Brand Collaboration Proposal Template (Canada)
Updated on August 22, 2026
A brand collaboration proposal is a pitch. A creator, agency or partner brand uses it to set out who they reach, what they would make, when, on what terms and for how much, so the brand can decide before anyone drafts a contract. A good one shortens the negotiation that follows, because the awkward questions about usage rights, exclusivity and payment are answered up front.
The design point that matters most is that a proposal must not accidentally become a contract. The source document says twice that it is not binding and then ends in a mutual signature block — which is how a pitch becomes an argument about whether a deal was struck. This version is marked as an indicative proposal subject to a written agreement and ends with an acknowledgement of receipt. It also fixes the three other faults: a section duplicated across two pages, a compensation heading with nothing under it, and disclosure reduced to a vague promise, which in Canada means the Competition Act and the advertising code.
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Brand Collaboration Proposal — Indicative, Not Binding
- Date:
- Prepared for:
- —
- Prepared by:
- —
- Pricing held until:
1. Status of this Proposal
This document is a proposal for discussion. The terms in it are indicative and subject to a separate written agreement signed by both parties. It is not an offer capable of acceptance, and neither party is under any obligation to proceed. The date above indicates how long will hold the pricing; it is not a deadline for acceptance.
2. About
Platforms and handles in scope:
3. Audience and Reach
- Followers / subscribers:
- Average reach or views per post:
- Engagement rate:
- Audience geography and age:
- English / French split:
- Source of figures:
The figures above come from the source stated and are accurate as at that date. They are aggregate figures only. The audience is organic: no followers, views or engagement have been purchased.
4. Objectives
5. Proposed Deliverables
Content would be produced in 's own style and voice, within brand guidelines supplied in advance. One round of factual and compliance comments is included; further rounds would be agreed separately.
6. Timeline
7. Fee and Taxes
- Production fee:
- Payment stages:
- Tax status:
8. Usage Rights
Proposed copyright position: . Any assignment of copyright would be dealt with in the signed agreement, in writing, as the Copyright Act requires.
The fee above covers publication on the creator's own channels and reposting by on its own organic channels for months from first publication, with credit.
9. Advertising Disclosure
Every item of paid content would clearly disclose the commercial relationship. The proposed label is , placed at the start of the caption or as a legible on-screen label, in addition to any platform paid-partnership tool. The creator would make only claims that has confirmed in writing it can substantiate, and only about products actually used.
10. Confidentiality
Each party would keep the other's non-public information — including unlaunched products, campaign plans and pricing — confidential while the parties are in discussion, and would not share this proposal outside its own organisation without consent.
11. Next Steps
- Feedback on deliverables, timing, fee and rights.
- Agreement on any changes, in writing.
- A signed collaboration or ambassador agreement covering deliverables, disclosure, rights, payment and termination.
- Production begins once the agreement is signed and any first payment is received.
12. Acknowledgement of Receipt
Signing below confirms only that has received this proposal and is willing to continue the discussion. It is not acceptance of the terms, creates no obligation, and does not commit either party to the collaboration.
Received for {{brand_name}} by
Date received:
Non-binding, and visibly so
This proposal states that the terms are indicative and subject to a separate written agreement, avoids the language of offer and acceptance, and ends with an acknowledgement of receipt rather than a counter-signature. The validity date tells the brand how long the pricing is held; it is not an option to exercise.
If the brand wants to proceed, the next document is a collaboration or ambassador agreement, both linked from this page. One further Canadian point: if the creator is in Quebec and the eventual agreement will be a standard form the brand imposes, the French-first rule for contracts of adhesion will apply to that agreement, so it is worth flagging early rather than at signature.
Audience data a media team can check
The section that gets scrutinised is the audience data, and follower counts alone are weak. Reach, average views, engagement rate, audience geography and age split, and the source and date of the figures are what make a proposal credible. For Canadian campaigns, add the English/French split — it frequently decides whether a creator fits the brief at all.
Include a statement that the audience is organic and that no engagement has been purchased. Keep the figures aggregated; individual-level follower data raises privacy questions that do not belong in a pitch.
Price the rights, and state the tax position
Most creator disputes are about usage rather than production. A brand that pays for two posts and then runs them as advertising for a year has taken something the fee never covered. Set out organic posting, the brand's right to repost, paid media and whitelisting, and exclusivity as four separate lines with their own durations.
Two Canadian practicalities belong here too. Copyright stays with the creator unless there is a written assignment signed by the owner, so the proposal should say whether the brand is buying a licence or ownership. And GST/HST — plus QST in Quebec — needs an express position, because the brand's finance team will ask before anyone signs.
Disclosure agreed at pitch stage
The Competition Act prohibits materially false or misleading representations to promote a product or business interest, and the Competition Bureau's guidance treats an endorsement that hides a material connection as deceptive marketing. Ad Standards' code requires advertising to be clearly identified.
So this template names the label the creator will use and where it will appear, and confirms the creator will only make claims the brand can substantiate. That protects the creator and tells the brand what evidence it will have to supply.
