Deposit

[glorybound]

I request a 50% deposit and it is never questioned. I had one client take 3 months to send it, but I stayed to my guns. I have a referral and I mentioned my deposit and she said, "oh no, we don't pay until after you are complete", as if she calls the shot. I told her sorry, but that's my policy. Does any of you guys work without a deposit? Unless you are starting out, even then, isn't that bad practice? A couple times I went 1/3, but that was just for very large projects, which this isn't. She went into this 90 day pay cycle, which doesn't work for me.

[JezUK]

I request a 50% deposit and it is never questioned. I had one client take 3 months to send it, but I stayed to my guns. I have a referral and I mentioned my deposit and she said, "oh no, we don't pay until after you are complete", as if she calls the shot. I told her sorry, but that's my policy. Does any of you guys work without a deposit? Unless you are starting out, even then, isn't that bad practice? A couple times I went 1/3, but that was just for very large projects, which this isn't. She went into this 90 day pay cycle, which doesn't work for me.

You request a deposit, it's never questioned, but you had one client take 3 months to send it. What's the problem, did you start doing the work before she sent the deposit ?

If that's the case, then there's the problem, no ?

[PIXELBOX_SRO]

we ask deposit with new clients always and with high cost jobs that take more than month to complete

[glorybound]

That client didn't question it, it just took them three months to send it. I started her project,, but stopped every week the check didn't show up.

You request a deposit, it's never questioned, but you had one client take 3 months to send it. What's the problem, did you start doing the work before she sent the deposit ?

If that's the case, then there's the problem, no ?

[glorybound]

Interesting. So, return clients you don't ask for a deposit, unless it is a longer duration project? With shorter projects do you hold finals until they pay in full?

we ask deposit with new clients always and with high cost jobs that take more than month to complete

[Deflaminis]

I've worked many times without a deposit and I've never been stiffed yet. However I am quick to refuse jobs that don't feel right.

[glorybound]

Everything I read says always get a deposit, so I assumed that is how everyone works. I have read a dozen small business and freelance books over the years and that seems to be a common theme among them all. Everywhere I have ever worked, which have been for architects and developers, have required a deposit before work begins.

[Raven]

The only people I don't ask for a 50% upfront from are my regular clients who I have had a long standing, good relationship with. They pay monthly if it is a long job.
I have once had to explain to a big corporate, with a 90 day policy, that as a small freelancer I can't bankroll his large, expensive job.
He was shocked, so I told him I didn't need his business. He suddenly could get it cleared very quickly.

[glorybound]

I think it is odd that people, even regular customers, don't expect to pay a deposit. I don't even think about not asking for one; it's in my contract.

[Neilg]

First time client we ask for 75% deposit, regulars (or particularly nice ones) get 50%. we dont budge or do exceptions.

bobby there's an article coming out for cg architect very soon about the business and contract side of things, you will probably find it interesting.

[OPEN_RANGE]

I charge a 50% deposit. For repeat solid clients if it's a small job I may not. I almost always start before actually getting the deposit and often finish before getting the deposit. Risky, I know, but I have never been stiffed. At least billing right away for half gets the process started for those working off payment drafts and billing cycles.

I work for a lot of people that I actually know or were referred to me by mutual business relations. I work mainly on projects in relatively close proximity to where I live and so, "I know where you live" and "It's a small town" etc. is often present but unsaid.

what I really don't like is the unexpected, usually from architect, "we are waiting to get paid by our client and then we will pay you." I take that to mean if the client doesn't pay the architect then I don't get paid. My agreement was with you, not your client. I have included language in my written agreement for service that speaks to that.

[glorybound]

I charge a 50% deposit. For repeat solid clients if it's a small job I may not. I almost always start before actually getting the deposit and often finish before getting the deposit. Risky, I know, but I have never been stiffed. At least billing right away for half gets the process started for those working off payment drafts and billing cycles.

I work for a lot of people that I actually know or were referred to me by mutual business relations. I work mainly on projects in relatively close proximity to where I live and so, "I know where you live" and "It's a small town" etc. is often present but unsaid.

what I really don't like is the unexpected, usually from architect, "we are waiting to get paid by our client and then we will pay you." I take that to mean if the client doesn't pay the architect then I don't get paid. My agreement was with you, not your client. I have included language in my written agreement for service that speaks to that.

I think once you make things protocol, it becomes nothing personal. I get paid 50% before I schedule your project and I get paid the rest before you can use my images. I have people except my quote, sign my contract, but take weeks to send the deposit. My schedule changes week to week, so I look at my schedule when the deposit arrives. I except all credit cards, so most pay the deposit on-line right away, which make scheduling a lot easy. People who send checks, and take their time doing it, risk having other projects come in with deposits. This is the only thing that makes sense to me. I can't schedule a project assuming the deposit will arrive when they say it will. I have clients say they'll send the deposit and after a few weeks I'll follow up and they say something like, "oh, the client decided not to move forward". Well, thanks for telling me!

[OPEN_RANGE]

Bobby, your policies sound very professional and reasonable. I think that makes a good and necessary impression on clients. They know they are working with a legitimate professional from the start. That's what
I try to project as well by always providing written proposal/ agreement for service and 50% deposit.

It sounds like you are a lot busier than I am and work for people from a wide range of locations and etc. my situation I occasionaly may get booked up a few weeks in advance but can often start right away and want to do so. IOW it's not a one size fits all. what you are doing sounds reasonable and also a best business practice strategy. Why change it?

[OPEN_RANGE]

The Graphics Artists Guild publishes an annual Pricing and ethical guidelines handbook that is very comprehensive and includes a section for 3D animators and illustrators. You have to be a member to receive it but may be available on line or fro library. I just filled out their annual survey. Also as mentioned above CGArchitect perodicly has a valuable report on industry pricing and etc.

[zeronove]

The Graphics Artists Guild publishes an annual Pricing and ethical guidelines handbook that is very comprehensive and includes a section for 3D animators and illustrators. You have to be a member to receive it but may be available on line or fro library. I just filled out their annual survey. Also as mentioned above CGArchitect perodicly has a valuable report on industry pricing and etc.

thanks for the infos, I see there are 3 ebooks, are they well done?