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L

Loner Films

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Hi,

To people that work freelance or run production companies, do you get paid to work upfront, 1/2 at the start and 1/2 at the end, or at the end of the shoot?

Just wondering how people like to be paid and what you can ask from the client.

Thank you
 
I co-own a production company. We want payment upfront if possible. Especially on larger projects we don't want to tap the company bank account to finish the project, but at least 50/50. You can't negotiate better than that from us. I don't care what you are paying, you don't give us 50% upfront you can take your ass out that door and don't ever come back.

I will negotiate as hard as possible for enough money upfront to pay most of the costs of the project through production. I am fine with a staggered arrangement, something like 50% upfront, 25% given upon completion of production, and the final 25% upon delivery of the final project. That is fine. There are other ways to go as well. But the main sticking point is 50% upfront.
 
100/0, 50/50 (adjusted balance) and 50/25/25 (adj. bal.) are the three typical formulas. It depends on production parameters, budget, and client's credit details.

On adjusted balance, you're billing overages in the final invoice.

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Yeah because at least with 50% upfront, if they try to screw you over and say they changed their mind, they don't want the project, etc. you're not out tons of money. Since we own much of the equipment then our profit margin is probably nearly 50% anyway, so I wouldn't actually be losing much money. Probably just time and a bit of money.
 
I invoice my big clients with no worries. People or companies I am not familiar with pay half down and half when I hand em a master.
 
I think that's a good idea, but it also depends on your operating capital and the scope of the project. For this corporate project we're doing now, we have many tens of thousands of dollars in expenses incurred to make the project. We are a small business, we just don't have the money in the bank account to pay for the project without getting 50% upfront. Otherwise, it would be no problem, I trust the client to pay us. They're a fairly large company.
 
For a production company regular clients and new clients pay 1/2 up front on largish jobs (with hired crew, gear, etc.) and then 1/2 upon delivery of job.

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Larger company will do everything on credit/open account. You will have a bank back them up and pay you as they use the services for a fee.
 
Smaller jobs, or jobs from previous (trusted) clients I usually charge at the end of the project. For larger jobs I ask for 25% to book, 25% after shooting is complete and the remaining 50% after the job is finished.
 
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