Most Nigerian UGC creators work without a contract. This is a mistake — not because brands are typically malicious, but because misunderstandings about revision rounds, payment timing, and usage rights happen constantly. A short, clear contract prevents most of them.
This template is written in plain language — no legal jargon. It's designed to be sent as a Google Doc link or PDF before any brief begins.
What This Contract Covers
- Deliverables (what you're making, exactly)
- Timeline (when you deliver)
- Payment terms (amount, method, deadline)
- Revisions (how many, what they cover)
- Usage rights (what the brand can do with the content)
- Intellectual property (who owns the master files)
- Kill fee (what happens if the brand cancels mid-brief)
UGC Creator Contract Template
UGC CONTENT AGREEMENT
This agreement is between:
Creator: [Your Full Name], operating as [Your Brand Name / "a freelance UGC creator"]
Client (Brand): [Brand or Company Name], represented by [Contact Name and Title]
Date of agreement: [Date]
1. Project Description
The Creator will produce the following content for the Client:
Deliverables: [List each deliverable specifically — e.g., "2 × 30-second vertical video (9:16 MP4), 1 × 60-second vertical video (9:16 MP4), organic social media use only"]
Product being reviewed: [Product name and description]
Product delivery: [Brand ships product to Creator / Creator purchases and is reimbursed by [date] / Creator already has product]
2. Timeline
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Brief confirmed and contract signed | [Date] |
| Product received by Creator (if applicable) | [Date] |
| First draft delivery | [Date] |
| Final delivery (after revisions) | [Date] |
The Creator will notify the Client within 24 hours if a delay is anticipated.
3. Compensation
Total fee: ₦[Amount]
Breakdown:
- Content creation fee: ₦[Amount]
- Usage rights (if applicable): ₦[Amount]
Payment method: [Bank transfer / Platform escrow / Other]
Payment schedule:
- ₦[Amount] (50%) due upon contract signing
- ₦[Amount] (50%) due within [5 / 7] business days of final delivery and approval
Late payments beyond the due date incur a ₦[500–1,000]/day holding fee, which the Creator may waive at their discretion.
4. Revisions
The fee covers [2] rounds of revisions. A revision round is defined as one consolidated set of feedback sent in a single message, addressed in one delivery.
What revisions cover: Brief non-compliance — wrong product name, incorrect deliverable length, missing required inclusions explicitly stated in the original brief.
What revisions do not cover: Changes to creative direction, style preferences, or brief additions that were not part of the original agreed brief.
Additional revision rounds beyond the included [2] are billed at ₦[5,000–10,000] per round, payable before delivery.
5. Usage Rights
The Client receives the following usage rights:
Permitted use: [Select what applies]
- ☐ Organic social media (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter/X)
- ☐ Paid social media advertising — 30 days from first publication
- ☐ Paid social media advertising — 90 days from first publication
- ☐ Paid social media advertising — 12 months from first publication
- ☐ Website and e-commerce product pages
- ☐ Email marketing
- ☐ Whitelisting / dark posting (advertising from Creator's handle)
Usage beyond what is checked above requires a separate licensing agreement and additional fee.
Usage starts from: Date of final approved delivery.
6. Intellectual Property
The Creator retains ownership of all master files and raw footage.
The Client receives a licence to use the final delivered files within the scope defined in Section 5. The Client does not own the content — they own a licence to use it.
The Creator may use the final delivered content in their own portfolio unless the Client requests confidentiality in writing before the brief begins.
7. Kill Fee
If the Client cancels this agreement after the contract is signed but before final delivery:
- Cancellation before shooting begins: 25% of total fee is due
- Cancellation after shooting begins: 50% of total fee is due
- Cancellation after first draft delivery: 75% of total fee is due
- Cancellation after final delivery: 100% of total fee is due
8. Creator Obligations
The Creator agrees to:
- Produce content that complies with the brief as agreed
- Disclose any material connections to the product if required (e.g., "#ad" disclosure on organic posts, if the content is posted to Creator's own channels)
- Deliver files in the specified format and resolution
9. Client Obligations
The Client agrees to:
- Provide a clear, complete brief before the project begins
- Provide product (if physical) within 5 business days of contract signing
- Review deliveries and provide feedback within [3 / 5] business days
- Pay on the agreed schedule
10. Agreement
By proceeding with this project (signing below, or via email confirmation of this document), both parties confirm they have read, understood, and agreed to these terms.
Creator: _________________________________ Date: _________
Client: _________________________________ Date: _________
Notes on Using This Contract
Send it before any work begins. Even a simple email that says "here's my standard agreement for this project" sets the right expectations.
For small-value briefs (under ₦50,000): A shorter version — deliverables, payment date, and revision scope — via WhatsApp is sufficient. Full contracts make more sense for briefs over ₦80,000.
Email confirmation counts. If a brand emails "yes, agreed" in response to your contract, that's a binding confirmation. Screenshot and save it.
Adjust the kill fee to your risk tolerance. The percentages above are standard. You can go higher if you've been burned before.
For guidance on UGC rates and usage rights pricing, read the complete guide to UGC usage rights.