Why it matters
When a brand cancels a campaign, you lose the time you blocked and often other deals you turned down. A kill fee is a fixed amount that compensates you for that.
How it usually reads
If Brand cancels after signing, Brand will pay [KILL_FEE_PERCENT]% of the Fee, or 100% if Creator has already delivered a draft.
What fair looks like
- A percentage of the fee that rises as the work progresses.
- The full fee once content is delivered or published.
- Paid within the same payment window as the regular fee.
Red flags
-
may cancel at any time without liability
The brand can walk away after you did the work and owe you nothing.
Common questions
What is a normal kill fee?
25 to 50 percent before any content is made, and 100 percent once a draft is delivered, are common starting points.