Fees, markups & cancellation · Working

Kill fee

Also called: cancellation fee

ELI5

A payment due when a job or engagement is cancelled under particular circumstances.

Used in conversation

“The budget needs to show kill fee clearly before approval.”

Definition

A payment due when a job or engagement is cancelled under specified circumstances.

Here “Kill fee” means: A payment due when a job or engagement is cancelled under specified circumstances.

Pitch context

You may hear this during a commercial brief, treatment, bid, award or pre-production process.

Why it matters: Helps interpret the brief, director treatment, bid, award, production process and campaign deliverables.

Caution

Meaning and consequences may change by contract, collective agreement, territory or law. This entry is orientation, not legal advice.

Sources & evidence · 6

Direct term-level sources and supporting source families.