Skip to content
Kontra

🇬🇧 English · 7 min read · April 8, 2026

The 5-minute UGC contract every creator needs

You don't need a lawyer for your first 50 brand deals. You need a one-page contract that covers the four things that actually go wrong: scope, payment, usage rights, and what happens if either side ghosts. Everything else is a legal flex.

This post is the exact contract structure I use, why each section matters, and a copy-paste template at the end you can use today. It's not legal advice. It's the practical version of what every freelance lawyer would tell you.

Why "let's just use email" is a trap

A back-and-forth email chain is a contract in most jurisdictions, but it's a contract that's almost impossible to enforce. Terms scattered across 12 messages, no clear payment terms, no signature, no version history.

The moment a brand goes silent or a deliverable spec changes mid-shoot, you have nothing to point at. A signed one-page contract takes 5 minutes to write and saves you weeks of arguing later.

The 7 sections every creator contract needs

1. Who's involved

Full legal name + business address + org number for both you and the brand. Sounds boring. It's the section that lets you take them to a small claims court if they refuse to pay.

2. Scope of work

Be obnoxiously specific. Not "social media content for a campaign" but:

"1× 30-second TikTok video showcasing the Foo Bar product. Filmed vertically. Includes 3 outfit changes. Delivered as a single MP4 + 3 still frames as JPGs at 1080×1920."

If the brand wants a different aspect ratio, an extra deliverable, or a script change after you've started, that's a scope change. You charge extra for it. Your contract has to make this explicit so it's not a surprise.

3. Compensation and payment terms

4. Usage rights (this is where you make real money)

Default this clause to the most restrictive option, then sell upgrades.

"The Brand may use the Content on its own organic Instagram and TikTok accounts for 90 days from delivery. Paid media usage, whitelisting, third-party platforms, or use beyond 90 days requires a separate written agreement and additional fee."

If the brand pushes back, that's your opening to upsell. (See How to charge for usage rights.)

5. Revisions

How many free revisions are included? Two is standard. Three if you're being generous. Anything beyond that is billable at a clear hourly rate or flat fee.

"Two rounds of revisions are included. Additional revisions billed at 750 SEK/hour or in 30-minute blocks."

Without this clause, revision creep is the #1 way you end up working for free.

6. Cancellation / kill fee

What if the brand cancels after you've started filming? What if they cancel after delivery but before approval?

"If the Brand cancels after the contract is signed but before filming begins, 30% of the total fee is due as a kill fee. If the Brand cancels after filming, 100% is due."

This sounds aggressive. It's standard practice for every freelancer in the world. Lawyers, photographers, plumbers — everyone has a cancellation clause. You should too.

7. Signatures

Both parties sign. With a date. Digitally is fine — Swedish law (and EU eIDAS) recognises electronic signatures as legally binding.

What you can leave out

You don't need any of this for your first 50 deals, despite what generic contract templates say:

Less is more. A 1-page contract gets signed. A 6-page contract gets ignored or "I'll review it next week" → never.

The free template

Copy this into a Google Doc, fill in your details, save as PDF, send. Five minutes from blank to signed.

COLLABORATION AGREEMENT

Between: [Your full name / business name], org number [XXXXXX-XXXX]
("Creator")

And: [Brand name], org number [XXXXXX-XXXX]
("Brand")

Date: [today]

1. SCOPE
Creator will produce: [exact deliverable spec — format, length, quantity]
Delivery date: [date]
Delivery format: [file type and resolution]

2. COMPENSATION
Total fee: [X SEK] (excluding VAT, F-skatt registered)
Invoice issued: on delivery
Payment terms: Net 14 days from invoice date
Late payment: 8% interest + statutory reminder fees per Räntelagen (1975:635)

3. USAGE RIGHTS
The Brand may use the delivered Content on its own organic Instagram and
TikTok accounts for 90 days from delivery. Paid media usage, whitelisting,
third-party platforms, or use beyond 90 days requires a separate written
agreement and additional fee.

4. REVISIONS
Two rounds of revisions are included. Additional revisions billed at
[X SEK/hour] in 30-minute blocks.

5. CANCELLATION
If the Brand cancels after this agreement is signed but before filming
begins, 30% of the total fee is due. If the Brand cancels after filming
has begun, 100% is due.

6. OWNERSHIP
Until full payment is received, the Creator retains all rights to the
Content. Upon full payment, the Brand receives the usage rights
described in Section 3.

7. GOVERNING LAW
This agreement is governed by Swedish law. Disputes resolved in Swedish
courts.

Creator: ____________________________ Date: __________

Brand:   ____________________________ Date: __________

That's it. Seven sections, fits on one page, covers the only things that actually matter for a UGC deal.

Sending it for signing

You can do all of this in Google Docs and PDF if you want. But if you want a clean signing flow that takes 60 seconds — no printer, no scanner, no "wait, let me get a pen" — that's exactly why I built Kontra. Create the contract from a template, send a signing link, the brand signs digitally, you both get a PDF copy. Done.

Free during early access. Try Kontra at usekontra.com.

The TL;DR

Every brand worth working with will sign this in five minutes. The ones who refuse? You just dodged a bullet.