On this page
One freelance job, worked through
Say you shoot two or three jobs a month, alone, with an editor you hire now and then. Here is one sample job: a half-day brand shoot and a 90-second edit at $2,400.
| Step | Without a system | In Cutvey |
|---|---|---|
| Inquiry | Reply from your phone, later | Saved packages, out the same day |
| Quote | Copy last month's PDF | Proposal from your rate card |
| Contract | A separate PDF, printed by someone | The proposal is the agreement |
| Deposit | "Could you Venmo me?" | Invoice raised on signing |
| Shoot | Notes in your phone | Project with the shot list and location |
| Notes | Three emails, no timecodes | Pinned to the frame, two rounds counted |
| Final invoice | Remember to send it | Raised on approval |
| Delivery | Dropbox link, before they paid | Opens once they have |
| Taxes | A shoebox, in April | Mileage, expenses and estimates in Books |
The time on the left is not billable, and it is usually done after dinner.
What it costs, and how to judge it
Solo is $49 a month, or $29 a month billed yearly. At $2,400 a job, one extra round billed in place of eaten pays for a few months. So does one invoice paid on time. We cannot promise you either, so try it on a real job and see.
Solo includes one person, 10 active projects, 10 proposals a month, 100 GB, 1,000 active leads and contacts, 3 automations and 200 AI actions. You can add up to 2 seats at $10 a month each. When you are regularly booking people, Pro is $99 a month with 5 people and 500 GB.
The awkward conversations, handled
Deposits. Asking for money feels personal in an email. A link that says "sign and pay your deposit to hold the date" does not. Half on signing is common, and it is your call.
Scope. "Just one more tweak" is how a $2,400 job becomes a $40-an-hour job. Say how many rounds are included, and when they are used, the next one drafts an invoice for you to send or skip. Read how many revision rounds.
Late payers. Reminders go on a cadence you choose (Gentle, Standard or Firm) during working hours on your clock. You do not have to write the email.
Handing over files. The delivery page opens once the cut is approved and the balance is paid. If a client you trust needs it tonight, press Release, give a reason, and the invoice stays open.
Tax time in the US
Books in simple mode holds your income, expenses, receipts, mileage and rules for sorting them. It shows Schedule C estimates, which are arithmetic and not tax advice. If you expect to owe $1,000 or more when you file, the IRS generally expects estimated payments during the year, and the self-employment tax rate is 15.3%. The IRS business mileage rate is 76 cents a mile from July 1 to December 31, 2026. Your accountant has the last word. Cutvey files nothing.
Where to start
- Add your rate card and one good proposal.
- Connect Stripe, so clients can pay online. Cutvey does not currently take a cut, and Stripe charges its usual fees.
- Take the next inquiry through it from the first email.
- Delete the sample project when you are done with it.
Where Cutvey is not the right fit
If you do one or two jobs a year, you do not need this. If you only need invoices, a cheaper tool will do. If you work as crew on other people's sets, you may want the free crew account instead.
Frequently asked
Do my clients have to learn anything?
No. They get a link in an email, and it opens on a phone. They sign, pay or leave notes from there, with no account.
What if a client wants to pay by check?
Record it by hand, and everything that depends on the payment still follows. Bank transfer and payment-app details can go on the invoice as instructions.
What happens to my work if I stop paying?
Your workspace ends and your data is kept for a limited period, 30 days today, then it may be deleted. Export what you want first, and keep your masters on your own drives.
Next: how to price your work, day rate or project rate, and the crew day rate calculator.