Is charging your client up front for print bad form?

[Nicola]

Hi There,
I was recently asked to quote on a basic project which involved a sticker with a logo on it, the quantity for print was 20,000 which came to a hefty cost and the supplier required uprfront payment.

Is it bad form to charge the client upfront for printing if it is a large sum? or should I ask for a percentage of the cost upfront?

Would value any thoughts.

Thanks
Nicola
www.rockpoolgd.com

[Boss Hog]

To be honest if I was a designer outsourcing print I would charge my customer in full in advance every single time, why take the risk.

Even as a printer we charge in full in advance as your printer does, the profit margin nowadays is so small in order to be competitive that the risk to reward ratio is pretty high...payment up front always in my opinion.

[dedwardp]

To be honest if I was a designer outsourcing print I would charge my customer in full in advance every single time, why take the risk.

Even as a printer we charge in full in advance as your printer does, the profit margin nowadays is so small in order to be competitive that the risk to reward ratio is pretty high...payment up front always in my opinion.

I think you make a good point and in the future I plan on seeking up front payment before print.

When dealing with new customers in the past I've always tended to err on the side of caution a little and initially suggest my product is print ready files to take to a printer of their choosing.

The times I have arranged the printing on their behalf it hasn't been a problem so far. I've had one where they took a while to pay and for a while I was out of pocket but it was swiftly sorted out.

It did hit me as a bit of a warning though that it could have been slightly different and I could have lost out so I would suggest seeking payment before hand, particularly with a significant sum that is mentioned.

[Ian Bonner]

I always put the client in touch with the printer to arrange payment. I do EVERYTHING in regard to the job, ie. talking to the printer, making sure files are correct and print ready, sorting delivery etc, but I WILL NOT deal with any payment that I am not involved with. If you have a partnership like I do with my printers, they will mark you up anyway.

Personally, for me, I just feel that I don't need to be involved. If there are any problems then I don't want to get involved if it doesn't affect me and I also do not want to lose a good relationship that I have built up with my printer over a bad client. If there are any problems, to put it bluntly, let them fight it out. I would NEVER intentionally put a bad client the way of my printer and they know that.

I also make sure my clients are aware that this is the way I work before it gets to this stage. Believe me, it saves a lot of hassle and prevents fallouts with your printer.

[Dave L]

I'm with Ian B.

[Minuteman Press]

We work on a case by case basis. But... new client @ at least 50%, private individual 50 - 100%.

Boss is spot on re: risks involved.

We operate a payment recovery process, where if things become slow we hand over to our solicitor (happens sometimes) - almost all pay, a few go to court, we win, they pay. It's a tiny percentage of people - but it happens that people try not to pay.

Sectors that are a particular problem - taxi, sole trader construction, night club promotion.

[Inktelligence]

100% payment upfront everytime for me - dont really need the hassle of slow/non payers.

Wayne
Inktelligence

[Arhiann]

Sectors that are a particular problem - taxi, sole trader construction, night club promotion.

Add print trade to that.

50% of all bad accounts/debts here are the print sector.

[StripeyPen]

My freelance work is also to prepare print ready artwork and I let the client 'find the best print deal' and deal with the printers themselves as I cannot afford to be left out of pocket. I also work 9-5 in a studio so don't really have time during the day to liase with clients and printers.

When it comes to payment for design, I have never asked for payment up front, but its definitely something I'd consider if I felt the situation was a bit iffy. For example recently, I turned down a job from a friend, not a close friend may I add, but I could just tell he was wanting something for nothing and I just couldn't be bothered with the hassle...even then I knew I'd struggle to get payment upfront from this person! Some people may be reluctant I guess.

[Kolorco]

We take this on a case by case basis. If Joe Bloggs comes along with a £10k order then we would normally ask for a minimum of 50% upfront and the balance on delivery. But if it was the same order from say M&S then we would just produce the order on our normal terms.

It can be a hard one to judge but do not be afraid of asking for money upfront, if they are not willing to do this then may be you shouldn't be dealing with them anyway.