MOVIE MATTERS CASHFLOW SAVE CASH ON KIT Cash flow is king in business, so check out our guide to savingmoney on essential hardware WORDS ADAM DUCKWORTH I f your filmmaking business is booming, cash is flowing and money is no object, then buying the latest kit brand new can seem like an obvious and very rewarding
thing to do. You’ll have the latest gear – from cameras and lenses to lights and grip – always on hand for any shoot, with the peace of mind of a full warranty in case anything goes wrong. And spending some of your income on kit means you’re paying less tax, and can claim the sales tax back, too. Good times. However, it might not be as sensible as you think. Your business will be faced with the very large depreciation on what has been a chunk of capital expenditure. That’s money you could invest elsewhere to drive even more business growth, or save it for a rainy day. Of course, your accountant is the best place for individual financial advice... But in these difficult times of shrinking budgets from clients and ever-spiralling costs, many filmmakers are having to be significantly more frugal in the running of their businesses. And the large expense of necessary kit – from cameras and lenses to computers and more – can cripple the cash flow. Get it drastically wrong, and you could be out of business quickly. There are an increasing number of options for running your business rather
“There are an increasing number of options for running your business rather than splurging a large pile ofmoney on newkit”
than splurging a large pile of money on brand-new equipment. Short-term rental is an option, as is longer-term leasing. And, of course, you can always save a lot of money by buying gear that has been previously owned. So, with that in mind, we’ve taken a look at some of the best ways to save cash on kit, as well as some of the smart ways to avoid crippling your cash flow.
IMAGES Whether you use an all-in-one camcorder or several types of cameras with a bagful of lenses, making good choices is key
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