ReviewAgreementBrand deal contract review: check it before you sign
Short answer: before you sign a brand deal, review seven things: the deliverables, the payment terms and timing, the usage rights, the exclusivity window, the kill fee, the IP and AI rights, and how either side can end the deal. Most creators lose money on usage rights, not on the headline fee. Use the checklist below to do it yourself, or upload the contract and get every risky clause flagged in about a minute.
The 7-point brand deal contract review checklist
Read the contract with these seven in front of you. For each one, know what fair looks like and the trap to catch.
1.Deliverables and revisions
What fair looks like: An exact count of videos or photos, the platforms, the length, and how many revision rounds are included.
The trap: Vague scope ("content as needed") or unlimited revisions, which lets the brand keep asking for free reshoots.
2.Payment terms and timing
What fair looks like: A clear amount, a deposit or 50 percent upfront, and payment within 30 days of delivery.
The trap: Net 60 to 120 day terms, or payment tied to the brand's approval, which can delay or cancel your fee.
3.Usage rights
What fair looks like: Organic use on the brand's own feeds, for a set time. Anything more is a paid add-on.
The trap: Paid ads, whitelisting, or all-media use folded into an organic rate. This is where most creators lose money.
4.Exclusivity
What fair looks like: A short, category-specific window (for example 30 days, skincare only), paid for separately.
The trap: Broad, long exclusivity that blocks you from a whole industry for months with no extra fee.
5.Kill fee and cancellation
What fair looks like: A stated fee (often 50 to 100 percent) if the brand cancels after you have started work.
The trap: The brand can cancel any time for free, leaving you unpaid for work already done.
6.IP, likeness, and AI rights
What fair looks like: You license specific content. Your face and voice are not signed over for anything else.
The trap: Rights to edit your likeness, reuse raw footage forever, or train AI on your content, usually unpaid.
7.Termination and approval
What fair looks like: Clear, mutual conditions for ending the deal and a reasonable approval process.
The trap: One-sided termination or an open-ended approval clause the brand can hide behind to withhold payment.
What the risky clauses actually cost you
Usage rights are priced as a percentage of your base fee. A single clause can double what the deal is worth, or hand that value away for free if you miss it.
| If the contract grants | It is worth (on top of base) |
|---|---|
| Paid ad usage, 30–90 days | +30 to 50% |
| Paid ad usage, 6–12 months | +50 to 150% |
| Perpetual buyout | +150 to 300% and up |
| Whitelisting / Spark Ads | +30 to 100% |
See the full usage rights guide and 2026 UGC rates.
Want this done for you in a minute?
Upload the brand's contract. ReviewAgreement flags every clause above, puts a dollar figure on each, and writes the counter-asks you can paste into your reply.
Your first two reviews are free. No credit card required.
Three ways to review a brand deal contract
| Option | Cost | Time | Catches money clauses? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Read it yourself | Free | 30 to 60 minutes | Only the traps you already know to look for |
| Hire a lawyer | $350 to $720 | A few days | Yes, but expensive for a $500 deal |
| ReviewAgreement | First 2 free, then $15 | About a minute | Yes. 14 clause checks plus a fair-price verdict and counter-asks |
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a brand deal contract reviewed for free?
Yes. You can review it yourself using the seven-point checklist on this page, and ReviewAgreement gives you two full reviews free when you sign up, no credit card required. After that a single review is $15 during the founding offer, normally $25. A lawyer is worth it when the deal is large, the wording is unusual, or the stakes are high enough that you want advice you can rely on.
A brand just sent me a contract. What do I do first?
Do not sign it the same day, and do not reply with a number yet. Read the usage rights section first (how long, which channels, paid ads or organic only), because that is where most of the money is decided. Then check exclusivity, the kill fee, and payment terms. Once you know the real scope being asked for, you can price it and send back a counter on the two or three clauses that matter most.
How do I know if a brand deal contract is fair?
Compare it clause by clause against what is standard rather than against your gut feeling. Fair generally looks like: a defined usage window of 6 to 12 months rather than perpetual, paid ads and whitelisting priced as separate add-ons, exclusivity limited to named competitors for 60 to 90 days, a kill fee of 25 to 50 percent, net-30 payment, and one or two revision rounds. A contract that is worse than standard on one of those is normal and negotiable; worse than standard on most of them is a signal about the brand.
Do I need a lawyer to review a brand deal contract?
For a standard UGC or sponsored-content deal, usually no. Most of the money is lost on usage rights and exclusivity, which you can check yourself or with a tool. For high-value or unusual agreements, have a lawyer review the final version.
What is the most common thing creators miss?
Usage rights. Brands routinely ask for paid ad usage, whitelisting, or perpetual rights while paying an organic-only rate. That single gap can cost a creator hundreds to over a thousand dollars per deal.
Is it rude to ask a brand for changes?
No. Serious brands expect creators to read the contract and negotiate. Sending clear, warm counter-asks makes you look professional, and a brand that refuses a fair contract is usually one you did not want to work with.
Related: brand deal red flags and how to negotiate and counter, exclusivity, kill fees, whitelisting pricing.
Last updated 2026-07-27. Not legal advice, a data informed second opinion.