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Kill Fees

We are currently considering a policy regarding "Kill Fees". If a client starts a project, pays an upfront engagement invoice, and then cancels the project before it is completed. Curious if others have had good or bad experiences with clients, and basic conditions specified.

Greg Weir VP Project Management Bravo Zulu Interactive

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "kill fees". But over the years, I have learned that when we work with a new client, I charge all fees for logo and/or creative development up front. It is the best thing for all involved. Good luck:)

Felica Sparks Office Manager Benton Newton & Partners Advertising www.cre8ive.com

Short answer - YES! Get your costs+ back.

This is an extract from our Terms & Conditions page:

CANCELLATIONS: All job costs incurred to the point of cancellation will be billed to the client. In some cases a kill fee will be negotiated.

We have never had a problem or push back from a client.

Roxanne M. Cowan Director of Finance Rutherford Bolen Group www.rbgdesign.com

We considered the kill fees idea and are leaning more toward a job initiation fee and progress bill to date for any job that was cancelled in the middle. But I look forward to seeing what responses you get.

Ann Adams Controller J. Stokes & Associates www.jstokes.com

Would you bill the initiation fee on all jobs or just on cancelled jobs? Have you initiated your policy yet? If so, what kind of client feedback have you gotten?

Thanks, Kim Donahoe

I would shy away from calling anything a "kill fee". It seems like it could raise red flags and cause ill will with the client. We charge one third up initiation, one third upon delivery of comps and one third upon final delivery. It's all outlined in our terms and I've had few clients question it. In some instances, if a job is cancelled, we may need to generate a small work to date invoice, but this process usually keeps us pretty caught up.

Shannon Ellis Business Manager Tackett Barbaria Design