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Copyright © 2015 Success Vantage Group Pte Ltd

All rights reserved.

Published by Jenny Lewis.

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Table of Contents

Getting Paid For Doing Voiceover Work ...................................................................... 5

Refuse Non-Paid Work Outright .................................................................................. 9

Union For Voiceover Actors ....................................................................................... 10

Financial Core (FiCore) ............................................................................................... 11

Negotiating Fees With Clients .................................................................................... 11

Non-Union Voiceover Rates ....................................................................................... 13

The Agreement ........................................................................................................... 14

Sending An Invoice To The Client .............................................................................. 16

Follow Up .................................................................................................................... 19

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 According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
(www.bls.gov), the mean salary for a voiceover actor in
May 2013 is about $41.94.
While most freelance voiceover actors are paid for the
hour, they can be paid more for a longer project, such as a
television series etc.

In fact, anecdotal information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in

2009 indicates that voiceover actors usually command hourly salary from
$300 – $500 for the first hour, and $200 – $350 for the subsequent hour.

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Getting Paid For Doing Voiceover Work
At the end of the day, the voiceover work is a career, and a career brings in the
bacon for the table.

It is important to understand that as a voice talent, you are no longer just an

artist, you are your own business. It does not mean that you have to be paid
less just because you are recording at home.

Setting your rates involves the following:

Your overhead costs such as taxes,

medical and family expenses.
Profit.
Equipment costs.
Your time.

You need to be competitive because otherwise a client will ask “What is the
catch?” if you are too inexpensive. However, this does not mean that you want
to price yourself out of the marketplace.
The advantage to
In fact, the new and hungry one may just ask for a rate of $100, while someone using the voiceover
else with years of experience charges $500. online websites is
that they offer
Do NOT under quote your price in order to get voiceover work.
payment protection
by using systems
Now, you certainly are able to offer a competitive price using your own home
studio without having to pay a middleman for their services. Keep in mind that such as SafePay
you have to pay taxes on the fees that you receive, however you decide how and Escrow
the money will be used. accounts that keep
both parties
Once you have been selected for a gig, you must be very clear about how the accountable.
payments will be done. This can be stated on your website on your fee
schedule page, if you have one, or based on your proposal submitted online.

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When you set up a contract agreement with a client, outline the specifics in the agreement.
Some clients though will have a set contract that they like to use; it can be as simple as creating a
Project Plan that outlines what work will be done and the fees.

It is always a good idea to require a deposit to begin recording with the balance due when the
recording is completed and sent to the client in the requested format. This would also include re-
recordings that need to be done. Such a format ensures that both parties will be happy with the
results.

Professional voice talent creating their own home studios has changed the landscape of the
industry. The same job can be done for less money, saving the client money. Think about the
following when you are setting your rates:

Your costs to operate your home studio business per month.

Hours of work required to seek out and actually record scripts etc.
If a re-record is required, is that figured into your original bid?

You will see a variety of rates across the board but it is up to you to determine what you need to
charge for yourself to have a business in the voiceover industry.

So how much should you charge?

Even if you're non-union, you can still use their rates as a basis to setting your own.

Here are some approximate rates we culled from several case studies:

COMMERCIAL (RADIO)
~ $280 for one hour (with the spot playing up to 13 weeks in one market), excluding New York,
Los Angeles or Chicago. For NY: ~ $420. For LA or Chicago: ~ $380.

COMMERCIAL (TV)
~ $470 for one hour (with the spot playing up to 13 weeks in one market), excluding New York,
Los Angeles or Chicago. For NY: ~ $870. For LA or Chicago: ~ $760.

CORPORATE/INDUSTRIAL PROJECT
~ $400 to $450 for the first hour, and $115 for the subsequent hour.

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Do your homework on the various websites etc before you decide on a competitive amount
which you deserve.

Quote your prices with integrity and commitment to get the job done right and to the best of
your ability.

Offer as many payment methods as possible and by all means, set up a PayPal account so you
can get paid electronically. This will allow your clients to pay by e-check, credit card or through
their own PayPal account.

Many of the online voiceover websites offer payment methods that will allow them to make a
percentage fee for the work that you do. They also offer protection and assistance if a job
doesn’t go as planned. Everything is on the up and up with you, with the client and the website
company knowing exactly what is to take place and what will be charged. You may also be open
to accepting checks and wire transfers.

