Brand deal contract essentials: payment terms, TDS, and GST clauses

Most influencer brand deal contracts are drafted by the brand's legal team, and they're written to protect the brand, not you. Key clauses to negotiate:

Payment terms: "Net 30 days from invoice" is standard. Push for advance or 50% upfront, brands sometimes delay endlessly. Include late payment interest clause (18% per annum). TDS clause: Brand will deduct 10% TDS. Your invoice should say "Plus applicable GST. TDS deductible as per IT Act." Do NOT let brand claim TDS deduction before paying you, you receive 90%, not 100%, of invoice value. GST clause: "Price exclusive of GST. GST as applicable at 18% to be paid additionally." Without this clause, you may have to absorb the GST out of your deal value. IP clause: Ensure you retain copyright of your content. Brands often try to get perpetual, global, all-media usage rights, limit to: specific platforms, specific duration (1-2 years), paid usage beyond that.