Check out the Block Advisors Resource Center for a full idea of the questions, topics, and services Block Advisors covers. 

The twelve articles you'll be covering in video are: 

1. Choosing a business entity classification for federal income tax — benefits and drawbacks of each
2. Incorporation tax benefits for your small business
3. How an LLC is taxed and what your options are
4. Form 2553: Essentials for changing your business to an S Corp
5. Form 8832: Electing how your small business is taxed
6. LLC vs S Corp: What tax implications are there for my business?
7. LLC vs C Corp: What’s the difference for my taxes
8. LLC taxes: Weighing the pros and cons of a Limited Liability Company
9. Form 1120-S: Filing fundamentals for your business
10. Form 1120: Reporting how much tax your C Corp or LLC owes
11. Form 1120-W: How corporate estimated tax payments are made
12. LLC vs. Sole Proprietorship: What solo entrepreneurs should consider

Starting a business is exciting, but forming a Business can be really, really daunting. There are a ton of topics that almost seem designed just to stump new small business owners, ranging from what kind of business entity you should form, to how you should estimate your quarterly taxes and when you should pay them, to what write-offs you may qualify for. Block Advisors from H&R Block's Resource Center has a ton of helpful articles around these topics and more, and BA tax pros and accounting experts – real humans – average 12 years of experience, Small Business certification, and multiple small business-facing services, including Business Formation guidance. Block Advisors is an amazing resource for small business owners, but their brand awareness is lower than it should be, so we're going to do something about it.

Block Advisors has identified 12 key articles in their Resource Center that they'd like you to turn into a series of 12 live action hosted videos that drive organic awareness to everything BA has to offer, and also convert viewers to use the BA Business Formation tool and/or make an appointment with a BA tax pro or accounting expert. You can block-shoot with the same talent and location/set across all of the videos, so it's important to share your approach to both in your pitch treatment. We'd also like to see how you'd supplement key talking points with animated text or motion graphics to help viewers feel more confident about small business topics, and to demystify overwhelming topics like taxes, payroll, bookkeeping, and business registration. 

We've linked to the 12 BA Resource Center articles in the Background, so check that out to get a better sense of what you'll be covering. For any questions or other project updates, check out the Project Forum.

 

DELIVERABLES: There are 18 total video assets:

• Twelve :60-:120 Business Formation Topic Videos (16x9)
• Two :15 Series Trailers for social platforms (16x9, 1x1, 9x16)

 

TIMELINE: HERE. Please note this project has batched delivery.

 

EXPOSURE: We anticipate content will be used on the platforms listed below, but if casting talent, please be sure your talent reviews the required Talent Release, as it is not limited to these platforms. You should also review our Music providers in the Project Requirements, as well as the platform best practices page.

• Block Advisors Resource Center, social media, email, etc.

 

TARGET AUDIENCE:

• Small business owners who are not yet Block Advisors clients
• New small business owners, and existing small biz owners who are actively growing their businesses

 

TONE: Confident, trustworthy, friendly, knowledgeable, and approachable. 

 

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• While you'll be working off of the provided article text, it's crucial that you build a strong call to action into each of your videos, not just on an endcard. 
• Your videos should also make clear that Block Advisors' services are available all across the US, with Tax Pros available in-person in H&R Block retail locations as well as online, and remote/virtual options for Bookkeeping, Payroll, and Business Formation services. 
• When talking about the brand, you must use "Block Advisors by H&R Block" in the first mention, and then "Block Advisors" in subsequent mentions. 
• When talking about specific types of Block Advisors employees, refer to them as either "Block Advisors Certified Small Business Tax Pros," "Block Advisors tax, bookkeeping, and payroll experts," or "Block Advisors experts."

 

By participating in this project, creators acknowledge that the Sponsor is under no obligation to greenlight a submission. Though most projects on our platform do move forward, we will notify you in the event the Sponsor decides not to fund any submissions via the project forum. Regardless of the result, all submissions will be reviewed and evaluated by the Sponsor and the project team.

In order to be considered for this project, you must include the below materials in your pitch submission. For examples of effective pitches, check out this gallery.

 

• TEXT (REQUIRED): Up to 500 characters synopsizing how you plan to approach and produce the content listed out in the Deliverables.
  
