What Barbier International does

Barbier International (legal entity Barbier Inc.) is a privately held, third-generation Latina-owned language services company headquartered in Portland, Oregon, founded in 1999 and ISO-certified since inception. It provides certified translation, interpretation (phone, video remote, and on-site), multilingual desktop publishing (DTP), project management, language assessments, and multimedia localization across more than 200 languages, including rare and indigenous languages such as Central American Mayan languages (K'iche', Kaqchikel, Mam). Operations are delivered through a network of 10,000+ contracted credentialed linguists coordinated by core staff (firmographic headcount 11–50) using Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tools, Translation Memory (TM) and terminology databases, Neural Machine Translation (NMT) with human post-editing, and cloud-based Remote Simultaneous Interpreting (RSI) platforms operating under a three-tier 'Human Watch' AI-governance framework that mandates human oversight for high-stakes medical, legal, and emergency content. Quality is backed by triple certifications — ISO 17100, ISO 18841, and ASTM F3130-18 — and the firm is MWBE-certified (Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise).

Name

Barbier International

Legal name

Barbier Inc.

Website

https://barbierinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

MWBE-certified language services company founded in 1999 in Portland, Oregon, providing ISO 17100/18841 and ASTM F3130-18 certified translation, interpretation, DTP, and project management in 200+ languages to government, healthcare, legal, and education clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Language Services

NAICS

Translation and Interpretation Services (541930)

SIC

Communications Services, Nec (4899)

akta.pro primary industry

Machine Translation & Multilingual NLP (HDAAADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Translation & Transcreation Services (Script/Dialogue Adaptation) (MPAHAFAD), Multilingual/Translation Communication Apps (BPAMACAJ), Language Assessment, Placement Testing & Proficiency Certification Tools (EDAFAOAH)

Keywords

• Professional translation services
• Interpretation services
• Language access services
• Multilingual desktop publishing
• Language assessments testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Translation Services: Professional translation services in 200+ languages covering documents, legal, medical, government, and educational materials, using TEP (Translation, Editing, Proofreading) process with ISO 17100 and ASTM F3130 certifications. Pricing factors include word count, language pairs, and rush requests.
2. Interpretation Services: Spoken and signed interpretation including phone, video remote interpretation (VRI), and on-site interpreting across 50+ languages, with a network of 10,000+ credentialed linguists serving healthcare, legal, government, and emergency settings.
3. Desktop Publishing (DTP) / Multilingual Design: Multilingual desktop publishing, graphic design, and layout services ensuring translated documents maintain original design integrity across all target languages, including file format conversion and cultural adaptation.
4. Project Management: Dedicated project management services coordinating multilingual projects across linguists, translators, interpreters, and DTP teams, including client communication, timeline management, and quality assurance.
5. Language Assessments: Professional language proficiency testing and assessment services for evaluating linguistic capabilities.
6. Multimedia Services: Audiovisual translation, dubbing, subtitling, and multimedia localization services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Barbier International delivers certified professional translation and interpretation services across 200+ languages for government, healthcare, legal, and education organizations, using a Translation, Editing, and Proofreading (TEP) workflow backed by ISO 17100, ISO 18841, and ASTM F3130-18 certifications. The company complements these core services with multilingual desktop publishing (DTP), project management for large multi-language engagements, language proficiency assessments, and multimedia localization (subtitling, dubbing, audiovisual translation). A network of 10,000+ credentialed linguists, including 4,000+ specialists in Central American Mayan languages, delivers both on-site and remote services via cloud-based RSI platforms.

