The fastest way to sound unsure of your own pricing is to invent a new number in every DM. A rate card fixes that — one document, sent every time, and you never have to think on the spot again.
The three sections every rate card needs
Core content. Your baseline options — a single video, a 3- or 5-video pack, a monthly retainer, a photo set. Bulk packs usually earn a small per-unit discount, which is worth stating up front rather than negotiating live.
Add-ons. Editing, rush turnaround, and raw footage each cost the brand more because they cost you more — time, urgency, or a second asset. List them as clear line items so a brand can see exactly what drives the number up.
Usage rights. Organic use is usually included in your core rate; paid ads, whitelisting, and full buyouts are separate, priced add-ons. (Full breakdown in how to charge for usage rights.)
A rate card is a starting point, not a cage. You can still negotiate scope, timeline, or a bundle discount — the point is that the baseline is decided before the conversation starts, not invented mid-DM.
Set numbers you can actually hold to
The easiest way to end up underpriced is guessing. Before you fill in a single number:
- Figure out your experience tier and typical deliverable — that's most of what drives a fair range.
- Run it through the UGC Rate Calculator to see a real range for your exact setup, free and instant.
- Pick a number inside that range you'd say out loud without flinching — not the ceiling just because it's technically allowed.
Get the free template
Skip the blank-page problem entirely — start from the UGC Rate Card Template, a ready-to-fill document with all three sections already laid out. Copy it, drop in your numbers, and send.
Make it easy to act on
A rate card that lives in your Notes app doesn't help a brand who's ready to book. Put it somewhere they can act on immediately:
- Publish it on a storefront brands can order straight from, instead of a static PDF that goes stale.
- Keep your usage-rights pricing current — as your following or portfolio grows, those numbers should move too.
On Plug Pro, your rate card becomes a real order-from-me storefront — a brand can see your prices and book directly, no back-and-forth to confirm what you charge. Build your storefront or grab the free template to start today.