  
• TREATMENT (REQUIRED): A more detailed and specific description of how you propose to execute all of the content listed out in the Deliverables, both in terms of what we can expect to see, and how you’ll make it. If it's helpful to you, we've provided a treatment template, which you can find here.
  
  
• LINKS (REQUIRED): To your previous video work. Please specify your role (producer, director, cinematography, etc.) and DO NOT INCLUDE LINKS TO YOUR SHOWREEL. Please link to individual videos.
  
  
• SCRIPT (Optional): This should include dialogue from the video you intend to create.
  
  
• STORYBOARDS (Optional): Additional concept art, storyboards, shot list, anything that helps get your point across. You can download the Tongal storyboard template here.
  
  
• HEADSHOTS/CASTING BOARDS (Optional): Casting notes or concepts, headshots of actors, etc.
  
  
• PITCH VIDEO (Optional): This is your opportunity to be face-to-face with the Sponsor and show them what you're capable of. Consider submitting a pitch video in which you tell the Sponsor what they can expect should they choose your pitch. Also, test videos, animatics, etc. are welcome. For some examples of effective Pitch videos, check out this gallery. All Pitches will remain private until after the Sponsor gives creator(s) the green light to move forward.

1. In addition to the standard Tongal W-9, Winner Affidavit, and IP Assignment, greenlit Video creators MUST also provide Talent, Location, Music (or other) Releases for all assets appearing in their Videos, as well as a photograph/headshot OR copy of a photo ID for all On-camera Talent releases. You must also provide all project files, editing sequences and a 1080p .mov master file, using a ProRes, Animation, or Uncompressed Codec to claim your earnings.
   
   
2. Unless provided otherwise, all work must be your own original creation and free of any copyrighted material. You shall provide detailed information of your work regarding the source, the creator and background information as requested by Tongal.
   
   
3. In the event you utilize any third-party materials, such as music provided by a third-party music provider not provided by Tongal, you must obtain full written license and consent from the owner of such third-party materials and provide such license and consent forms to Tongal.
   
   
4. The Sponsor will be entitled to reasonable revisions on the finished Videos without providing additional compensation. Remember it's easier to re-edit than re-shoot so try to get as much coverage as possible.
   
   
5. Preferred format for upload to the Tongal website is HD 720p and formatted for the aspect ratios listed in the Deliverables (e.g. 16x9). Acceptable file formats are .mov, .avi, .mp4, .wmv. Acceptable codecs are H.264 (MP4), MPEG-4, H.263, MPGV, WMV, DivX. Should your submission be greenlit, you will also be required to provide a 1080p .mov master file, using a ProRes, Animation, or Uncompressed Codec.
   
   
6. BY SUBMITTING A VIDEO ENTRY, YOUR SUBMISSION IMMEDIATELY BECOMES THE SOLE PROPERTY OF TONGAL OR ITS ASSIGNEES – SEE OFFICIAL RULES FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT OWNERSHIP OF ENTRIES. YOU MAY NOT PUBLICLY SHARE OR PUBLISH YOUR SUBMISSION IN ANY MANNER AND YOU MAY NOT POST OR UPLOAD YOUR SUBMISSION TO ANY WEBSITE OR VIDEO HOSTING SITE (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE OR VIMEO), WITHOUT THE PRIOR EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSENT OF TONGAL. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS REQUIREMENT MAY RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION OF YOUR ENTRY IN THE PROJECT.
   
   
7. You may not contact any employees or members of the Sponsor's organization, their affiliates, or any of their partners. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in disqualification of your entry in the project.
   
   
8. In addition to the judging criteria stated in the OFFICIAL RULES, Pitches will also be evaluated on that member's ability to execute the final Video based on their prior work and experience as a filmmaker.
   
   
9. Videos must be in the English language or subtitled.
   
   
10. Submissions must not portray Sponsor in a negative way, the determination of which will solely reside with Sponsor, nor can Submissions contain any profanity, offensive language, nudity or otherwise objectionable material, the determination of which is solely at the discretion of Sponsor.
    
    
11. You must be at least thirteen (13) years or older to enter.
    
    
12. The Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest.
    
    
13. See OFFICIAL RULES for additional contest information, terms and conditions. If there is any conflict or inconsistency between these requirements and the Official Rules, the terms and conditions of these requirements shall prevail.