UGC Program runs on a weekly cadence. Brand commitments charge every week; creator settlements release every week. Brand-posts campaigns pay per delivered video, creator-posts pay per post. Both modes settle on the same Sunday rhythm.
The weekly charge cycle
For every active creator on every active campaign, UGC Program keeps a running weekly amount: per-post rate times posts-per-week. The milestone bonus is not pre-funded; it bills on top only when earned.
Each Sunday at 23:59 UTC, Stripe Subscription charges your card for the upcoming week. The first week is prorated to the day you approved the creator; thereafter the full weekly amount applies until the slot ends or you cancel.
You are paying for a weekly slot, not individual videos. The slot value holds even if the creator posts fewer than the target in a given week. This is what unlocks creators committing to daily posting.
How creator settlements work
Each post enters a 48-hour hold from the time it goes live. Within that window you can dispute and clawback applies if upheld. After 48h with no dispute, the post is eligible for settlement.
Every Sunday at 23:59 boundary, UGC Program releases all posts that cleared their hold during the past week to the creator's balance. Posts whose holds straddle the boundary roll into next week. Stripe Connect Express then transfers from balance to bank on the creator's chosen schedule.
Cancellation rules
| Initiator and timing | Kill fee | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Brand cancels end of week, no cause | None | Clean exit at the next Sunday boundary. Final weekly charge processes; creator pending settlement releases as usual. |
| Brand cancels mid-week, no cause | 50% of approved-unposted videos | Fee compensates the creator for the reserved slot. Added to your next invoice. |
| Brand cancels for cause | Per dispute outcome | Brief violation, brand safety, or repeated quota miss. Routes through the dispute system; outcome decides whether pending settlements release or claw back. |
| Creator cancels end of week | None | No fee, no strike. Final weekly settlement releases as usual; slot ends at the next Sunday boundary. |
| Creator cancels mid-week, no cause | None to brand | Creator forfeits approved-unposted videos and receives a strike on their account. |
| Creator cancels for cause | Per dispute outcome | Brand pivoted, brief changed, scope shifted. If upheld, creator receives full pending settlement and no strike; if not, treated as mid-week no-cause. |
| Auto-cancel after 2 strikes (creator fault) | None to brand | Two strikes inside a campaign removes the creator automatically. Pending approved-unposted videos forfeit. |
Milestone bonus
When the milestone bonus is enabled, each required platform earns a flat one-time bonus when a video crosses a configured view milestone within the bonus window. Bonuses bill on top of your weekly base only when a video qualifies, so there is no upfront buffer charge.
Refund policies
- End-of-week, no cause. No refund, no fee. Final week processes; next charge is skipped.
- Mid-week, no cause. No refund of the current week; the 50% kill fee on approved-unposted videos lands on your next invoice.
- For cause. Case by case via dispute. If resolved in your favour, remaining envelope refunds; if not, creator settlement releases as normal.
Funds are otherwise non-refundable except where required by UK or EU consumer protection law.
UGC Program plan versus campaign settlements
Two separate billing flows. Your UGC Program plan (Starter, Growth, or Scale) is billed monthly. Per-campaign creator commitments are billed weekly on Sunday boundaries. Both appear in Stripe as distinct subscription items.