I dont do weddings, but with him charging you a finders fee, thats not exactly combining forces.

Assuming the use of his GL1 is free, 10 seems reasonable, maybe even 15%. One thing you need to find out is just how business you get from this and find out if he is working with others on the same kind of thing.

What does the advertising include? Yellow pages, internet, or just a card with his clients? All of those things have to enter into how much you are willing to give him in order to get work.

Are you shooting these alone or do you have help?

I think 10% is appropriate. That tends to be what an actor or an athlete pays an agent.

Did he say profit? or did he say 10%? Because a lot of lawsuits have happened over what consitutes a profit. It may be easier in the long run to take the fee right off the top. A $2000 video job means you pay him $200.

I would talk to your lawyer friend about what you should agree upon for advertising and his camera. Is he charging you for advertising, is he renting you the camera, etc. If you can't afford to buy him a GL, you should get insurance. Also you should make sure you agree on the tax situation. The 10% fee would be a legitimate business expense, but if you claim it and they look at you, you would probably have to show that you gave him a 1099 and he declared the fee as income, etc.

WHATEVER YOU DO, GET IT ALLLLLLLL IN WRITING!!!!

Get every EVERY thing that you can think of taken care of in the front end of it all.

GET IT IN WRITING!!!!!!!!!

I'm in business law right now, and I can't tell you how much you NEED to get it in writing.

Dave

Yes, I do get a finders fee for finding him a job..however..i don't know how much that is yet. I have only spoken to him today about all of this..and I'm getting back with him tomorrow.

I guess i was wrong in saying "joining forces" - we're just working together under our own company names. We're not necessarily a packaged deal. He does plenty of gigs...he has to turn many down...and he already has 6 crews running. I could have a wedding pretty much every weekend, and sometimes more than one weekend if i could do that.

The use of the GL1 would be free, and advertisement includes his website (but I do have my own), yeller pages, newspapers, bridal shows, mail outs, etc. I shoot with help. Gerenaly two other at the ceremony and one other at the reception.

So, what it comes down to...i think....is i give him 10% - 15% of what I charge, and he gives me all of that... sound good?

thanks
jeremiah

If you make this deal GET IT IN WRITING!

10% of the videography package price would be more than fair.

$800 package he gets $80---$2000 package he get $200 for basically doing nothing but refering you. Remember you are in business to make a PROFIT and just because you get say $2000 for a wedding doesn't mean you made $2000 profit-you have expenses just like any other business owner. If he wants money for the use of the camera in addition to the "referral fee" keep it seperate and a set dollar amount for each time you use the camera. That wya when you no longer need to use his camera because you got your own there is no question about fees and money. Keep each thing seperate. You'll be happier in the long run.
In my 30+years of running my own business, I've been on both sides of the referral fee and frankly I try to avoid it as much as possible but there are times and certain people that it works out fine. Again, just make sure you have it in writing. My attorney once told me "if it ain't in writing, it ain't..."
Don

Truer words were never spoken.

Without knowing a lot more about his and your business all you can expect is some very open ended advice. The way you explain it if you're not going the legal route and forming a actual partnership and he seems to be the more established business, it sounds like a win win situation and something you probably would like to think about long and hard. It sounds like a good deal on the surface.

How is your profit this "deal" is based on arrived at?

Such deals are usually based on earnings or gross profits or a flat fee.
If in a year he throws you $100,000 of business and it only costs you $10,000 that's $90,000 in gross profit you otherwise probably would never see. If we're only talking $10,000 or less in new business that's another story. Also if this guy is the real deal its possible he could thorw you more business then you can handle right away or cause you a lot of extra expenses and headaches. He likes your work now, what if in six months he finds someone he likes better? For sure get whatever agreement you come up with in writing. Good luck.