Of course, be careful about signing up for payment services that you are not familiar with.
Research them thoroughly before using them and remember that each payment method has a
different fee added to it.

In the end though, you want to make it as easy as possible for your clients and customers to pay
you. How do you do this?

 Limit the amount of emails, steps and reading for your client to do from the time you
complete the work to the time you send them an invoice, whether it is through an online
voiceover website or an invoice you create through PayPal.com.

 Be very clear about the instructions on how to pay so there is no confusion.

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Take a look at the following voiceover Fee Schedule that will help you determine your fees per
project. Of course, fees can vary depending on the work such as animation or other more
technical work.

SAMPLE - VOICE OVER FEES

BOOK TRAILER
$1,000 for up to 2 minutes that includes script writing,
audio and background music.

RADIO COMMERCIAL
Local :15, :30 or :60......................$250
Regional.......................................$300
National........................................$1,000

Public Service Announcement.......$200

BUSINESS AND CORPORATE NARRATION

0 - 5 minutes.................................$300
16 - 30 minutes...............................$750
46 - 60 minutes...............................$1,500

E-LEARNING PROJECT.........................$1,200

AUDIO BOOK
100 pages...........$3,000
100 pages (with music)...........$3,500

INTERNET COMMUNICATION.......$300

(Please request a quote for your special project)

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The best way to maximize the amount of money you make for voiceover work is to be consistent
with your marketing and contact efforts, do what you say you will do and continue to market
your voiceover business wherever you go.

If a client starts to get a bit greedy with your services requesting more work that may not be a
part of your original contract, trust your gut feelings and simply say, “I cannot continue to do
more work without being paid for the balance due.”

Remember, you are a voiceover business, not a doormat.

Refuse Non-Paid Work Outright

There is absolutely no reason to work in voiceover and not get paid for your time, effort,
equipment, talent and your voice. If a company offers you work without getting paid for it, there
is no reason to work with them.

The only time it makes sense to record something for free is for your favorite charity or
organization that you want to support.

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Union For Voiceover Actors
There are some unions for voiceover talent that include SAG-AFTRA, ACTRA, BAFTA.

Years ago, there used to be only two unions: the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American
Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). Each addresses its own main areas of
performance. For example, SAG focused on talent for TV commercials, while AFTRA was focused
on Radio commercials and most voiceover professionals belonged to both.

However, in 2012, SAG and AFTRA merged, forming SAG-AFTRA. There was quite a bit to sort out
when it came to policies, procedures, benefits, fees and all requirements, however they
managed to become one.

Here is a list of advantages in joining:

 Health benefits.
 Rates are negotiated for you in each voiceover job.
 Legal rights, should legal counsel be required.
 Retirement plan for your future.
 Fair working conditions.
 Residual pay on jobs that continue to air on television and radio.
 More union work that usually pays more than non-union jobs.

The advantages of not joining a union is that it is usually easier to find more voiceover work and
no restrictions as to who and what work you can do.

The disadvantages of a union is there is more competition and you

can no longer work non-union jobs. In addition to the extra
expense to be a member, the perception of union
voiceover talent is that they are more difficult to work
with.

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Financial Core (FiCore)
After being a member of SAG-AFTRA, you can apply to become part of the Financial Core.

Dues must continue to be paid, in addition to losing most of the privileges of being a member.
You are not allowed to work on any non-union jobs ever again. Becoming a member of FiCore
means resignation from the union and you are no longer a member of SAG-AFTRA which means
it cannot be written on your resume. Plus, there is no guarantee that you will be allowed to be a
member again and there will be a considerable fee to pay if you decide to rejoin.

Take advantage of the voiceover websites that allow you to get work without being a member of
a union. You can pursue all sorts of voiceover niches such as commercials, narrations, audio
books and more. The pay might be a little less than union jobs but it is great place to start for
little or no money. Plus, it gives you the opportunity to enhance or improve your voiceover skills.
You can add more voiceover projects to your resume and explore your favorite niche. Then if
you think it is time to join a union, you can make an informed decision with clarity and
confidence.

