My correspondent Ann asks an important question:
Hi Bob,
I just got a lead through Voice123.com and was wondering if you would please advise as to how to bill. Should I require 50% upfront and the remainder due upon delivery of finished VO? They want it by Sunday.
I was asking previously for 50% down, but another Voice Talent advised against doing this, stating that it can turn some people off.
What do you think?
Thanks,
Ann
My reply?
Ann,
I’ve been doing voice-overs professionally since 1983. Not once in that time have I ever asked for any money up front. I do normally ask that payment be made “Net 30” or if that’s not likely that I be given a reasonable estimate of when payment can be expected. (Net 30 means that payment is due in full by 30 days after the date of the invoice, which is normally the date of the recording session.)
I too would advise against asking for any payment upfront.
By the way, in all of this time, I have only been left “unpaid” twice. Once by a furniture store that was going out of business. Once by a man I thought was a friend. On the other hand, during that same stretch of time, I’ve been paid by literally thousands of different clients.
I hope this helps.
Be well,
Bob Souer