How We Work: Obviously's Payment Policy
Obviously is committed to treating our influencers right all the time no matter what. We’re concerned about the ongoing pattern of brands or agencies not paying influencers in a timely manner, or sometimes at all. As part of our ongoing effort to be the number one platform for influencers, we rolled out a new payment policy for 2019 that is even more specific about when and how influencers get paid for every project:
For any payment of $1000 or less, you will receive your payment via PayPal within 15 business days of the end of the project. For payments more than $1000, your account manager will work with you to submit an invoice that will be paid within 30 days.
As with any change, we’ve run into some questions. Our goal is to make sure you know exactly when you can expect to get paid and who to contact if there’s ever a problem. Here are the answers to the most common questions we’ve received about our payment policy:
Why does it take 15 business days to get paid?
It won’t necessarily take the full 15 business days, but because of the large number of influencer payments we process each day, we want to make sure our accounting team has enough time to do everything right. Additionally, this time frame allows us to make sure collaboration posts are not being deleted, per the terms of our collaboration agreements.
Does it have to be via PayPal?
For the most part, yes. We use PayPal because it’s hooked up to our platform. It’s the best way to seamlessly process all our influencer payments. Exceptions to this rule are payments over $1000, for which influencers will have to submit an invoice, and countries in which PayPal is not available, in which case we will find an alternative.
What counts as the end of the project?
The end of the project is the posting deadline. We absolutely love it when you post early, but unfortunately we cannot start counting the 15 days as soon as you post. We usually issue all the payments for a single project at the same time.
Will I receive a 1099 from Obviously?
Obviously only issues 1099s for invoices paid directly by us. Please contact PayPal for information related to payments processed through them.
Is every project with Obviously paid?
We work with influencers at all levels, and some collaborations are best suited for gifts or event tickets. However, we’re serious about making sure our rewards are a good fit for the influencers we’re collaborating with. If you have a paid-only policy, let us know. We’ll make sure you’re only invited to paid projects. And the rewards for a project, both products and payments, are always specified up front before you sign up.
Can I negotiate my rate with Obviously?
Sometimes. Most brands have a set budget for collaborations, but in select circumstances negotiation may be possible. (Please note: Obviously always handles all negotiations.) Our recommendation is to sign up first and secure your spot on the shortlist because projects fill up fast. You can always take yourself off the shortlist before final selections are made if the reward doesn’t work for you. There are absolutely no negative repercussions with Obviously if you turn down a project that isn’t a good fit.
My payment is late! What should I do!
First, check your profile to make sure your PayPal address is listed correctly on Studio. If we have the wrong address listed, that is most likely where your payment was sent, and we will have to cancel that payment and reissue it. Let your account manager or Emily (emilys@obvious.ly) know right away. In the unlikely scenario that your payment is still late, once again contact your account manager or Emily (or both!) We will rectify the situation ASAP.
What information do you need to submit my payment?
Depending on the project, we need one of the following payment methods from you within 90 days of completing the work: an active PayPal account, bank information, or an invoice emailed to your campaign manager. Please note - and this is really important - if you don’t give us a way to pay you within 90 days, we may not be able to.
I hope that clears up any questions you may have. If it doesn’t, you can always contact us. You can also check out our complete terms and conditions here.
This post was last updated on 6/21/19.