Most creators start their business without a contract. They accept work over DMs, hash out terms in email threads, and figure it out as they go. It works fine until it does not. And when it does not, the creator always loses.
A strong contract is the single biggest factor in whether you get paid on time and in full. Not your talent. Not the quality of your work. The contract. Here is what every creator contract should include, regardless of whether you are shooting UGC, writing copy, or managing a brand’s social.
9 Steps to better client agreements
Defined deliverables. Vague descriptions are how scope creep happens. “Three Instagram posts” leaves room for revisions, reshoots, and stories the client insists were always part of the deal. Spell out exactly what you are providing, in what format, at what quality, and how many revision rounds are included.
Clear payment terms. Your contract should specify the total price, the payment schedule, the due date, and the method of payment. If you want a deposit upfront, put it in writing. If net-30 terms are unacceptable, do not sign a contract that includes them.
Usage rights. This is where creators leave enormous amounts of money on the table. A contract that grants “unlimited usage in all media in perpetuity” is a contract that just signed away every future opportunity you had to license that work elsewhere. Define the term, the territory, and the specific platforms usage applies to.
AI usage terms. A clause most contracts still do not address. Can the client use your content to train an AI model? Can your likeness be used in generative AI? These questions need clear answers before you sign, not after your face shows up in an AI ad campaign.
Late fees and interest. If the client pays late, there should be consequences. A reasonable late fee clause (often 1.5% per month on unpaid balances) creates financial pressure to pay on time and gives you leverage if you need to collect.
Termination and kill fees. What happens if the client cancels mid-project? If there is no kill fee clause, the answer is often “nothing for you.” Standard practice is 50% of the project fee if terminated after work begins.
Approval process and revisions. How many rounds of revisions are included? What happens if the client approves, then changes their mind? Who has final approval? Ambiguity here is where projects die.
Indemnification. This sounds legal and scary. It just means defining who is responsible if a third party sues over the content. Make sure the client indemnifies you for any claims related to their direction or assets, not the other way around.
Dispute resolution and jurisdiction. If something goes wrong, where does the fight happen? A contract that requires you to sue in a state on the other side of the country is a contract designed to be unenforceable. Specify your home jurisdiction.
Building all of this from scratch for every client is exhausting, which is why most creators skip it. DUPAY’s Contract Creator generates a full agreement with all of these clauses built in, tuned to the realities of creator work, in a few minutes.