Free Revisions vs. Paid Changes: How to Decide When to Charge

Here's a simple framework:

Do it for free if…

• You agreed to X rounds of revisions in the contract (duh!)

• You didn't follow the approved concept or brief (take the L)

• It won't take you very long (stop whining if it'll take you five minutes to redo)

• There's a high chance of repeat business from a brand or agency (duh!)

• You'll make your contact a hero (Imagine the joy when they run to their boss or client and say, "Justin's amazing! He made the change for us even though he wasn't required to!")

Charge more money if…

• The brand is well past the contractual number of revisions

• The brand wants extensive revisions for things not included in the approved concept or brief

• Revising will take you the same amount of time (or longer) as the first production

• There's a low chance of repeat business (e.g., influencer marketing platform)

Your goal is to strike a balance between "doormat that agrees to every revision request" and "divo/diva that asks for thousands to change a five-second voiceover."