Most creator disputes come from vague agreements. This checklist walks every clause that should be nailed down before you sign — scope, usage rights, exclusivity, payment, and approvals — so you avoid scope creep and unpaid work.
Run it before you sign. Open the checklist next to the contract and tick each item off against the actual wording, not your assumptions.
Flag anything missing. If a clause isn't covered — usage window, revision count, kill fee — send one email asking for it in writing.
Pin down the money. Confirm amount, deposit, payment timing, and what happens if the brand cancels. Get it in the document, not in chat.
Keep a signed copy. Save the final signed version and your checklist together so you have a record if anything is questioned later.
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Vague scope is the number-one source of unpaid extra work. Confirm every line.
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The difference between a fair deal and a great one is preparation. This checklist walks your prep, the levers you can pull beyond price, and exact phrases to use so you negotiate brand deals with confidence and stop accepting the first number.
UGC pricing is its own game — brands pay for content they own and run as ads, not for your reach. This rate card lays out per-asset pricing, usage tiers, and add-ons so you quote UGC deals confidently and never give ad rights away for free.
At minimum: exact deliverables and live duration, revision limits, usage rights with a clear window, exclusivity scope and end date, total fee with deposit and payment timing, a kill fee, and confirmation that you own the content and the brand licenses agreed usage.
Usage rights let a brand reuse your content in their own paid ads or channels, which is far more valuable than a single post. Always limit the window (90 days is common) and price any extension as a separate fee.
A kill fee is what the brand pays if they cancel after you've started work. Yes — ask for it. A common structure is keeping the deposit plus a percentage of the balance based on how much work was completed.
