Contract template
Sponsored Content Contract Template
Quick answer
A sponsored content contract is a written agreement where a brand pays you to publish content on your own channels. It should cover what you will post and when, how approvals work, how the post is disclosed, what the brand may do with it, and when you are paid.
Key takeaways
- Sponsored content is posted to your audience, so disclosure, timing, and how long the post stays live belong in the contract.
- Reposting by the brand and paid ads are separate rights and should be listed on their own.
- You can share results without promising them. Do not guarantee performance unless you are paid for it.
- Agree on approvals, payment dates, and a kill fee before you post.
When to use this template
Use this when a brand pays you to publish content on your own channels. If the brand will only use the content on its own channels and you will not post it, use the UGC Creator Contract. If the work repeats every month, use the Creator Retainer Contract.
The template
Copy the text below, fill in every part in square brackets, and delete any optional clause you do not need. Read the notes under the template before you send it.
Sponsored Content Agreement
This agreement is made on [date] between [creator legal name] (“Creator”) and [brand legal name] (“Brand”).
Campaign. Creator will make and publish sponsored content for [brand or product] in the campaign called [campaign name] (the “Campaign”).
Deliverables and posting. Creator will publish [number and type of posts, videos, stories, or other items] on [platform(s)], on or between [dates]. Unless this agreement says so, Creator is not required to make or post anything else, including extra story frames, cutdowns, or reposts.
Brand requirements. Brand will give Creator all required talking points, tags, links, discount codes, claims, and legal wording in writing before work starts. Creator will follow them and is not responsible for claims that Brand supplies if they turn out to be inaccurate.
Approval and revisions. Creator will send a draft by [date]. Brand will reply in writing within [number] business days. The fee includes [number] round(s) of revisions. Extra revisions or new direction are extra and need Brand’s written approval and a fee of [rate or fee structure]. If Brand does not reply in time, Creator may move the posting date and may treat the draft as approved.
Disclosure. Creator will label the content as sponsored in the way each platform and the advertising rules that apply require. Brand will not ask Creator to remove or hide the disclosure.
Time live. Creator will keep the content live for at least [number] days. If Brand asks Creator to take content down earlier, Brand will still pay the full fee unless the content broke this agreement.
Reporting. Within [number] days of posting, Creator will share [metrics, such as views, reach, clicks, or saves] from the platform. Creator does not promise any results unless the parties agree to them here in writing: [result, or none].
Brand’s use of the content. Brand may share the published post on its own channels, with credit to Creator, from [start date] to [end date]. Paid ads, whitelisting, partnership ads, boosting, use on Brand’s website or in email, and any other use are not included unless listed here: [uses, channels, term, territory, and fee]. Any use outside this list needs Creator’s written agreement and an added fee.
Likeness, voice, and AI. Brand may use Creator’s name, image, and voice only in the published content and only as this agreement allows. Brand will not use the content, or Creator’s likeness or voice, to train AI tools or to create new content without Creator’s separate written permission.
Exclusivity (optional). [None. / Creator will not post paid content for [competitor category] from [start date] to [end date], for an added fee of [fee]. This does not cover organic mentions of products Creator already uses.]
Fee and payment. Brand will pay Creator [total fee] in [currency]. A deposit of [amount or percentage] is due by [date]. The balance is due within [net terms] days of Creator’s invoice. Creator may invoice [on signing / on draft approval / on posting]. Late payments may be charged [late fee or interest], where the law allows.
Cancellation and kill fee. If Brand cancels before Creator starts work, [the deposit is not refunded / the deposit is refunded less [amount]]. If Brand cancels after work starts, Brand will pay for the work done up to that date and at least [kill fee amount or percentage] of the fee. If the content has already been posted, the full fee is due.
Confidentiality. Each party will keep the other’s non-public information private until [date], except as needed to carry out this agreement or as the law requires.
Ending this agreement. Either party may end this agreement with [number] days written notice. Brand will pay for work completed up to the date it ends.
General. This is the whole agreement and replaces earlier talks. Changes must be in writing. The laws of [state or country] apply. The parties may sign electronically and in counterparts.
Signatures. Creator: [name], [date]. Brand: [name and title], [date].
What to look for in each clause
| Clause | What to look for | What you can ask for |
|---|---|---|
| Posting and deliverables | Extra frames, reposts, or “related content” added without pay | List every item and date, and state that anything else is extra |
| Brand requirements | Talking points or claims that arrive late or by phone only | All requirements in writing before work starts, and no responsibility for inaccurate claims the brand supplies |
| Approvals | No deadline for the brand to reply, or no cap on edits | A response window, a cap on revisions, and a posting date that moves if the brand is late |
| Disclosure | A request to hide or shorten the sponsored label | A clause that the disclosure stays and the brand will not ask you to remove it |
| Time live | Requests to keep a post up for a long time, or to take it down early without pay | A set number of days live, and full pay if the brand asks for an early takedown |
| Reporting and results | A promise of views, sales, or other results | Sharing metrics without guaranteeing them |
| Brand’s use and paid ads | Reposting, whitelisting, or ads folded into the base fee | Each use listed with its channels, term, territory, and fee |
| Exclusivity | A wide category, long dates, or no fee | None, or a narrow category with dates and its own fee |
| Payment and cancellation | Pay only after posting, or no pay if the brand cancels | A deposit, net terms, and a kill fee |
Ways sponsored deals go wrong
- The brand sends new talking points the day before posting, then asks for another round.
- The post is reposted and boosted as an ad although only organic use was agreed.
- The brand asks for the sponsored label to be shortened or moved.
- Payment waits until the campaign “wraps,” with no date.
Frequently asked questions
What should a sponsored content contract include?
It should list what you will post and when, the brand’s requirements, approvals and revisions, disclosure, how long the post stays live, what the brand may do with it, the fee, and what happens if the brand cancels.
Do I have to share performance results with the brand?
You can agree to share metrics from the platform. You do not have to promise results unless the contract says so and the price reflects it.
Can a brand make me remove a sponsored post?
Only as the contract allows. Ask what triggers a takedown, how fast you must act, and whether you keep your fee.
Is an email enough instead of a contract?
A clear written agreement is safer. Email can work as a record, but a contract that names usage, payment, and cancellation leaves less room for disputes.