kill fees?
- Started
- Last post
- 16 Responses
- timg
how do you calculate kill fees/ when a client pulls out of a job.. ?
i've got a logo project on the go where my client & i agreed to a flat fee (roughly 15hrs) for a finished piece. i've put about 10-12 hrs into rough concepts and finishing a few well dev'd comps. the client is not sure what they want to do and stalling indefinitely. enter the kill fee...
normally kill fees are 50% but i'm feeling like i've gone over and above my end of the deal. can i charge 75% (roughly my hours) and still hold all rights or do you think i'm pushing my luck.
no contracts were signed.
- QuincyArcher0
no contracts were signed.
timg
(Jun 21 05, 16:42)
----------------------------
and that's probably what will end up screwing you.if there's no contract, they aren't really bound to pay anything...
- brandelec0
no contracts?!?????
you gotta protect yourself dude
i think 50% you can get away with
good luck, hope it works out
- timg0
the no contract is not a problem..
they want to settle a fee, just trying to figure out what i can bill them, and if anyone goes over 50% for kills.
thx.
- Jesk3150
I think it's fair to say that you don't need a contract to prove you were working under an agreement. Though it may be hard, if you are willing to fight you can get your dough. Goodluck. It doesn't seem worth the fight.
If you worked over the hours you agreed to work that is your issue and shouldn't be relevent to the project or you getting more of a "kill fee" unless mentioned that you might be going over and the client agreed to pay the overage.
If the client doesn't want to proceed, then get your 50% and move on. Don't give them anything because just like you didn't sign a contract for payment, you are protected legally by default and are not forced to turn over any work not payed for.
Have you received any payment? If so, it's hard to understand why a client would walk away, though it has happened to me and to many others. They default the verbal agreement by not moving forward.
If you already got paid money, try to get your 50% by writing a letter. The Graphic Artists Guild Handbook "Pricing and Ethical Guidelines 10th Edition" has a good letter to use when trying to get a client to pay up.
If they paid and you wish to continue to finish the logo, then send them a letter stating that the project has been brought to a holt by them not responding and they will default the original agreement if they do not get back on track within 30 days. That might also work.
Good luck!
- kld0
Kill fee = hours worked
- timg0
cool thanks for the input..
contracts and getting paid aren't really an issue here.. they've offered to settle as it is their own internal issues for stepping back.
i'm just doing my invoice now and i think i'll go with kld's advice; kill = hours worked.
maybe i just needed to hear from at least 1 other person that doing so is ok :)
and hey! a little designer to designer discussion on these topics is always healthy. thanks again.
- mrdobolina0
hours worked.
- auricom0
i agree, hours worked and since a contract wasn't involved, you can always throw in an idiot fee of an extra hour. hehe.
- blaw0
auricom:
are you the dude the did the t-shirt design of the pneumatic nailer?
- nosaj0
Clients should drop their cars off like they do with mechanics. They should have to pay when they pick up the car. Change your mind half way through and you have to pay for the hours so far and end up leaving with your radiator in a box.
- timg0
auricom.. i'm pretty selective and rarely work for people i can't trust, hence no contracts (unless its BIG business).
maybe idiotic, and yes will probably get burned one day... but i like it that way.
- mydo0
i'd suggest not billing them as 'kill fees'. it sounds agressive.
- airey0
try for the hours and you keep all IP of the artwork.
- spongebob0
who do you wanna snuff?
I'm offering discounts.
- jevad0
50% min
but seeing as you don't have a contract I don't think you have a leg to stand on old chap
- honest0
Foot soldier = $1000 per head
Made Guy = $2500 + pint of milkNo women, no children