FA+
Shop
No more commissions
3 years ago
some new news about commissions
Edit: 2023 i have now tested Patreon as a payment method for one YCH auction and it works out, just gotta minus the tax from the winning bid, so that winner doesnt get overcharged (as ych commishes has rule that i cant ask customer to pay extra fees so its included in the bid)
With this method i actually do end up still getting around 50% or bit less, like i would normally when billing with paypal BUT i do avoid all the extra paperwork.
Not sure if i prefer this way in the future tho, will see, i dont like paperwork :P
I have been thinking and considering this for a long time now, i came to the decision that i won´t be able to take commissions anymore.
First thing would be that taking one commission takes at least a week away from the exclusive content for patrons and substarers, and i dont wanna take stuff away from people who keep me going :P Sure i could make it to my TOS that said commission will have exclusive versions for supporters, but im not fan of making money of other individuals personal character so thats kinda naah.
Other thing being that i would likely get less than 50% of the price to myself if VAT is included to the price. This depends where the customer is from.
But in general i need to pay like 30% of my own tax and then what ever the VAT would be (in my country 24%) I could say that VAT will be added to the total price but eeehh.... thats lot of extra for customer.
I could go around that vat tax thing if i could take commission payment via Patreon but i dunno if it would be too much hassle for the customer, it would be better for me since patreon collects the vat automatically for me and i dont need to ever worry about that. Also this way there wouldn't be customer protection etc. (not like thats needed with me) :P
so dunno if that is even possible.
i would really wanna be able to do at least sum YCHs in the future, BUT is also comes down to if im willing to earn that less than 50% of my hard work <.<
Before i started my business i always thought that i could do as often and as many commissions that i want, but turns out that it wasnt as simple as that or sure i could but it might not be as beneficial.
Thanks for reading and hopefully understanding - Teranen
Edit: 2023 i have now tested Patreon as a payment method for one YCH auction and it works out, just gotta minus the tax from the winning bid, so that winner doesnt get overcharged (as ych commishes has rule that i cant ask customer to pay extra fees so its included in the bid)
With this method i actually do end up still getting around 50% or bit less, like i would normally when billing with paypal BUT i do avoid all the extra paperwork.
Not sure if i prefer this way in the future tho, will see, i dont like paperwork :P
I have been thinking and considering this for a long time now, i came to the decision that i won´t be able to take commissions anymore.
First thing would be that taking one commission takes at least a week away from the exclusive content for patrons and substarers, and i dont wanna take stuff away from people who keep me going :P Sure i could make it to my TOS that said commission will have exclusive versions for supporters, but im not fan of making money of other individuals personal character so thats kinda naah.
Other thing being that i would likely get less than 50% of the price to myself if VAT is included to the price. This depends where the customer is from.
But in general i need to pay like 30% of my own tax and then what ever the VAT would be (in my country 24%) I could say that VAT will be added to the total price but eeehh.... thats lot of extra for customer.
I could go around that vat tax thing if i could take commission payment via Patreon but i dunno if it would be too much hassle for the customer, it would be better for me since patreon collects the vat automatically for me and i dont need to ever worry about that. Also this way there wouldn't be customer protection etc. (not like thats needed with me) :P
so dunno if that is even possible.
i would really wanna be able to do at least sum YCHs in the future, BUT is also comes down to if im willing to earn that less than 50% of my hard work <.<
Before i started my business i always thought that i could do as often and as many commissions that i want, but turns out that it wasnt as simple as that or sure i could but it might not be as beneficial.
Thanks for reading and hopefully understanding - Teranen
I'm glad I had the chance to get the Halloween YCH from you, it still remains one of my fave commissioned pieces <3
But I can totally understand you. Patreon allows you more to create what you personally like and you'll be able to create more for your supporters there. Maybe consider still taking commission but less and irregular. That would be at least some compromise. Good luck on your endeavors <3
Cheap little headshot comms could be maybe possible, there i wouldnt feel bad for adding little vat to the price.
But i understand I hope maybe someday you'll return to them someday once everything goes back to normal and such. I wish you the best of luck in everything you do and more.
That's generally a problem I noticed with a lot of freelance artists, they don't have any clue about business management.
Even when we live in same country, direct bank transfer probably is not an option either
But I completely understand Tera, you gotta take care of yourself, and that's way more important than my silly wishes. I love your art and eagerly away the next stuff from you!
Stay healthy and safe!
It's just pledge the money and unsubscribe after.
But ultimately, your choice. Would've loved to eventually commission you, though.
Best of luck, for sure though, you definitely need to look out for yourself and your income.
ngl tho, I'd be willing to cover the tax expense, as I'm sure plenty of others would be.
But if it takes away from you being able to focus on Patreon, then it's completely understandable why you'd want to stop commissions on top of the excessive taxes.
Your ability to keep patreon/substar going is commendable, and I hope it'll serve you for decades to come with the same enthusiasm. All the best to you! Perhaps one day I can pick that option as well as VAT is ridiculous here as well.
Cheerio, and keep up the lovely artwork!
Understand that you don’t want to take away that you want to do and tax can be a bitch something. Such amazing talent you have it really a shame this has to be.
You do whats best for you and what you feel is right and texes are ass mot sure how it it when its from a neighbor county with similatlr cureency but yeah it happens
But I understand you have to look out for the ones that really drive your payday, and look out for your bottom line profits.
I hope someday if you're still offering YCHs that I might get something then.
Keep doing what you are doing and I hope this works out for you.
-- Stephen
Haha, oh well. At the end of the day you need to do what works for you, it's your work and your income at the end of the day! ^^
For the pricing and amount you get, tax should be where possible, factored into the final price as that's a common standard business approach. Final cost (or start bid cost of say a YCH) is often the base price you set plus tax plus small extra for revenue (est hours worked to complete) kind of sense. You should "profit" from it some overall, but not break even monthly based on costs of living you incur. Is all up to you though there, but overall the tax take at most shouldn't be something you eat or at least not all of it.
Also, Patreon may be your main source for now, but remember to never put all the eggs in one basket. Always keep a contingency plan for your business in case Patreon goes top sided for whatever reason. Ensure you've backup plans or active side ones to rely on to keep yourself afloat in case what if events even though they may ever happen. I've sadly seen many artists make the mistake of not having a contingency plan and struggling after losing their egg basket.
Sure i could make it to my TOS that said commission will have exclusive versions for supporters, but im not fan of making money of other individuals personal character so thats kinda naah.
Some commissioners wouldn't mind if crowd source site funding supporters get an exclusive alt version of their commission, but as well the commissioner themselves should also get the alt picture for private keep. Yet it's not flawless of an approach and would have a lot of what if issues. Probably not content best left exclusive forever, but timed content then a public version is released. Though this can be determined by the commissioner being asked that during the commission making. Giving the commissioner the right to determine if permanent exclusive or timed exclusive would be fair. This way they, as well you, can share said commission's alt public based on if commission wants it to be public eventually. How long a timed exclusive it is would be the tricky part to figure out. A month, two months, three months etc (though likely no more than a half a year). Two to Three months is probably reasonable.
the ych will prolly go into the upper hundreds
That said I am sad that I could never get to toss comm money your way, got a few characters you'd have done some great justice!
Also I agree it would be wrong to try making money from other people's characters outside of them paying for your work if you don't have their permission/agreement for it. Not only would it be kinda unmoral, but far as I am aware it wouldn't be legal really either.
But i understand your decision.