwide network of over 300 professional and qualified sign language interpreters, matching them to assignments across six vertical segments: Education, Medical & Dental, Legal, Government, Entertainment, and Business. Its service portfolio comprises three core lines (Interpreters, Consultants, and Tutors), augmented by a premium Platinum Service tier that provides background-checked, security-cleared interpreters for high-profile government and diplomatic engagements. The founder, who completed formal training in Sign Language Interpreting at Gallaudet University in 1979, remains active as President and CEO, and the company cites engagements with five US Presidents and the Dalai Lama as evidence of its credentialed reputation.

Operationally, the business runs a lean internal team of 1–10 employees with Nigel Sanches as General Manager, relying on its distributed interpreter network rather than employed staff for service delivery. The go-to-market is sales-led and direct: clients submit detailed requests via the company's website form specifying event type, date, location, and communication preferences (ASL, PSE, Signed English, Tactile), and the company matches appropriate interpreters. Pricing is quote-based and assignment-driven, not publicly disclosed. No proprietary technology platform, mobile app, or integration ecosystem is disclosed; the company's digital footprint consists of a Wix-hosted website and social media channels. A secondary revenue stream comes from sales of founder Bill Pugin's memoir 'Fly On The Wall' through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Revenue, funding, and ownership details are not publicly disclosed. The company has no parent organization, no institutional investors, no subsidiaries, and no recorded M&A or funding rounds, suggesting an owner-operated, debt- and equity-free operating model concentrated with founders and management. Distribution is domestic-focused with a marketing claim of global reach, and the company positions itself as a 'boutique' agency emphasizing credentialing, specialty training, and high-profile client references rather than technology-led differentiation.

Name

The Sign Language Company

Legal name

The Sign Language Company

Website

https://signlanguageco.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Sign Language Company is a private ASL interpreting agency founded in 1986 in Sherman Oaks, California, providing certified interpreters, ADA consulting, and sign language tutoring across education, medical, legal, government, entertainment, and business verticals nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sign Language Interpretation Services

NAICS

Translation and Interpretation Services (541930), Translation and Interpretation Services (54193)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Note-Taking, Interpreting & Communication Access Services (EDALAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sign Language Learning Programs (ASL/BSL, etc.) (EDAMAFAM)

Keywords

• Sign language interpreting
• ASL interpretation services
• Deaf communication services
• ADA compliance consulting
• Entertainment sign language

Headquarters

HQ city

Sherman Oaks

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Interpreter Services: Professional sign language interpreting services billed per assignment. Services span various industries including education, medical, legal, government, entertainment, and business settings. Pricing is customized based on assignment complexity, duration, and specialization requirements.
2. Consulting Services: Professional consulting services for organizations needing expert knowledge of American Sign Language and Deaf Culture, including ADA compliance advisory.
3. Sign Language Instruction: Tutoring and workshop services providing sign language instruction and coaching, including actor training for entertainment industry roles.
4. Book Sales: Sale of memoir book 'Fly On The Wall' by Bill Pugin through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Sign Language Company is a professional ASL interpreting agency that coordinates a nationwide network of over 300 certified and qualified sign language interpreters for organizations across medical, legal, educational, government, and entertainment environments. The company also provides ADA compliance consulting, sign language tutoring (including actor preparation for entertainment industry roles), and a premium Platinum Service tier for high-security assignments involving world leaders and government officials.

Product overview

The Sign Language Company is a professional ASL interpreting agency offering sign language interpreting and communication solutions. The company's service portfolio consists of three core service lines—Interpreters (nationally certified professionals for medical, legal, educational, government, and entertainment settings), Consultants (ADA compliance consulting for workplaces and public events), and Tutors (sign language instruction including actor preparation)—augmented by a premium Platinum Interpreting Services tier featuring background-checked interpreters for high-profile assignments, and a published memoir book by founder Bill Pugin. Services are coordinated nationwide through a network of over 300 professional interpreters, with particular expertise in the entertainment industry serving film, television, and theatrical productions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sign Language Interpreters Professional sign language interpreting services featuring nationally certified interpreters matched to specific situations across medical, legal, educational, government, and entertainment environments. The company takes care in matching the right interpreter to each situation, ensuring clear and effective communication.
• Sign Language Consulting Services Professional consulting services for employment environments, conferences, trade shows, meetings, courts, and site visits, helping organizations meet ADA requirements and strengthen communication between Deaf and hearing communities through expert knowledge of American Sign Language and Deaf Culture.
• Sign Language Tutoring Sign language instruction and coaching in workshops, lectures, conferences, mentoring programs, and independent study, including specialized actor preparation for roles requiring sign language with training in facial expression, body movement, and cultural nuances essential for natural communication.
• Platinum Interpreting Services High-level interpreting services for high-profile settings featuring background-checked interpreters with current passports, designed for assignments requiring security clearance or heightened confidentiality for world leaders and government events.
• Fly On The Wall (Book) Memoir by Bill Pugin chronicling his journey learning American Sign Language through his Deaf sister to working alongside Oscar-winner Marlee Matlin, celebrating the power of connection and the art of interpretation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 25 years of service in Education, Medical, Legal, and Entertainment industries.

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• CMJ Interpreting & Translation Services: ASL interpreting agency focused on healthcare, educational, and business settings in the US Southwest; comparable in service lines and customer base.
• Interpreters Unlimited: Multi-language interpretation and ASL agency providing on-site, remote, and event interpreters across healthcare, legal, and education; competes with TSLC on similar RFPs.
• Sorenson Communications: Major provider of sign language interpreting services (Sorenson Interpreting) and Video Relay Service with deep healthcare, education, and government penetration across the United States.
• ASL Services Inc. Sign language interpreting agency serving corporate, medical, legal, and educational clients nationwide, directly comparable in service mix and customer base to TSLC.
• Purple Communications: Provides VRS, video remote interpreting, and on-site sign language interpreting services to deaf and hard-of-hearing customers across consumer and enterprise segments.
• LanguageLine Solutions: Largest US interpretation services provider offering on-site and Video Remote Interpretation for ASL alongside spoken languages. Directly comparable on enterprise interpretation matching, including healthcare, legal, and government verticals.
• Hanna Interpreting Services: California-based ASL interpreting agency offering on-site and remote interpreters across healthcare, legal, and education; competes directly with TSLC for the same enterprise verticals and geographic markets.

Emerging players

• Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD): Nonprofit social enterprise providing sign language interpreting, ASL classes, and advocacy; overlaps with TSLC in interpreting services while pursuing mission-driven differentiation.
• Quality Interpreting: ASL interpretation provider focused on educational, medical, and business settings in selected US regions; comparable in specialty but smaller geographic footprint than TSLC.

Broad incumbents

• Propio Language Services: Large interpretation services provider (formed via CyraCom acquisition) offering ASL video interpreting as part of a broader enterprise language services portfolio with technology-enabled delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/signlanguagecom
• YouTubeyoutube.com/signlanguagecom
• Facebookfacebook.com/thesignlanguagecompany
• Instagraminstagram.com/thesignlanguagecompany?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Sign Language Company