The main risk in this job is not filming badly, it is delivering and not getting paid. In Italy, where payment terms are historically long, protection is built before delivery, not after.
How Italian clients pay
Bank transfer is the norm. Usual terms run from 30 to 60 days from the invoice for structured companies and agencies, shorter for small clients who often pay on delivery. Agencies are generally reliable but slow, because they pay once their own client has paid.
Practical consequence: do not count on a payment due in 30 days to cover an expense due in 15.
The three minimum protections
1. Half upfront with a new client. It is not negotiable and it is standard practice in the industry. Anyone who refuses is telling you something.
2. No raw file before the balance. Send a preview with a visible watermark, the clean file after payment. It is the most effective lever there is.
3. Written terms, even in five lines: price, what is delivered, number of revisions included, usage rights and duration, payment deadline.
What to do when payment does not arrive
In order, without skipping steps: a polite reminder on the due date, a second written reminder a week later with the invoice attached, then a formal notice restating the agreed terms. Meanwhile, suspend any clean file delivery and any ongoing work for that client.
In the vast majority of cases payment arrives at the second reminder. The problem is almost never willingness, it is that your invoice never reached the right person: always ask who it should be sent to.
The structural solution
On a marketplace the brand's money is held at the moment of the order, before you start working. You do not receive it immediately, but you know it exists and is committed. You deliver, the brand approves, the payment is released.
On UGC MATCH that is exactly how it works, and you keep 90% of the package price.
Keep reading
- How to Get Found by Brands Instead of Chasing Them in Italy
- Getting Comfortable on Camera for UGC in Italy
- How to Get Your First UGC Clients in Italy
- Using UGC in Paid Ads in Italy
- The complete UGC guide for Italy
Create your free creator profile →
Frequently asked questions
How much upfront should you ask for?
50% with new clients. With regulars you can move to payment on delivery.
Are 60 day terms normal?
With structured companies yes. Put them in writing and plan around them.
What if the client disappears?
Suspend all clean deliveries, chase in writing, and prefer orders with payment held upfront in future.
Do you need a long contract?
No. Five lines accepted in writing are enough in most cases.
