How many revisions should a brand deal include? Two rounds. That's the standard, and it should be in your contract before you send the first draft. Each round beyond that is a separate line item — charged at 15% of your content fee per round.
Unlimited revisions is a trap. Brands use the phrase "just a few tweaks" to ask for entirely new creative directions, new scripts, new hooks, new product angles — all framed as refinement. If your contract doesn't define how many rounds are included and what happens when a brand wants more, you have no leverage to push back.
This guide covers exactly how to set your revision limit, what counts as a revision versus a new deliverable, and the contract language to use when a brand pushes back.
How Many Revisions Should a Brand Deal Include?
The standard is two rounds of revisions included in your base rate. That's the industry norm. However, two rounds or re-edits (let alone re-filming) can be quite a lot of work. Selah's quotes include one round by default, and you can raise it in Settings.
One round means: you submit the draft, the brand sends feedback, you incorporate it once. Two rounds means: the brand gets a second pass at feedback. Three rounds means you're doing the brand's job for them.
Creators Agency calls two rounds standard: one on the script, one on the final video. Some creators include only one round. If your rate is on the lower end for your tier, one round is completely defensible.
What matters is that your contract states the number explicitly. "Reasonable revisions" is not a number. "Minor edits" is not a number. A round is a round: the brand submits written feedback, you respond to it, that's one round.
What Counts as a Revision
A revision is feedback on content that matches the original brief. The brand asked for a 30-second product demo with a lifestyle feel — they want the lighting adjusted, a different hook, a tighter call to action. That's a revision.
A revision is not:
- A new creative direction ("Can you try something more aspirational?")
- A new script ("We rewrote the talking points — can you re-record?")
- A format change ("Actually, can we make this a tutorial instead?")
- A scope addition ("Could you also add a 15-second cutdown?")
If the feedback changes what you're making, it's a new deliverable or a reshoot, not a revision. Your contract should say this plainly.
What to Charge for Extra Rounds
Every revision round beyond what's included costs 15% of your content fee. Selah calculates this automatically as part of your quote.
For reference: published guides (Creators Agency, Selene the Lawyer) put extra revision rounds at 10–15% of the content fee per round. Selah prices at 15%.
How to Define 'Revision' vs. 'New Deliverable' in Your Contract
The line between a revision and a new deliverable is where most scope creep hides. Brands don't always intend to be opportunistic — sometimes they genuinely don't know the difference between "refine this" and "make us something new." But the effect on your time and calendar is identical either way.
Your contract should include a clause that defines both terms. Something like:
"A revision is feedback that modifies the originally agreed deliverable within the original brief. Any feedback that changes the creative direction, format, scripting, or adds deliverables will be scoped and priced separately."
That sentence does a lot of work. It creates a shared definition before a dispute exists. It also gives you something to point to when a brand sends you a "quick note" that turns out to be a complete rework.
When Approval Rights Complicate the Revision Timeline
Approval rights — when a brand has veto power over your content before it goes live — make revision rounds longer by default. More stakeholders in the approval chain means more conflicting feedback per round. That feedback often arrives late, compresses your timeline, and raises the chance that round two looks like a brand rewrote round one from scratch.
If a brand has approval rights built into the contract, two rounds may not be enough buffer. You have two options: charge for it upfront by pricing three rounds into the base rate, or set a tighter definition of what approval rights cover (aesthetic feedback only; no structural changes past round one).
The existing explainer on approval rights in brand deals covers this in detail. If a brand is asking for both approval rights and an open revision structure, those two things together should raise your rate, not just your word count in a contract.
How to Push Back on Unlimited Revisions
Some brands will ask for unlimited revisions outright. Others won't name it — they'll just keep sending feedback rounds with the expectation that you'll keep responding.
Do not accept unlimited revisions as written.
When a brand asks for "unlimited revisions" or "revisions until we're happy," the contract has no end condition. You can be asked for five rounds, seven rounds, a dozen rounds, all within what the brand considers the scope of the deal. Your time is not limited. Theirs effectively is. That imbalance runs entirely in their favor.
What to Say
You don't need to explain yourself at length. Keep it straightforward:
"My standard is two rounds of revisions included. Each additional round is [your rate], invoiced separately before the next round begins. Happy to discuss if the project needs more creative development upfront."
That last sentence matters. It opens a door to either increasing the scope (and the rate) or tightening the brief — both of which are better outcomes than an open revision loop.
If a brand pushes back on this, that is useful information. A brand that objects to a defined revision limit is telling you they expect to need more than two rounds. Price accordingly, or define the scope more tightly before you start.
