RevuMost editing disputes don’t start with bad work. They start with a missing sentence — nobody wrote down how many changes were included, or what “final” meant. A contract doesn’t need to be long. It needs to answer the eight questions that every project eventually asks. Below they are in the order a dispute usually happens; for a full fill-in version, use our video editing contract template (Word download or copy).
01Parties and scope of work
Start with who is signing: the legal name or business name and address of both sides (in France, add your SIRET if you have one), and the date. Then name the deliverables precisely: number of videos, length, aspect ratios, and formats. “A promo video” invites a 60-second cut, a 15-second cut and three vertical versions. “One 60-second 16:9 master” doesn’t.
- “This agreement covers: [number] final videos · [length] each · [format] · [platforms].”
- “Not included: motion graphics, additional cuts, format conversions, or platform adaptations unless listed above.”
- “Any work outside this scope will be quoted separately before starting.”
02Timeline and delivery
Say when the first version is due, how fast you turn round each revision, and how fast the client must send feedback. Deadlines bind both sides: if the client’s footage or notes arrive late, your dates move by the same number of days. Add how the files are delivered and how long they stay available.
- “The Editor delivers the first version by [date] and each revised version within [3] working days of receiving feedback.”
- “The Client sends feedback within [5] working days of each version. Late feedback moves later dates by the same number of days.”
- “Final files are delivered via [link/platform] and stay available for [duration]. The Client is responsible for downloading and backing them up.”
03Revision rounds
Two rounds is the common default. What matters more is defining a round: one consolidated list of feedback, delivered at once, from one person.
A revision round is a single set of notes — not a conversation that never ends.
State the rate for extra rounds up front, so asking for one is a simple decision rather than an awkward negotiation. When clients know they have two rounds, they consolidate their feedback and think before they speak.
- “This agreement includes two (2) rounds of revisions.”
- “Additional revision rounds are billed at [your rate] per round.”
- “A revision round is one consolidated set of notes, not individual messages sent over several days.”
- “Requests that change the creative direction or scope are treated as new work.”
Want ready-made wording? Copy our video revision policy template.
04Approval in writing
A thumbs-up emoji in a group chat isn’t approval. Say how sign-off happens and that it closes the round — and keep a record of who approved which version, and when. Tie the final payment to that approval: the balance falls due a set number of days after the client approves. See why a thumbs-up emoji is not an approval.
- “Approval is the client’s written confirmation of a specific version.”
- “Changes after approval are a new project.”
05Payment and deposit
Ask for a deposit (30 to 50% is typical) before you open the timeline, and tie the balance to approval.
- Deposit due on signature
- Balance due within a set number of days of final approval, with master files released after payment
- Late payments: a fixed fee or interest after 30 days
- “A [30–50]% deposit is due before work begins. Work starts on receipt.”
- “The remaining balance is due within [5 / 7] days of project approval.”
- “Late payments accrue [X]% interest per [week / month] after the due date.”
06Cancellation and kill fee
Projects get cancelled and clients disappear. A kill fee is not a punishment: it pays for the work you did and the calendar space you held. Say what is owed at each stage, and who can cancel.
- “If the client cancels before work starts, the deposit is [refundable / not refundable].”
- “If the client cancels after work has begun, 50–75% of the total fee is due, depending on the stage reached.”
- “If the editor cannot complete the project, the deposit is returned in full.”
- “Cancellation must be communicated in writing to be valid.”
Send your next cut through Revu
Timestamped feedback, counted revision rounds and approvals on record — free to start.
07Usage rights
Clarify who owns the final edit, the project files, and the raw footage. Most editors transfer rights to the final video on full payment and keep the right to show it in their portfolio — write both down. In France and much of the EU, copyright transfers are read narrowly, so list the media, territory and duration instead of writing “all rights”. Add a line about music licensing if you source the music: clients often repost videos on new platforms without realising it creates a licensing issue.
- “After full payment, the Client receives [ownership of / the right to use] the final video for [media], in [territory], for [duration].”
- “Usage rights are limited to [platforms agreed] unless otherwise negotiated in writing.”
- “Editor retains the right to display completed work in their portfolio and on social media.”
08Legal terms: confidentiality, liability, status and governing law
These are the clauses people skip and regret. Four short lines cover most of it: confidentiality of each side’s non-public material, a limit on your liability (usually the fee paid, except where the law does not allow a limit), your independent status (a contractor, not an employee), and the governing law and how disputes are handled. Laws differ by country, so have a professional review contracts for larger projects. This article is general information, not legal advice.
- “Each party keeps the other’s non-public materials confidential.”
- “The Editor’s liability is limited to the fee paid for the project, except where the law does not allow that limit.”
- “The Editor works as an independent contractor, not as an employee of the Client.”
- “This agreement is governed by the law of [country/region]. Disputes go to [courts / mediation first].”
None of this needs legal language to work. Clear, plain sentences that both sides read before starting will save you more than any clause you add after a dispute.
Why I wrote this. The short version is on the template page: most of my own problems with clients started with an unwritten agreement.
Ready to use? Start from our video editing contract template, which you can download as a Word file or copy.
Frequently asked questions
How many revision rounds should a video editing contract include?
Two rounds is a common default for small projects, but it is a convention, not a rule. Write the number down, define a round as one consolidated list of changes, and price extra rounds. Our video revision policy template has ready-made wording.
Who owns the video after the project?
It depends on what the contract says. Many editors transfer defined usage rights to the client after full payment while keeping project files and portfolio rights. Write the rights down, with media, territory and duration, instead of “all rights”.
Where can I get a ready-made contract?
Use our video editing contract template, which you can download as a Word file or copy. It is a template, not legal advice, so have a professional review it for larger projects.
Founder of Revu and a video editor based in Nice, France. Runs Naja Studio and built Revu to fix the feedback and approval chaos of client work.