Six questions to ask any agency before you sign
By New Vishal Vision · Updated
Short answer
Ask what exactly is included, what you will see before committing to everything, who owns the final files and code, what changes cost, how you’ll know it worked, and what happens if you stop halfway. Clear, written answers to these six prevent most budget and timeline problems.
The six questions, and what a good answer sounds like
- What exactly is included? A good answer is a written estimate listing shoot days, cast, locations and every version for a film, or features and phases for software.
- What will I see before I commit to all of it? A script and board for a film, a prototype for software, a pilot module for a course.
- Who owns the final files and code? You do, assigned in writing once each phase is paid. In India, copyright can only be assigned in writing.
- What do changes cost? What’s included is clear up front, and anything extra is priced before work starts.
- How will we know it worked? One result agreed at the start, such as enquiries, sign-ups or hours saved.
- What happens if we stop halfway? You keep what you’ve paid for, and they hand it over properly.
Warning signs
- A price with no list of what it includes.
- No small first step: you are asked to commit to everything at once.
- Vague answers on ownership, or accounts opened in the agency’s name.
- Success described as “views” or “a great product” with nothing you can measure.
How we answer them
Every project with us starts with something small you can judge: a script for a film, a separately priced prototype for software, or a pilot module for a learning programme. What you have paid for is yours, in writing.