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YouTube Shorts Editing Retainer Agreement

This YouTube Shorts Retainer Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into by and between the Client and the Editor (the "Parties") to govern the ongoing post-production and editing services provided on a monthly recurring basis.

1. Monthly Services & Deliverables

The Editor agrees to reserve production capacity to deliver high-retention vertical videos optimized for YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and TikTok. The monthly scope of work includes:

• Volume: Up to [Number, e.g., 20] completed short-form videos per billing cycle.
• Raw Footage Limit: Source footage provided by the Client must not exceed [Number, e.g., 5] minutes per video.
• Standard Features: Pacing optimization, hook generation, custom on-screen dynamic captions, sound design, color grading, and royalty-free background music integration.
• Revision Limit: Up to [Number, e.g., 2] rounds of minor revisions per video. Revisions must be requested within [Number, e.g., 48] hours of draft delivery.

2. Retainer & Payment Terms

Client shall pay a flat monthly recurring fee of $[Amount] USD (the "Retainer Fee") for the services outlined herein. Payment terms are as follows:

• Upfront Billing: The Retainer Fee is billed in advance on the [Day, e.g., 1st] of each calendar month. No editing work will commence until the Retainer Fee is paid in full.
• Payment Method: Payment must be made via automated credit card processing or bank transfer.
• Late Fees: Payments delayed by more than [Number, e.g., 5] days will incur a [Percentage, e.g., 10%] late fee and result in immediate suspension of editing services.

3. Response Times & Delivery Schedule

To ensure smooth production, both Parties agree to the following communication and turnaround timelines:

• Standard Turnaround: Completed initial drafts will be delivered within [Number, e.g., 48] hours of the Editor receiving the complete raw footage and creative brief.
• Communication SLA: Both Parties agree to respond to emails, Slack, or project management platform messages within [Number, e.g., 24] business hours.
• Business Hours: Editor's business hours are [e.g., Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST]. Deliveries or messages sent outside these hours will be processed the next business day.

4. Unused Time & Rollover Policy

This retainer secures dedicated editing availability. To maintain operational predictability, the Parties agree to a strict Use-It-or-Lose-It Policy:

• No Rollovers: Unused video credits do not roll over to the following month. If the Client fails to provide sufficient raw footage to complete the monthly quota, the monthly fee remains due in full.
• No Refunds: No partial refunds or credits will be issued for unused deliverables within a billing cycle.

5. Out-of-Scope & Additional Work

Any work requested outside the defined monthly deliverables will be billed separately as additional work:

• Excess Videos: Additional Shorts requested beyond the monthly quota will be billed at a rate of $[Amount] per video.
• Rush Edits: Requests requiring a turnaround of less than [Number, e.g., 24] hours will incur a [Percentage, e.g., 50%] rush fee premium.
• Major Revisions: Re-editing a video due to a change in creative direction, new script, or new raw footage after work has begun will be treated as a new video deliverable.

6. Term & Cancellation

This Agreement is on a month-to-month basis and may be terminated under the following conditions:

• Notice Period: Either Party may terminate this Agreement by providing at least [Number, e.g., 30] days written notice prior to the next billing cycle.
• Immediate Termination: Either Party may terminate this Agreement immediately if the other Party commits a material breach that remains uncured for 5 business days after written notice.
• Post-Termination Assets: Upon termination and final payment, the Editor will deliver all finalized video files. Project files remain the intellectual property of the Editor unless specifically purchased under a separate agreement.