As was foretold, we've added advertisements to the forums! If you have questions, or if you encounter any bugs, please visit this thread: https://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/240191/forum-advertisement-faq-and-reports-thread/
Options
Website Graphic Developers: Contract Question
TekDragon
__BANNED USERS regular
__BANNED USERS regular
A website my company is developing is ready for the graphics stage. We're using GetAFreelancer and most of the process seems pretty cut and dry.
My question involves up-front payment and a contract.
We're about to accept a graphic developers bid. He expects 50% up front, which is fine (he made that clear early on, and we're happy with both his portfolio and his prior client satisfaction rate), but I want to make sure that we have a legal framework set up before transferring the money. What is the best way to proceed?
I understand you guys can't give official legal advice. I'm looking more for personal experience, suggestions, and any suggested resources I should look into.
In the meantime I'll be fumbling my way around Google. Hopefully I'll find something useful.
My question involves up-front payment and a contract.
We're about to accept a graphic developers bid. He expects 50% up front, which is fine (he made that clear early on, and we're happy with both his portfolio and his prior client satisfaction rate), but I want to make sure that we have a legal framework set up before transferring the money. What is the best way to proceed?
I understand you guys can't give official legal advice. I'm looking more for personal experience, suggestions, and any suggested resources I should look into.
In the meantime I'll be fumbling my way around Google. Hopefully I'll find something useful.
TekDragon on
0
Posts
Yes.
In addition, one thing I've learned from staffing conventions is that you have to specify exactly in no uncertain terms what you want. It's a little different for interface graphics as opposed to cover or badge artwork but... if you want an illustrator file and don't specify it, you won't get it. If you want a png with alpha and don't say you want it, you'll get a jpg.
I recommend asking for his vector source files (be they illustrator or whatever he uses) in addition to your desired raster images.
Any suggestions on how we should do the contracting?
Pre-contract -> up-front payment -> full contract -> specifications
Unfortunately I've never been involved in the payment side of things. But I would think you would probably need to make your specifications right up front in the process of negotiating.
Yeah, I'm actually working on them right now. Luckily we've been brainstorming everything we want for months. Now it's just time to put it all together logically while cutting out things that should probably wait for post-release development.
Also, MOST IMPORTANTLY, the rights to the content.
Some places will sell you graphics but they "own" the source material meaning that
A) You cannot obtain the source material to then bring in-house and make edits, which is bad if that person goes out of business or you want to hire another company to update your site
Secure. Rights. To. Your. Graphics. Demand. All. Source. Files. Prior. To. Final. Payment.
50% advance is pretty high for what is essentially an anonymous bid, but do what you gotta do.