How to end a campaign (and what happens to unspent budget)
You can end a funded campaign whenever you want. Ending takes effect immediately: creators keep what their clips had earned up to that moment, and whatever they didn't earn comes back to you.
End vs delete
Draft campaigns that were never funded can be deleted — they disappear completely. Once a campaign has been funded it can be ended, not deleted: it stays visible with an Ended badge so its results and history are never lost.
What happens when you end a campaign
- 1
New submissions stop instantly
The moment you confirm, creators can no longer join or submit — the campaign leaves Discover.
- 2
Every clip finalises right away
Approved clips stop earning at that moment — paid views and creator earnings are frozen where they stand. Submissions still waiting on review are closed as not approved, so review anything you want to pay for before you end.
- 3
The campaign closes
The campaign shows as Ended straight away, with its results and history kept.
- 4
Unspent budget goes to your wallet
Whatever creators didn't earn is returned to your Shoot wallet automatically, less Shoot's 7%. Use it to fund another campaign instantly at no further fee, or request a withdrawal from the wallet page.
Want a break instead?
Pause the campaign rather than ending it. Pausing stops new submissions but keeps the budget in the campaign, and you can resume at any time.
Ending is final and can't be undone. It doesn't cancel what creators have already earned — the wallet receives whatever was left unspent.
Frequently asked
Why can't I delete a funded campaign?+
Money moved through it — creators earned from it and records need to stay auditable. Ending keeps the history while returning the unspent budget to you.
How long until I get the unspent budget back?+
Immediately. The unspent budget, less Shoot's 7%, is in your wallet as soon as you confirm.
Do I get the platform fee back?+
No. Shoot's 7% is charged on what creators were paid and on the budget you take back unspent. Budget that keeps running costs nothing extra — which is why it pays to let a campaign finish.
What happens to submissions I never reviewed?+
Anything still unreviewed when you end the campaign is automatically declined and costs nothing — so review what you want to pay for before you end.
Related articles
The brand wallet: deposits, returned budgets, and withdrawals
Your Shoot wallet holds money you deposit plus unspent budget returned from ended campaigns (less Shoot's 7%). Fund campaigns from it instantly with no extra fee; withdrawals go through support back to your original payment method.
How campaign funding and escrow works
Brands fund a campaign's budget up front and those funds are held until creators' approved work clears. Approved creators are paid automatically; Shoot's 7% is charged on payouts and on budget returned unspent.
How to launch a campaign (for brands)
Build a campaign in the wizard — basics, budget, platforms & pay, content rules, access & proof — then fund it. Creators post clips, you approve them from a real-time queue, and you pay only for approved performance.
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Last updated 2026-07-22