Can a Freelance Editing Business Use a Single-User License?
If you're a freelance editor who has started an LLC or S-Corp for your business you may purchase a single user license to EditStock footage.
Types of EditStock Licenses
It can be a little tricky for freelance editors to pick the proper license when purchasing EditStock footage for your demo reel. If you're reading this article then the first thing we want to tell you is thank you. You're doing the right thing by looking to properly license footage generated by the very industry peers with whom you want to work.
The solo-editor exception
A single user license is the correct license to pick if the business you built primarily consists of you doing editing work. If you have a sound mixer or colorist that you sometimes send projects to, you can still purchase a single user license. If you are a freelance editor who uses an LLC or S-Corp to separate personal assets from your business assets it's perfectly ok to purchase a single user license.
The business license choice is meant for companies that are either demoing or building a product. For example, if you were building an AI tool to help editors organize media faster, you would need a business license. If you were going to NAB and you wanted to show a cloud networking solution, you would need a business license.
If you are a single person and you plan on building a course on Udemy or some other online course which you are selling, you will likely need a multi-user license.
But if you're essentially one person with no employees, who is getting started in the editing industry or branching into a new genre (weddings, narrative, documentary) then a single user license is ok.
When it becomes business licensing
The distinction we're making is between "I made this cut to show employers what I can do as an editor" and "I'm using this footage to generate revenue from a product." The first is portfolio building. The second is business building.
If you're still unsure, reach out. The licensing team can clarify whether your specific use case fits the solo-editor exception or needs a business license.
