How to Quote Rush Mastering Jobs: 3 Price Rules That Protect You
Published · by Loopin
Rush jobs are where mastering margins disappear. Use these three rules and paste the quote below, so a deadline never costs you money or sleep.
Rule 1: charge a rush fee, in writing
Rush means you drop other work. Add a flat surcharge, for instance +50% on the normal per-track price for under 24 hours, and say it plainly. Test the number, but never discount a deadline.
A rush fee also filters clients. Those with a real release date will pay; the rest wait for the standard slot.
Decide your cut-off time too: after 3 pm, a same-day request counts as next-day rush. Write it down so you do not decide it under pressure.
Rule 2: cap revisions in a rush
Include one revision, not unlimited. Say it in the quote: “Rush includes one revision within 12 hours; extra revisions are charged.” Rush plus unlimited revisions is a recipe for a 2 a.m. loop.
Use a quick preview to cut revisions. Send a first-pass master, level-matched against their mix, and ask for notes in a single message.
Offer a choice: “One revision now, or two revisions at the standard turnaround.” Clients often take the slower option when they see the trade-off.
Rule 3: start the clock after payment and the final mix
Turnaround runs from the moment you have payment and an approved mix. A mix that changes after you start is a new job. This one sentence prevents most arguments.
For fast previews, run the mix through the free masterer to give the client something to react to while you do the careful pass. It is a first pass, not a replacement for your ears.
Take payment before work starts on rush jobs. Deadlines make clients forget invoices, and you cannot un-send a master.
Copy this quote message
“Hi [name], thanks for sending [track]. Standard master is [price], 3 days. Rush (within 24 hours) is [price + 50%]. Both include one revision. The clock starts when I have payment and your final stereo mix. Reply YES and I’ll send the invoice.”
Adjust the percentages to your own market; look at what mastering usually costs before choosing. Keep the wording short and the terms identical every time.
When to say no to a rush job
Say no when the mix is clearly unfinished, when the client wants stems you do not offer, or when the deadline is tonight and you have an earlier client waiting. A refused rush job costs less than a bad master.
Refer out when a track needs a human engineer. Automatic mastering cannot fix a bad mix and takes no creative direction. For more on speed, see mastering a song in a hurry.
Keep a list of two or three engineers you trust. A good referral on a job you decline builds more goodwill than a rushed, mediocre master.
Track what rush really costs you
After each rush job, note the hours, the revisions and the sleep you lost. After five jobs you will know whether +50% is enough or whether the fee should double.
Raise the surcharge once you are regularly turning away standard work to fit rush jobs. Rush is a premium product, so price it like one and keep standard turnaround as the default offer.
Send both prices in the same message and let the client pick. Choosing is easier than negotiating after the fact.
If a client pushes back on the fee, offer the standard slot and stick to it. Holding the line once teaches the next ten clients. Need a preview to show the client while you work? Free online mastering gives you a quick first pass to send, and the clock on the careful pass keeps running. Always label it as a preview, so nobody mistakes it for the final.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I charge for rush mastering?
A common starting point is 50% to 100% on top of your normal per-track price for under 24 hours. Test it against your market.
How many revisions should a rush job include?
One, with a clear time window. Charge for extras.
When does the turnaround clock start?
When you have payment and the client's approved final stereo mix.
Can I use automatic mastering for rush jobs?
As a fast first pass or a preview, yes. Listen yourself before delivery, since it cannot fix mix problems.
What if the mix is not ready?
Say no or ask for a fixed mix first. Mastering cannot repair a bad mix.
Should I tell clients about a rush fee upfront?
Yes. Put the rush price in the first reply so it is part of the choice, not a surprise at invoice time.