When is Creator Compensation Required?

Do I have to pay a creator if…

I accidentally accepted the creator in the brief, but they haven't submitted content yet?

• Payment required if you've shipped product to the creator, the creator has purchased product on their own, or you've approved concepts/drafts they've submitted. At that point, the creator has committed time and resources to the partnership.
• No payment required if you move the creator back to the Applicants tab immediately, before they've started creating content or purchasing product. To avoid this situation, only accept a creator once you're confident you want to move forward with the partnership.

The creator submitted content late?

• Payment required (in full) if the delay was caused by brand-side issues — unresponsiveness, delayed feedback, or late product shipment.
• At your discretion if all brand-side deadlines were met and the creator was followed up with multiple times but still submitted late. In these cases, brands typically pay between 50–100% of the agreed compensation, depending on how late the content was and its usability.

The creator refuses to reshoot or revise content per my change requests?

• Payment required if the creator met all requirements outlined in the creative brief. Creators aren't obligated to reshoot or revise content based on subjective feedback outside the brief's scope — unless the brief explicitly states a number of revision rounds for subjective edits. In practice, most creators will accommodate small, reasonable subjective edits, but full reshoots are reserved for cases where the brief's requirements weren't met.
• No payment required if the change request addresses a requirement that was explicitly stated in the creative brief and the creator declines to fix it.

The creator delivers content that meets the brief, but I decide not to use or post it?

• Payment required. If the content satisfies the creative brief's requirements, compensation is owed regardless of whether the brand ultimately chooses to publish it. Brands should ensure the brief accurately reflects their expectations before the creator begins production.

The creator never delivers any content at all?

• No payment required if the reason for non-delivery is unrelated to brand delays — for example, the creator went unresponsive or chose not to move forward with the partnership.
• Payment required (in full or in part, at your discretion) if the creator failed to submit content due to a brand-caused delay — specifically, the product shipment was delayed, the creator never received the product, or the brand became unresponsive.

I decide to cancel the brief after a creator has already been accepted?

• Payment required, prorated based on the stage of work completed (e.g., product received, concepts approved, content in progress). Cancelling on the brand's side does not waive the creator's compensation for work or resources already committed.

I want to extend the campaign deadline?

• This does not change payment obligations. Extending a deadline is a scheduling adjustment, not a change to the compensation agreement, provided the creator agrees to the new timeline. You should still send payment within 30 days of the original completion deadline.

The creator's content technically meets the brief but is lower quality than expected?

• Payment required. "Quality" is subjective unless specific, objective standards (e.g., resolution, lighting, format) were defined in the brief. If the brief's stated requirements were met, the creator has fulfilled their obligation. You should submit change requests to improve the content, but the creator is not required to reshoot unless they missed requirements listed in the creative brief.

The creator posted unapproved captions or content?
(Applies only to influencer partnership briefs)

• No payment required (in full) if the creator posted content or captions that weren't approved by the brand. In this case, you can either require the creator to take the post down and repost with approved content, or allow the post to remain live and issue partial payment — the choice is at your discretion.