How long is standard exclusivity?

14-30 days from the post date. Anything beyond 60 days should command a 20-50% premium on base rate.

Can I work with a different beauty brand if my contract says 'mascara only'?

Yes — narrow category language is your friend. 'Mascara' lets you take other beauty deals; 'color cosmetics' or 'beauty' would not.

What if a brand requires unlimited future exclusivity?

Walk away or rewrite to a defined window. Open-ended exclusivity is uninsurable income loss.

How much extra should I charge for 90 days exclusivity?

A fair premium is +10% per 30 days beyond the standard 30. So 90 days = +20%, 180 days = +50%.

Does exclusivity apply to organic posts about other brands?

Read the clause — strict ones cover organic mentions too. Negotiate to 'paid partnerships only' if you can.

What "Exclusivity" Means in Influencer Contracts (And Why It Matters)

What exclusivity literally means

"Influencer agrees not to promote, post about, or accept compensation from any Competing Brand within the [Category] for [Period] following the Post Date."

In plain English: for X days after you post, every other deal in this category is off the table.

The 3 dimensions of exclusivity

Every clause has three knobs. All three are negotiable.

1. Time

Standard: 14-30 days
Premium: 60 days = +20%
Major premium: 90 days = +30%
Walk away: 180+ days unless paid 2x base

2. Category breadth

"Beauty" blocks 50% of your deals. "Mascara" blocks 5%. Always negotiate down:

What they wrote	What you negotiate to
Beauty	Color cosmetics
Color cosmetics	Mascara
Tech	Smart speakers
Food	Plant-based snack bars

3. Geography

Most contracts are global by default. If the brand only sells in the US, exclusivity should be US-only.

3 specific negotiation moves

Move 1 — Trade time for narrowness

"Happy with the 30-day window if we can narrow 'beauty' to 'lip products' specifically."

Move 2 — Price the premium explicitly

"60-day exclusivity adds $[X] (20% on base). 90-day adds $[Y] (30%)."

Move 3 — Carve out existing deals

"I have an existing partnership with [Brand] that pre-dates this contract — confirming that's carved out of exclusivity."

When to walk away

Open-ended exclusivity (no end date)
Category broader than the brand's actual product line
No premium offered for 90+ days
Exclusivity covers organic posts you weren't paid for

Pricing math

Fair premium per 30 days beyond the 30-day standard: +10%.

30 days: 1.0x base
60 days: 1.10x
90 days: 1.20x
180 days: 1.50x
365 days: 2.0x (or refuse)

Use the free rate calculator to set your base, then layer the exclusivity premium on top.

For the full red-flag list, see 10 Influencer Contract Red Flags. To have Kiki review every clause in 90 seconds, start a free trial.