Video & Audio Invoice Template

Free Film Director Invoice Template

Invoice clients for directing commercials, branded content, and short films. Track projects and get paid on time with Tidybill.

Create Free Invoice View Pricing

What is a Film Director invoice?

A film director invoice documents fees for creative leadership and direction on film, television, commercial, and branded content productions. Commercial directors are primarily engaged by advertising agencies and brands to direct advertising campaigns, branded films, and content marketing videos. The director's fee is a creative fee reflecting their vision, reputation, and contribution to the final work — it is separate from the production budget, which covers crew, equipment, locations, and post-production. Director fees in commercial production are typically negotiated based on the production budget, the creative ambition of the project, and the director's track record. Film directors working on independent productions may charge in a variety of ways depending on the project budget and their involvement.

What to include on a Film Director invoice

Common film director invoice line items

Service Typical Rate Unit
Director's Creative Fee (prep + shoot) £1,000 - £5,000+ per day
Director's Cut Supervision £500 - £2,000 per project
Pre-Production Development £500 - £2,000 per project
Treatment Development Fee £200 - £800 per pitch
Travel & Accommodation At cost per project
Post-Production Oversight £400 - £1,200 per day

How to invoice as a film director

For commercial directing, invoice through your production company if you have one. Invoice the production company or agency for your creative fee separately from the production budget. Collect a deposit on signing the deal memo and the balance on delivery of the director's cut. For pitches and treatment development, invoice a development fee if the project does not proceed — this is standard in commercial production. Net 30 is common in advertising production.

Create your film director invoice in minutes

Start free. No credit card required.

Get started free

Frequently asked questions

How do commercial film directors charge for their services?
Commercial directors charge a day rate or a project fee, often expressed as a percentage of the production budget. Rates vary enormously based on the director's reputation: emerging directors might charge £500-£1,000 per day; established commercial directors command £2,000-£10,000+ per day. The fee is negotiated with the agency or production company before the shoot.
Should I charge for treatments I develop for pitches?
Developing a treatment is real creative work. Some directors charge a development fee (£200-£800) for any pitch that does not convert. Others absorb pitch costs as a cost of doing business. As your career progresses and pitch rates increase, charging for speculative development is more justifiable and increasingly accepted.
Who pays for travel and accommodation on a commercial shoot?
Production typically covers all travel and accommodation as part of the production budget. Invoice these as pass-through expenses at actual cost if you are managing your own travel. For international productions, negotiate travel class and accommodation standards upfront and include them in the deal memo.
How do I invoice for a director's cut after the shoot?
Director's cut supervision is a separate phase from the shoot. Invoice it as a project fee or day rate for the time spent in post-production. For commercial productions, the agency may only purchase a set number of director's cut hours — additional post time should be negotiated and invoiced separately.
Do film directors need a business entity to invoice professionally?
Many commercial directors operate through a limited company. This is not a legal requirement for freelancing in the UK, but it offers tax advantages and a more professional billing structure for large production companies. Consult an accountant about the right trading structure for your career stage.
Can I use this template for free?
Yes. Tidybill's free plan lets you create up to 5 invoices per month at no cost, with no credit card required. You can use the Film Director invoice template straight away after signing up.