Negotiating Fees With Clients

Negotiating fees with clients may seem like a daunting task. Initially, you may think that charging
less will help you win that first voiceover job. However, requesting a lower fee will set
precedence and if you are asked to work with them again, the client may resent you asking for a
higher fee. Also, charging inexpensive fees shows you have little experience and perhaps a little
desperate for work. The right amount of compensation will equal your skill, experience and
talent.

Before giving a quote, ask your client what their budget is for the job or what they have paid in
the past for a similar project.

Begin by saying, “I would really like to work on this project with you – What is your budget?”

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You certainly do not want to rip off your client, but you can’t afford to charge too less either.
Here are some other factors to consider when determining your price for a project:

 Your voice talent, ability to follow direction and skill.

 Are you a specialist in your field? (medical, nutrition, or other special skills).
 Will you do editing, add music or other technical services?

It is always good to have a range in mind, so that you can act flexibly.

A standard commercial session should be one hour, and union rules stipulate additional payment
for subsequent hours.

For non-broadcast sessions, pay is likely to be calculated according to the first hour, and then
subsequent half-hour rates.

NEGOTIATION TIPS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Figure out the other party's timetable - and then use it to your advantage. If you know that the
other party needs it speedily, make a tougher offer. Time is on your side.

Show people that you understand them. While you and the other party have differing
viewpoints, it doesn't mean you have to be enemies or that only you can win or the other party
can win. Build a rapport. Make the other party see you as an ally instead, an ally to get the work
done in the most competent and professional manner.

Make a compelling justification for your fee. Make it make sense and reasonable so that the
other party will take the bait. Focus on the value of your voiceover, because people pay for
value, and benefits.

Make it a win-win outcome for both parties. While you may not lower your rate, you can
compensate for it. Perhaps you could offer a free re-record if necessary, especially for the
familiar client. Be creative.

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Non-Union Voiceover Rates
While not strictly governed by union rules and regulations, non-union work is an excellent
training ground for you to learn and master the craft.

If you decide to list yourself as a voiceover talent on voiceover websites, you will find that the
jobs you can audition for will have a budget rate for the project.

For example, the budget might be $350 – $500 for a particular project. You determine whether
the project is worth auditioning for. You can submit your fee for the project and your audition in
an MP3 format that is uploaded on the website and sent to the client for review. The process
allows you to audition on a daily basis for jobs that interest you but it also allows you to build a
relationship with the client.

As a voice talent, you can choose jobs targeted to your ability and audition from your home
studio with WavePad, Audacity or GarageBand software. Working on these websites allows you
to build a strong reputation in the voiceover world. The following is a typical list of guidelines
that will be given or required for a specific voiceover job:

Specific gender requirement is always listed.

Preferred language required – Some voiceover jobs require both English and another language.
The specific age group of voice required.
Production requirements – This might include background music or a specific script will be given
to record.
Demo uploaded in a specific format such as .WAV or MP3.

Since there are no rules or regulation, it is even more crucial that non-union workers learn to
protect themselves.

The best way here is to create a contract for the client or producer to sign.

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The Agreement
Voice123.com is a tool to be used by voiceover talent to get work. No doubt, the website is a
work in progress and an excellent place to start and get noticed. Here is an example of a written
agreement for a voiceover project:

VOICE OVER WORK FOR HIRE AGREEMENT

By this memorandum of understanding, signed this date______________; both the parties
described herein under as PARTY A (the contractor), represented by
_______________________________ also described as the ‘author’; and PARTY B (the
narrator/voiceover) _____________________________also described as ‘narrator/voiceover’,
do hereby agree to all the terms described and given below:

Party A is commissioning Party B to begin the project of voiceover a written work on the subject
of:

1. The working title of the content shall be:

2. This title is subject to change according to the wishes and desires of Party B.

3. The deadline for completion of this work is __3___ days after the signing of this
agreement.

4. Party A agrees to pay Party B a consolidated sum of $_____________ for the project that
will include the following:
a. Voice over __ pages writing project into MP3 audio file with background music to
the content as part of the guidelines provided by Party A.
b. Following the guidelines provided by party A.

5. The fees of the voice over will be paid as follows:

a. 50% advance to get the project started via safe pay.
b. 50% within 10 days of complete work submission (irrespective of whether Party A
found time to go through it in 10 days or not).

6. Party B (narrator/voiceover) is subject to NO royalty or commission on the sales of the

MP3/CD audio recording work. He/she is only entitled to the one-time fee of $_______
as agreed before the commencement of the project.

