A quick guide to invoicing and payment as a storyboard artist
When dealing with clients, it's important to have a contract in writing and an agreed-upon sum before beginning any work. Ask for a deposit or a retainer up front, which can be 1/2 to 1/3 of the total job. Do not begin any work without having first received the deposit. In your written quote or contract, be specific about the services you provide, including the number of drawings you will create or the number of hours you promise to work.
You can charge more for weekend work and overtime hours. Anything not specified in the quote or contract should be an overage charge, and authorized in writing by both parties before any work begins.
For starters you should know how much to charge and always know your rate. You can find out more about rates in our guide here.
Invoicing
At the end of the job, it's standard practice to send the client a bill or invoice. Unless otherwise agreed upon, the standard payment terms are full payment within 30 days of receiving the invoice, commonly called net 30. Keep this in mind and have money reserves on hand, knowing it could take a month before you see the payment arrive. Our recommendation is to collect your fee once you deliver your artwork. You will have to stipulate this in your contract before being your job and this will avoid having to wait for the net 30 to kick in. Be professional with your billing and invoicing, as it will reflect on your work and the overall customer experience you give the client.
Here are some payment resources that can help when invoicing clients:
www.paypal.com- free to set up an account. Charges about 3-5% for incoming funds
www.squareup.com- Free to set up. Charges per transaction
www.freshbooks.com- Invoicing app with monthly subscription fee
www.Stripe.com - Credit card processing and invoicing. Charges per transaction but has great tools for collecting payments
Gumroad- ecommerce platform with ways to charge for set products
We have mentioned already, many of the trials of a freelance storyboard artist. Much of what it takes to make it as a freelancer is a great deal of hustle and maintaining good networking relationships. Keep in mind that you need to provide good value for your services. If clients feel like they get more in return than they pay out by hiring you they will hire you again, and they will refer you to their friends. Keep your clients, hot and contact them with mailers or e-mail updates every quarter. Be sure to build a personal network and use it.