Most edit projects don't go over budget in the timeline. They go over in the inbox: footage that keeps arriving after you've cut, feedback sent as a voice note, and a cheerful "can you make five more versions for TikTok?" after the final export.

None of these are bad clients. They're gaps in the agreement. Here are the clauses and line items that close them, in the order they usually bite.

1. The clock starts when the footage is complete

If footage arrives in six batches over three weeks, you end up cutting the same sequence three times. Put the start condition in writing:

Footage delivery: Timeline starts when all footage, assets and brand files are delivered in one batch.

Pair it with a general inputs clause so the rule applies to everything, not just footage:

Client will provide content, access, assets and feedback by the dates agreed at kickoff, and confirms it has the rights to any material it supplies.…