# HotInfluencer

> HotInfluencer is protected payments for creator brand deals. A creator sends a brand a deal link; the brand pays up front through Stripe; HotInfluencer holds the payment while the creator works, and releases it to the creator when the brand approves the work, or automatically if the brand doesn't respond within the review period. If the work isn't delivered as agreed, the brand can be refunded while the money is still held.

HotInfluencer is run by a US company and processes all payments through Stripe. Deals are priced in US dollars. Creators get paid out in the United States, the United Kingdom, the EU/EEA, Canada and Switzerland. Brands pay by card or bank transfer. The service is in English.

HotInfluencer used to be a media kit builder. Media kits were shut down on October 22, 2026; old `/kit/...` links no longer work.

## How a deal works

1. **The creator creates the deal**: a written brief plus fixed terms (platforms, number of posts, how long posts stay up, the brand's usage rights, exclusivity, optional draft approval), the price, a delivery time in days after payment, the number of change requests included, and a review period of 7 to 30 days. The terms are frozen when the deal is sent, and the brand accepts that exact version.
2. **The brand pays** by card or bank transfer through Stripe Checkout. Brands don't need an account: the deal link identifies the deal, and a one-time code emailed to the brand confirms it's them before they approve work, ask for changes or open a dispute.
3. **The creator delivers** by submitting links to the published posts (and files, where agreed). If the deal includes draft approval, the brand approves a draft before anything is posted.
4. **The brand reviews**: approve, ask for changes (up to the number included), or report a problem. If the brand does nothing before the review period ends, the work is approved automatically.
5. **The payment is released** to the creator's Stripe account, minus the platform fee, and Stripe pays it to their bank on their payout schedule. On a new account's first deals, releases can wait up to 7 days after the brand paid.

## When something goes wrong

- **Late delivery**: once the due date passes, the brand can give more time or ask to cancel. The creator then has 2 days to deliver or object; otherwise the brand is refunded automatically.
- **Disputes**: either side can dispute while the payment is held. The deal pauses, each side has 5 business days to give its account and evidence, and HotInfluencer aims to decide within 10 business days after that: release, refund, split, or continue with a new due date. Decisions are based on the agreed terms, not creative taste.
- **Refunds**: a refund before release returns the refunded share of the price and service fee, minus the matching share of Stripe's processing fee. Card refunds take 5 to 10 business days. Payments can't be refunded through HotInfluencer once released.
- **Chargebacks**: a deal with an open chargeback is frozen until the bank decides. HotInfluencer contests chargebacks with the deal record (accepted terms, delivered work, approvals, messages).
- Every deal has a downloadable PDF record; the brand's copy is a payment receipt.

## Fees

- No subscription or monthly fee. Fees are charged only when a deal is paid.
- Brands and creators pay the same fee: brands pay a 4% service fee on top of the creator's price, and creators pay a 4% platform fee.
- On the part of a deal above US$10,000: 3% each. Minimum deal US$100; the smallest total fee on a deal is US$10.
- A creator can choose to cover all fees, so the brand pays exactly the price.

## Main pages

- [Home](https://hotinfluencer.com/): what protected payments are, for creators
- [How it works](https://hotinfluencer.com/how-it-works): every step of a deal and the rules that decide when money moves
- [For brands](https://hotinfluencer.com/for-brands): paying creators safely, without an account
- [Pricing](https://hotinfluencer.com/pricing): fees and large-deal pricing
- [Help](https://hotinfluencer.com/help): what to do when a deal goes wrong, disputes, safety, contact

## Policies

- [Payment Protection Policy](https://hotinfluencer.com/legal/payment-protection): holding, release, review, automatic approval, cancellations, refunds, chargebacks
- [Dispute Policy](https://hotinfluencer.com/legal/disputes): how disputes are decided and common outcomes
- [Terms of Service](https://hotinfluencer.com/legal/terms)
- [Prohibited Content and Deals](https://hotinfluencer.com/legal/prohibited)
- [Privacy Policy](https://hotinfluencer.com/data-privacy): data collected, retention, downloading and deleting your data

## Guides on landing deals and getting paid

- [How to Get Brand Deals](https://hotinfluencer.com/guides/how-to-get-brand-deals): what brands look for, making yourself easy to hire, YouTube Creator Partnerships, TikTok One and Instagram's creator marketplace, a pitch email template, pricing a first deal, and getting paid before posting
- [How Do Influencers Get Paid?](https://hotinfluencer.com/guides/how-influencers-get-paid): how brand deal money moves, why creators are paid on 30 to 90 day terms and often late, which payment methods protect creators, and scripts for asking a brand to pay up front
- [Free Influencer Invoice Template](https://hotinfluencer.com/guides/influencer-invoice-template): a copyable invoice for sponsored posts and UGC, what each line is for, payment terms and late fees, US (W-9, 1099-NEC), UK (VAT) and EU (reverse charge) tax basics, and sending invoices so they get paid
- [Brand Didn't Pay You? What to Do, Step by Step](https://hotinfluencer.com/guides/brand-didnt-pay): checking the agreement, follow-up and final demand emails, US freelancer payment laws (California, New York, Illinois) and UK late payment interest, small claims, disputes over the work, and spotting fake brand deals
- [Free Influencer Contract Template](https://hotinfluencer.com/guides/influencer-contract-template): a copyable influencer agreement, what each clause protects, payment term options, red flags in brand contracts, and why formal escrow is rarely used for brand deals

## Guides for creators

- [Creator Strategy Guides](https://hotinfluencer.com/guides)
- [Influencer Pricing Strategy](https://hotinfluencer.com/guides/influencer-rates): creation fees, usage rights, whitelisting and bundles
- [The Influencer Pitching Masterclass](https://hotinfluencer.com/guides/pitching-brands): outreach, follow-ups and anchor pricing
- [Micro-Influencer Strategy](https://hotinfluencer.com/guides/micro-influencer): monetizing 1k to 50k followers
- [Audience Demographics Strategy](https://hotinfluencer.com/guides/audience-demographics): using audience data in negotiations
- [Influencer Marketing in Southeast Asia](https://hotinfluencer.com/guides/southeast-asia)
- [How Brands Detect Fake Followers](https://hotinfluencer.com/guides/fake-followers)
- [The Creator Economy in 2026](https://hotinfluencer.com/guides/ugc-economy-2026)
- [The Professional Media Kit Masterclass](https://hotinfluencer.com/guides/media-kit)

Guides are also available in Chinese, Spanish, Arabic, French, Portuguese, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai and Filipino under /{language}/guides (for example /es/guides).

## Optional

- Contact: support@hotinfluencer.com (deals and payments), privacy@hotinfluencer.com (data requests)
- Terminology: HotInfluencer calls its product "protected payments" and describes the money as "held" until release.