Deposit vs kill fee: two ways to get paid if they bail

Deposit vs kill fee: two ways to get paid if they bail

Brands sometimes cancel mid-project. Two clauses protect you. A deposit = money paid upfront that you keep no matter what. A kill fee = an agreed amount they owe if they cancel after you've started.

Why it matters: a deposit guards the start; a kill fee guards the middle. Without either, a brand can pull out after you've filmed and owe you nothing.

Simple example: $1,000 deal. A 50% deposit means $500 is safe day one. A kill fee of '50% if cancelled after filming' means even a late cancel still pays you $500.

Your move: always take a deposit. Add a kill fee on bigger jobs where most of the work happens before payday.