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 7. Party B (narrator/voiceover) will maintain full confidentiality about this project.

8. Party B (narrator/voiceover) warrants and represents that the recording is confidential

and must not be published, reproduced or think that he or she has any power or
ownership of any or part of the project, or rights of any nature in anyone which might
interfere therewith, to enter into this Agreement and to grant the rights hereby
conveyed to Webmaster; that the work contains no matter which is libelous or otherwise
unlawful, infringes no right of privacy, proprietary right or copyright (whether statutory
or common law); that he or she has not heretofore and will not hereafter enter into any
agreement or understanding with any person, firm or corporation other than Webmaster
for the rights in the work granted hereunder. Narrator/voice over further agrees that he
or she will hold Webmaster, its distributors, employees, licensees, partners, agents,
advertisers, and any retailer harmless against any suit, claim, demand, proceeding,
prosecution, recovery or penalty and any expense, including attorneys' and litigation
expenses arising out of same, by reason of any claim or violation of any of the foregoing
warranties or representations.

9. Party A will own all copyrights for these CD/MP3 files, including sale and distribution
rights.

10. Party A will have full freedom to set the retail price of this written work, deal with any
publisher, and may even distribute it free of cost if he/she wishes. Party B will have no
say on setting the price of the audio/writing material.

11. Party A can request party B to make a reasonable number of changes and edits during
the period of production of the written content and within 7 days of completion of it.

Both the parties do hereby agree to the terms laid and set above and intend that a facsimile of
this document shall be treated as the original for all purposes.

Signature _______________________________________________
Party A (Contractor)

Date:

Signature _______________________________________________
Party B (Voiceover)

Date:

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Sending An Invoice To The Client
Collecting a deposit for a project begins by sending an invoice to your client or employer.
It is the first step in collecting payment for any project. Here are the steps to know:

 Create a PayPal Account – to make it easy for clients and employers to pay you.
Visit http://www.PayPal.com and go through the steps to set up an account.

 Create an invoice in a Word document that includes the following:

 Your name, address, phone number, email address and website.

 Your client's name, address, phone number and email address.
 Description of services.
 Amount due and terms of payment or due upon receipt.
 Thank you.

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Here is a sample invoice to create with your particular information:

§Susie L. Smith
Voiceover Talent
1234 Main Street
Anywhere City, State and Zip Code
website
Email address
Phone #

INVOICE
Date:
TO: Client’s Name
Email Address:

RE: Voiceover Project Name

From: Susie Smith
Email Address:

Description
Deposit due for voiceover recording of audiobook…………………$1,250

Please note: If possible, payment may be made on PayPal.com to your email address.

TOTAL DUE…………...$1,250

Thank you!

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First and foremost, a deposit should be received by your client to begin work.

This will set precedence for future payments, should it become an issue of them not paying. To
avoid any problems, go above and beyond the call of duty when working with a client. Offer a
free re-record in your proposal and include that as part of your fee.

Make it clear that the balance is due when you have completed all recordings as set forth in your
initial agreement. If payment has not been paid, ask professionally and politely for the balance
due. Many of the voiceover websites and PayPal.com have systems in place that allow you to
send reminders to your client for payment.

The motivation for your client to pay you on any of the voiceover websites is if they
do not pay, they will receive a poor rating and run the risk of being deleted from the
website making it difficult to hire more voiceover talent in the future.

You can also send a reminder by email directly to your client as well. When you do an excellent
job for your client, typically they will want to pay you for services rendered. If payment has not
been received, send a polite reminder by email or make a phone call.

Perhaps it was just an oversight and they may remit payment immediately. The worst case
scenario is sending a letter from an attorney, which sometimes will get their attention. However,
you want to avoid this, if at all possible.

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Follow Up
When the job is completed and you get your payment, it doesn't end there, especially for the
first-timers.

Gather feedback from the people who hired you. These testimonials will hold you in good stead
because they will promote your excellent work and attitude.

Send a thank-you note to the person who hired you. An email, or even a postcard will do. It need
not be a long-winded communication; just be sincere and speak from the heart. They will
remember you for additional jobs, without you even explicitly asking for it!

If there is a steady client providing a sizable amount of work and pay, you may even send a gift as
a form of appreciation and gratitude. This would be something more personal in nature.

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