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Quick question about invoices
2 months ago
So, some of you might know on how I take a lot of time to start commissions and ych, weeks or months after me asking for the details... and also on how 90% of the time I send the invoice after the lineart and colors are almost done.
Well, my question is in relation to that (and also on octransfur, since that's going to be chaos for a month if this keeps up)
Should I just send the invoices on Day 1 of the commissions or wait until I'm about to start?
(I haven't commissioned too much art myself, but I see most artist tend to do the first option).
I don't mind what I'm doing now, but you probably do.
After all, it must be a bit annoying asking for a commission or ych when you've got money for it, only to wait months and when it's time to pay you don't have that money anymore (or something like that, idk)
And that's it :P
Byeeee!
Well, my question is in relation to that (and also on octransfur, since that's going to be chaos for a month if this keeps up)
Should I just send the invoices on Day 1 of the commissions or wait until I'm about to start?
(I haven't commissioned too much art myself, but I see most artist tend to do the first option).
I don't mind what I'm doing now, but you probably do.
After all, it must be a bit annoying asking for a commission or ych when you've got money for it, only to wait months and when it's time to pay you don't have that money anymore (or something like that, idk)
And that's it :P
Byeeee!
Taking payment when a commission is accepted rather than the actual start of the commission means you're responsible for the funds for that commission, along with keeping up with the commissioner as to any progress or lack thereof. You also run the risk of commissioners requesting their funds back for any number of reasons before artwork on that commission begins.
Just because you have the funds doesn't mean commissioners won't want it back if time passes and for one reason or another they want those funds back. It is just you're in control of those funds rather than they are. I very much advise not spending those funds either until commissioner's acceptance of the completed artwork. Treat it as if it were in escrow until then. There are other practices that have similar effects, but those are complex, require data, and basic statistical analysis to pull off well, like always having a certain amount of liquidity based off of what % out of a total amount at a given time do end up getting returned back to the commissioner.
Upfront payment on commission does mean the commissioners are committed in the commission because they gave you the funds upfront. As they saying goes, they have skin in the game. Less likely someone to commission you and never intended to go through or having the funds at all for it.
In all, upfront on commission start is the way to go. Just don't take on too many and give decent estimates on time frame.
Also, that's one of the reasons why I send the payment really late (most times), I want to feel like I earned it with the progress I've made and the feedback rather than just for being an artist (and maybe bc I get so into a drawing that I forget to send it lol).
Well, thanks for the feedback / info!!!
Once I have a good schedule for art I'll switch to upfront :3