How to charge
- Thread starter Vultch
- Start date
David W. Jones
Veteran
Consider how much it would cost to rent the setup if you didn't own it.
morgan_moore
Major Contributor
AFAIK - daily rental fee = purchase fee /30
weekly rental fee = daily rental X 3
weekly rental fee = daily rental X 3
morgan_moore
Major Contributor
Of course. But often a production company doesn't have any kit and often no where to keep it. My main director works from a premium office in the city centre.. they have absolutely no storage, ability to maintain etc.
Run&Gun
Veteran
I agree, rental rates are all over the map. Back in the day, when gear had a LONG shelf life, rental rates were about 1% of the purchase price. Before GoPro's were a thing, I had a company charge me 25% of the purchase price of what was a small miniHDV camcorder(needed it for an in-car cam mount). I went and bought my own after that and never rented a thing from them, again.
A lot of rental houses(especially the on-line rental houses) essentially give the gear away with multi-day and long-term rentals. It's great if you need to rent something, but has hurt the market for owner/ops. Luckily I've never experienced it personally, but I've heard the stories of producers coming in somewhere and booking a local crew and instead of using the crews gear, they'll have it sent in from a rental house.
I personally don't get it. I want my stuff in and out as quickly as possible for as much money as possible(a fair rate, I'm not trying to screw anyone). Their(rental houses) philosophy is to have it out as long as possible for what amounts to almost free. What would you rather do, work three days a week for three different clients for your full rate each day or work for one client for seven days and only be paid for three? Yeah, were talking about gear rental not labor, but the idea is the same and punctuates the problem more clearly.
That being said, I'd still look at what the rental houses are asking for single day rentals and go from there.
A lot of rental houses(especially the on-line rental houses) essentially give the gear away with multi-day and long-term rentals. It's great if you need to rent something, but has hurt the market for owner/ops. Luckily I've never experienced it personally, but I've heard the stories of producers coming in somewhere and booking a local crew and instead of using the crews gear, they'll have it sent in from a rental house.
I personally don't get it. I want my stuff in and out as quickly as possible for as much money as possible(a fair rate, I'm not trying to screw anyone). Their(rental houses) philosophy is to have it out as long as possible for what amounts to almost free. What would you rather do, work three days a week for three different clients for your full rate each day or work for one client for seven days and only be paid for three? Yeah, were talking about gear rental not labor, but the idea is the same and punctuates the problem more clearly.
That being said, I'd still look at what the rental houses are asking for single day rentals and go from there.