Bonus Tip: If a brand has sent unclear or contradictory feedback across revision rounds, you can invoice for additional rounds and include a brief note: "This round reflects substantial changes to the original direction." That sentence keeps the conversation factual rather than adversarial and protects you if a payment dispute follows later.
Try it free — no login needed →
Contract Language for Revision Limits
The clause doesn't need to be long. It needs to be specific. Here's a model:
"This agreement includes [X] round(s) of revisions, defined as written feedback submitted within [X] business days of draft delivery. Revisions must address the originally approved creative brief. Additional rounds beyond those included will be billed at [your rate] per round, invoiced prior to commencement of each additional round. Requests that materially alter the creative brief, format, or scope constitute a new deliverable and will be priced separately."
The critical pieces:
- Number of rounds — stated explicitly, not implied
- Feedback window — how long the brand has to submit feedback per round (typically 3–5 business days)
- Cost of additional rounds — stated in the contract, not negotiated after the fact
- Definition of a new deliverable — so the brand can't call a full rework "feedback"
Most brand-side contracts don't include revision limits at all. Brands are counting on you to either not notice or not push back. The absence of a limit always benefits the brand. Adding one is non-negotiable, not aggressive.
Selah builds a revision limit into every quote. Selah is built for the creator side: you should be paid what you're worth.
For a complete picture of how revision terms connect to the rest of your brand deal pricing, see the guide to how to price a brand deal — revisions are one of several scope terms that change your total before you ever get to usage rights or exclusivity.
A Real Deal Breakdown
A revision limit pays off in a deal like this one.
Creator profile: lifestyle creator, 100K Instagram followers. Brand brief: one Instagram Reel, two rounds of revisions included, 30-day paid usage rights, 30-day exclusivity.
| Line item | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1× Instagram Reel | $2,800 |
| 1-month exclusivity | $800 |
| 1-month paid usage rights | $1,100 |
| Total | $4,700 |
The brand submits feedback after the first draft. The creator incorporates it. The brand submits feedback again — that's round two, still included. Then the brand asks for a third pass because "the tone feels slightly off."
That's $400 added to the invoice before round three begins.
Without the revision limit in the contract, the creator has no basis to charge for it. With it, the line item is pre-agreed and the conversation is simple.
How to Calculate Your Revision Rate
Your per-round revision fee should be based on 15% of your content fee for that deliverable. Selah calculates this as part of your quote — you don't have to run the math separately.
If you want to set a flat rate instead, make sure it reflects the actual time cost of an additional production pass: reviewing feedback, revising script or concept, re-filming or re-editing, exporting, and re-delivering. For most creators, that's a minimum of two to four hours per round. Price from there.
The related question — what to charge when a brand asks for a full reshoot — is a separate calculation. A reshoot is not a revision. The guide on brand deal reshoot pricing covers that distinction and the rates that apply.
Try it free — no login needed →
Frequently Asked Questions
How many revisions should a brand deal include?
Two rounds is the standard. Selah includes one round in base quotes by default, and most creators land at one to two rounds. More than two rounds should be either scoped into the brief upfront or charged separately.
What should I charge for extra revision rounds in a brand deal?
Each extra round is 15% of your content fee for that deliverable, billed before the round begins. Published guides put this at 10–15% per round. Bill it before you start the next pass, not after.
What's the difference between a revision and a new deliverable?
A revision is feedback on content that matches the original brief — adjust the hook, tighten the CTA, swap the music. A new deliverable is when the brand changes the creative direction, format, script, or scope. If the feedback changes what you're making, price it as a new deliverable.
Can I push back if a brand asks for unlimited revisions?
Yes. Unlimited revisions have no defined end condition and should not appear in any brand deal contract. Counter with a specific number (two rounds is standard) and state the cost per additional round in writing before signing.
What contract language should I use for revision limits?
State the number of rounds included, define what counts as a revision (versus a new deliverable), set a feedback window per round (3–5 business days is typical), and specify the cost per additional round. Contracts that omit revision terms favor the brand by default — adding your own terms is not aggressive, it's standard practice.
Do approval rights affect how many revision rounds I need?
Often, yes. When a brand has approval rights, feedback can involve multiple stakeholders with conflicting notes, which tends to increase the number of rounds needed. If a brand has approval rights in the contract, factor that into your revision limit — either price three rounds into the base rate or set tighter constraints on what approval feedback can ask for.
Sources
- Creators Agency, "Revision Rights in YouTube Brand Deals Explained" (checked 2026-10-26)
- Selene the Lawyer, "11 Essential Rates Every Influencer Rate Card Must Have" (checked 2026-10-08)