2015Legal / Business Practices forum
Payment collection strategies for out-of-town production jobs
What the thread found
- Requiring full payment upfront from unknown clients reduces financial risk, and clients who refuse this term are often a sign of trouble ahead.
- Accepting payment after the first day of work is feasible if the client appears trustworthy, but switching to upfront payment when signs of unreliability appear protects against loss.
- In transient markets like Las Vegas, most established operators use cash-on-delivery terms for unknown clients unless dealing with recognized payroll jobs.
- A signed deal memo and rental agreement documenting services, rates, overtime rates, payment timing, and additional charges can provide protection and has not resulted in client pushback from legitimate companies.
- PayPal and credit card payments from set are convenient for clients but involve transaction fees that can be built into pricing or absorbed depending on client risk assessment.
- When a job ends and the production leaves, the leverage to ensure payment shifts from the service provider to the client, making upfront or same-day payment critical.
- Bank transfers or direct deposits are harder to execute on-site when clients are managing multiple tasks, making card-based payments more practical in real-time situations.
- Square reader or Square Cash app transfers can provide fee-free or low-fee payment options at the time of service.
- A simple one-page agreement covering deliverables, rates, overtime terms, payment timing, and expenses can be created without legal assistance as a starting point.
Depends on
- Enforcement of unsigned agreements or those signed by non-authorized personnel may be difficult without legal action.
- Getting signatures on agreements from clients is inconsistently successful; some established operators report better results than others.
- The conversation includes reports of past payment problems but does not quantify how often they occur or compare default rates across payment methods.
- Legality and enforceability of custom agreements varies by jurisdiction and was not addressed in detail.
- Some participants mentioned occasional success with 30-day invoicing, but most discussion focused on same-day or upfront payment.