Exclusivity Clause

An exclusivity clause prevents a creator from working with competing brands inside the contract's named category for a defined period. The category can be tight ("protein powder") or absurdly broad ("health, wellness, fitness, nutrition, supplements, and adjacent verticals") — the language in the contract determines whether you lose access to two competitors or to half your potential pipeline.

It is a real cost. Every month you can't pitch a competing brand is forgone revenue. The clause has to be priced like a forgone-revenue offset, not waved through as a favor.

2026 exclusivity premium math

• 30 days, narrow category (specific product): +25% on base fee.
• 60-90 days, narrow category: +40-60%.
• 90 days, broad category ("health and wellness"): +50-75%.
• 6 months, narrow: +75-100%.
• Annual exclusivity, narrow: +100% minimum (Modash, InfluencerFee 2026 surveys).
• Annual, broad-category, with paid-media usage stacked on top: +150-300%. At that price you're essentially a brand ambassador and should be on a retainer instead.

Clause language that actually shows up in 2026 contracts

Standard template language: "Creator shall not, during the Exclusivity Period, create, post, endorse, or otherwise promote any product or service competitive with Brand's Products in the Restricted Category." Three words to redline every time:

• "Promote." Replace with "create paid content for." Otherwise organic mentions, gifted product reviews, even outfit tags can be argued into a breach.
• "Adjacent" / "related." Remove. Adjacent is undefined and gives the brand veto power over your pipeline.
• "Restricted Category." Define it as a closed list of named competitors, not a vertical. "Glossier, Rare Beauty, Fenty" is enforceable; "beauty" is a career-killer.

What creators get wrong

• Agreeing to exclusivity without an end date. Always specify a clock-start (publish date) and an end date.
• Letting exclusivity extend past the usage-rights window. If they stop running your Reel after 90 days, your exclusivity should stop too.
• Not charging at all for "informal" exclusivity ("just please don't post for our competitor next week"). One week of forgone bookings is a 5-10% premium even on a small deal.

For where exclusivity sits in the broader pricing stack, see rate card.