Product overview

Barbier International is a language services company offering a comprehensive suite of professional linguistic services including Translations, Interpretations, Project Management, Desktop Publishing (DTP), Language Assessments, and Multimedia services. The company operates across 200+ languages and serves government, healthcare, legal, and education sectors. Services include the core Translation, Editing, and Proofreading (TEP) process, phone and video remote interpretation (VRI), multilingual desktop publishing, and audiovisual translation. The company also produces the Translate This! podcast about language and culture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Barbier Designers: DTP and design team within Barbier specializing in multilingual desktop publishing and design services
• Translate This! Podcast

Products and services

• Translations Professional document translation across 200+ languages using the Translation, Editing, Proofreading (TEP) quality process, ISO 17100 and ASTM F3130-18 certified, serving government, healthcare, legal, and education organizations.
• Interpretations Spoken and signed interpretation in 50+ languages delivered by phone, via Video Remote Interpretation (VRI), and on-site, utilizing a 10,000+ credentialed linguist network and cloud-based RSI platforms for healthcare, legal, government, and emergency settings.
• Project Management End-to-end coordination of multilingual projects including workflow design, linguist assignment, quality assurance, timeline management, and client communication for engagements spanning hundreds of files across 15+ languages.
• Desktop Publishing (DTP) Professional multilingual desktop publishing, graphic design, and layout services that preserve original document design across target languages, including file format conversion and cultural adaptation.
• Language Assessments Professional language proficiency testing and assessment services for evaluating linguistic capabilities of candidates, staff, or program participants.
• Multimedia Localization Audiovisual translation, subtitling, dubbing, and multimedia content adaptation services for organizations distributing multilingual video and multimedia content.

Quantifiable outcome

• ISO 17100 certified quality standard maintained across all translation projects
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• USMCOCCA (United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce - California Regional Chapter)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 April 2024Barbier International joined the USMCOCCA California Regional Chapter in April 2024. The chamber has been a recognized bi-national organization since 1973 promoting trade and investment between the US and Mexico, representing 1,000+ businesses with offices in major cities including Los Angeles, Oakland, Dallas, New York, Washington D.C., Detroit, Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara. Barbier participates in chamber conferences, seminars, and programs designed to strengthen business liaisons and trade opportunities between the two nations.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• RWS Group: UK-headquartered translation, localization, and intellectual property services company holding similar ISO certifications. Comparable enterprise B2B translation services model with multilingual content focus.
• Lionbridge: Global translation, localization, and interpretation services company serving enterprise clients across multiple verticals. Comparable in service breadth (translation, interpretation, multimedia) and language coverage (200+ languages).
• United Language Group: Language services company offering translation, interpretation, and localization to healthcare, government, and legal sectors. Comparable mid-sized peer with similar vertical specialization and certified-translation positioning.
• Welocalize: Global translation and localization services provider offering translation, interpretation, and content services across multiple verticals. Comparable in service breadth, enterprise B2B focus, and language coverage.
• GLOBO Language Solutions: Interpretation and translation services company serving healthcare, government, and business with phone, video, and on-site interpretation. Comparable mid-sized direct peer with similar vertical mix.
• LanguageLine Solutions: Leading interpretation and translation services provider serving healthcare, government, and business with phone, video, and on-site interpretation. Closely comparable to Barbier's interpretation-heavy service mix and similar regulated-vertical exposure.
• TransPerfect: One of the largest global language services companies offering translation, interpretation, localization, and multimedia services across 200+ languages. Closest full-service direct competitor with similar offering breadth.
• CyraCom International: Healthcare-focused interpretation and translation services company serving hospitals and clinics with phone and video interpretation. Comparable interpretation focus, healthcare vertical, and language coverage.

Emerging players

• Smartling: Translation technology and services company with a proprietary translation management platform. Comparable as a tech-enabled language services provider, though more software-led than Barbier's services-led model.

Broad incumbents

• Stratus Video (LanguageLine Insights): Video remote interpretation (VRI) provider within the broader LanguageLine Solutions portfolio. Comparable to Barbier's RSI/VRI interpretation offering within healthcare and legal verticals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/Barbierinc
• Facebookfacebook.com/barbierinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/barbierinc
• Instagraminstagram.com/barbier_inc

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Barbier International