Problem
A milestone payment is tied to 'final approval' without defining who can approve, allowing an additional stakeholder to reopen the work after payment is due.
Solution
Root Cause / Diagnostic:
Ambiguous approval rights enable multiple internal client stakeholders to introduce conflicting feedback after the agreed review gate has passed. Without a designated single point of contact (SPOC), payment releases become trapped in internal corporate deliberation loops.
Actionable Fix:
1. Name the sole authorized client sign-off representative and their direct email address in Section 3 of the contractor agreement.
2. Insert a strict 72-hour deemed acceptance clause stating that silence or lack of written feedback within 3 business days of final export triggers automatic milestone sign-off.
3. Route all video review approvals through a single centralized platform account (such as Frame.io) requiring one authorized account owner to mark the version as 'Approved'.
Pro Tip:
Prevent post-delivery committee feedback by specifying that any stakeholder additions after the designated SPOC sign-off constitute a new production work order.
Ambiguous approval rights enable multiple internal client stakeholders to introduce conflicting feedback after the agreed review gate has passed. Without a designated single point of contact (SPOC), payment releases become trapped in internal corporate deliberation loops.
Actionable Fix:
1. Name the sole authorized client sign-off representative and their direct email address in Section 3 of the contractor agreement.
2. Insert a strict 72-hour deemed acceptance clause stating that silence or lack of written feedback within 3 business days of final export triggers automatic milestone sign-off.
3. Route all video review approvals through a single centralized platform account (such as Frame.io) requiring one authorized account owner to mark the version as 'Approved'.
Pro Tip:
Prevent post-delivery committee feedback by specifying that any stakeholder additions after the designated SPOC sign-off constitute a new production work order.