Content Creators: How to Negotiate Your Brand Deals
Key contract clauses in "standard" brand contracts that you can and should negotiate
Negotiate Your Payment Terms
If you’re landing brand deals, you must be negotiating your payment terms.
I spent a decade in corporate finance, reviewing and negotiating contracts with both customers and suppliers. Here’s the insider truth: the bigger the brand, the more leverage they assume they have—but you can (and should) negotiate.
The Myth of the “Standard” Contract
Large brands often have in-house legal teams and “standard” contracts. But standard doesn’t mean non-negotiable—it’s just a starting point.
If you have the resources, hire an attorney to draft your own contract template (please don’t just grab a template from the internet). If not, you can work with the brand’s standard contract—just don’t sign anything until the terms work for you.
In every brand contract there will be a section or two dedicated to invoicing procedures and payment terms. These clauses must be read carefully because they will determine how and when you will get paid.