Section-by-section guide
- Status of this proposal
- The non-binding statement up front, plus how long the pricing is held.
- About the creator
- Positioning, content focus and the platforms in scope.
- Audience and reach
- Optional. Followers, reach, engagement, geography, language split and the source of the figures.
- Objectives
- What the collaboration is for, as outcomes the brand recognises.
- Proposed deliverables
- Format, platform, quantity and language — what the fee is priced against.
- Timeline
- Production, approval, publication and reporting dates.
- Fee, taxes and expenses
- The production fee, payment stages, GST/HST and QST position and any pre-approved costs.
- Usage rights
- Organic use, brand reposting and paid media priced separately, with the ownership position indicated.
- Exclusivity
- Optional. The category and window offered, and what it costs.
- Advertising disclosure
- The label and placement the creator will use, agreed before anyone commits.
- Confidentiality
- Keeps unlaunched campaign information private during discussions.
- Next steps
- Names the contract that would follow, and flags the Quebec language point where relevant.
- Acknowledgement of receipt
- Confirms receipt and willingness to keep talking — not acceptance.
Points to get right before you send it
Keep the document plainly non-binding
Say it is indicative and subject to a signed agreement, avoid offer-and-acceptance language, and use an acknowledgement of receipt rather than a mutual signature block.
Name the disclosure label and placement
The Competition Bureau's guidance treats hidden material connections in endorsements as deceptive marketing under the Competition Act. Specifying the label in the proposal removes a predictable objection.
Competition Bureau — influencer marketingRemember the advertising code as well
Ad Standards administers the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards, which requires advertising to be clearly distinguished as such.
Ad StandardsIndicate the copyright position
Copyright stays with the creator unless there is an assignment in writing signed by the owner. Say whether the brand is expected to take ownership or a licence.
Copyright Act, s.13State the tax position
Say whether you are registered for GST/HST and QST and whether the fee is inclusive or exclusive, and note that an invoice showing registration numbers will follow.
Give the language split
For Canadian campaigns, state the English and French share of your audience and which languages the deliverables would be produced in. It is often the deciding factor.
Flag the Quebec adhesion rule early
If the creator is in Quebec and the eventual agreement is a standard form, the French-first rule for contracts of adhesion will apply to it. Raising it in the pitch avoids a surprise at signature.
How to complete this proposal
- Fill in the parties and dates. Add your details, the brand and contact you are pitching, the date and how long the pricing holds.
- Add your audience numbers. Enter reach, engagement, geography and language split, and name the source and date.
- List deliverables and timeline. State format, platform, quantity and language, then production, approval and publication dates.
- Price production and rights separately. Enter the fee, payment stages, tax position, usage term and any paid media or exclusivity.
- Set the disclosure. Choose the label and placement you will use on every item of paid content.
- Send it as a PDF or DOCX. Download, check the non-binding wording is intact, and send it with a short covering note naming the next step.
Frequently asked questions
Is a brand collaboration proposal legally binding?
This one is drafted not to be. It states that the terms are indicative and subject to a separate written agreement, avoids offer-and-acceptance language, and ends with an acknowledgement of receipt rather than a mutual signature. Be careful with templates that declare themselves non-binding and then include a counter-signature block.
Should I include the English/French audience split?
Yes, for almost any Canadian campaign. Brands frequently plan English and French activity separately, and a creator whose audience is 80% in one language is either exactly right or entirely wrong for the brief. Stating it early saves everyone a wasted call.
How much audience detail should I include?
Enough to be checkable: follower count, average reach or views, engagement rate, top three audience locations, broad age split, language split, and where the figures came from and when. Add that the audience is organic and no engagement has been purchased.
Should I put my rate in the proposal?
Usually yes, split into production, usage and any exclusivity, with the tax position stated. A pitch without numbers invites the brand to anchor first, and a single all-in figure invites them to negotiate it down without giving anything up.
Who owns the content if the brand says yes?
You do, unless the agreement that follows contains an assignment in writing signed by you — paying for content does not transfer copyright by itself. Indicate in the proposal whether you are offering a licence or an assignment so the brand's expectation matches the contract that gets drafted.
Do I need to mention disclosure if the brand has not raised it?
Yes, and it works in your favour. The Competition Bureau treats endorsements that hide a material connection as deceptive marketing, and the advertising code requires ads to be clearly identified. A proposal that already names the label and placement looks professional and clears a common obstacle.
What is the Quebec language point?
If you are in Quebec and the agreement the brand sends is a standard form it imposes, the Charter of the French Language requires the French version to be provided to you before the parties can agree to be bound by an English one. It affects the contract rather than this proposal, but raising it in the pitch avoids a delay at signature.
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Disclaimer
This template and guide are general information about Canadian practice, not legal, advertising-compliance or tax advice, and nobody has reviewed your pitch. The document is designed to be non-binding; if you edit it, take care not to turn it into an offer capable of acceptance.
