Wanna start working but have no idea how to set up art commissions?
Don’t worry. We’re gonna get you sorted out.
Cuz lucky for you I’ve already worked with hundreds of clients- and found all the pitfalls awaiting an unaware artist.
Here is my exact payment and delivery system in detail that I developed to keep things smooth and stress-free for both you and the client.
Use it wisely 🙏
1. Have a Payment Plan
Always have a paywall before you do any work.
A paywall keeps crappy clients away, creates a psychological investment for clients to see the project through, and helps keep you paying those darn bills.
The formula I’ve landed on?
- 50% upfront – Locks in their spot & ensures commitment.
- 50% upon delivery – If they don’t pay you, no final product. Simple.
This is a very fair payment structure, cuz you guys split the risk – cuz the client doesn’t want to give you 100%, get ripped off, and never get art, right?
And this way, you’re not chasing people down for money after you’ve already done all the work. They already paid you once. They are very likely to be okay with paying you again.
If they hesitate to do 50% up front? Don’t bother. If a would-be client can’t stomach it, you’re just consenting to a headache most of the time.
2. Fixed Prices > Hourly Rates
NEVER do hourly pricing. Just don’t.
Why?
- Clients don’t understand how long art actually takes.
- It turns you into a time-tracker instead of an artist.
- Some clients will nitpick every minute, asking why something took “so long.”
Solution? Set a fixed price. Now you know what you’re getting paid; they know exactly what they’re paying; and there’s no awkward “why did this take 8 hours??” conversations.
Win-win.
How?
- Either have flat fees for services i.e. $100 for a fullbody, full-color piece
- Or use an hourly-rate calculation to come up with a fixed price.
To come up with a quote:
- pick your “hourly wage” (say $20/hr)
- estimate how long the piece will take (say 4 hours)
- tell the client the price is $80 (20×4).
3. Deliver Work in Stages When Setting Up Commissions
The best way to keep clients happy while avoiding massive rework and frustration?
Break the project into clear stages and get approvals along the way.
You can do it how you like, but these are stages I use:
- Sketch – Rough layout, composition, pose approval.
- Line Art – Clean, defined outlines.
- Flat Colors – Base colors, no shading or light.
- Lighting and Shade – Polished, shaded, and fully finished.
Why this works:
- The client knows exactly what to expect at each step – no surprises.
- You minimize stupid and time-consuming changes (aka revision hell).
- You don’t have to redo the whole piece because of one tiny client nitpick.
Be VERY CLEAR they can only make revisions within each stage and that you don’t do revisions outside each stage i.e. “I don’t fix line issues if we’re in the lighting stage”.
4. Set Clear Revision Limits
Revisions can spiral out of control if you don’t set boundaries when learning how to set up art commissions. Some clients will try to milk free changes forever if you let them.
The rule? Set a fixed number of revisions per stage.
For example:
- Sketch stage: unlimited revisions
- Line art stage: 2 revision rounds (only line art fixes).
- Color stage: 2 revision rounds (only color tweaks).
- Final stage: 2 revision rounds (lighting adjustments).
Why this works:
- The client can still tweak things – but only at the appropriate stage of production
- They can’t request line art changes when you’ve already done the the color phase.
- You retain your sanity they don’t get to ask for line art revisions after you deliver a final.
Tip: Pick a number of revisions that feels fair and stick to it. If you leave it open-ended, some people will abuse it. I like unlimited sketch changes (easy to change and saves headache), and 2 for the following rounds. 2 because people will often have their initial change, then it might need a tiny tweak after the bigger change.
If you want, you can offer a revision fee if they want something big at the end before delivery – just make sure they know it ain’t free.
5. Watermark EVERYTHING
Big rookie mistake? Sending unprotected artwork before full payment.
Some people will ghost you once they have the art. They will run off with unpaid work. They will “forget” to send the final payment – or put it off forever.
Solution? Watermark EVERYTHING until you’re paid in full.
- Share work-in-progress (WIP) images with a big fat translucent visible watermark (like your name at 10% opacity kinda thing).
- You give them the watermark-free version ONLY after they pay the final 50%.
No payment? Watermark stays. End of story.
If they run away with it at least you get free advertising from your big, fat watermark.
6. Communicate the Process Upfront
Make sure everyone is very aware of the process.
Let them know about:
- Payment terms
- Project stages & approvals
- Revision limits
- Final delivery process
Why this works:
- Everyone knows the rules from day one.
- No surprises, no excuses.
- If they don’t like it? They were probably a poor client anyway.
And life’s too short for working with buttheads.
Pro Tip: I suggest you make a PDF or document that lays out all the specifics. It saves time cuz you can just send the file to them before starting. Ask if they’re cool with your terms after they get it. If they are, send your paypal (or whatever) for the 50%.
7. Stand Your Ground
At the end of the day, you are a professional. When thinking about how to set up art commissions remember that your time, skill, and effort have value.
If a client:
- Complains about paying upfront? Red flag.
- Pushes for extra revisions? Hold firm to your limits. You told them about the process upfront.
- Tries to get extra free work? No payment, no delivery.
A good client will respect your boundaries. A butthead client fights them.
Choose wisely.
Because you and your art deserve to be treated (and paid for) with respect.
NOTE: Be realistic ofc. If you JUST started, you won’t have much market value. If you’re brand new you should check out my “5-5 commission rule” post.
The “How to Set Up Art Commissions” Checklist
Follow these steps for great success!
- 50% upfront, 50% upon delivery.
- Fixed prices – never hourly.
- Deliver in clear stages (sketch, line art, colors, final).
- Set revision limits per stage.
- Watermark EVERYTHING until final payment.
- Have a process. Establish it upfront.
- Stand your ground.
Bonus: Save Time With a Pose
Here’s an obvious fact, the more jobs you take the more money you can make.
But a big limiting factor to getting more characters done is time. Sketches and finding poses can take up a lot of time. I know I’ve lost a lot of time finding the “perfect pose” then fiddling with anatomy as I recreate it.
I actually used to do a lot of character jobs. That’s why I made all my poses stamps.
So if you’d like I can help erase the headache of the concept stage – with my poses. I keep zero commercial rights to anything you make with them.
And if you need something specific I can make your request too.
Peace and Love,
Brosatsu