Starting UGC? Here's What New Creators Should Charge
Short answer
New UGC creators should start at $150 to $250 for a single video with organic use only, and never work for free product alone once the brand is running ads. Being new is a reason to keep your scope small, not a reason to price below the market — a low first rate follows you into every renewal.
Your starting number
The honest entry point for a single UGC video — filmed by you, delivered to the brand, used organically on their channels for one month — is $150 to $250. Below $150 you are usually working under minimum wage once you count concepting, filming, editing and revisions. Above $250 as a complete beginner you will feel resistance until you have a reel of work behind you.
| Deliverable | Beginner rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single UGC video, 15–30s | $150 – $250 | One concept, one revision, organic use, 1 month |
| Bundle of 3 videos | $400 – $650 | Batch discount is fair here — you shoot in one session |
| Photo set (5–8 images) | $100 – $200 | Often sold as an add-on rather than standalone |
| Video + posting on your channel | Base + 40–100% | You are now selling audience access too |
Protect the rate by shrinking the scope
The mistake new creators make is dropping the price to win the deal. Do the opposite: hold the price and reduce what is included. It teaches the brand that your number is attached to a scope, which is exactly the relationship you want in twelve months when you are charging triple.
- One revision included, additional revisions at 25% of the fee
- Organic use only for one month unless paid usage is bought
- One hook, not three — extra hooks are a paid add-on
- Raw footage is not included, ever, unless it is priced in
The three things to ask before you quote
- 1Where will the video be used — organic posts only, or paid ads?
- 2For how long, and in which markets?
- 3Do you need exclusivity, and if so, in what category and for how long?
You are new, and asking these three questions in your first reply will make you sound like you are not. It also stops the most common beginner loss: quoting $200 for what turns out to be a twelve-month paid usage licence worth closer to $600. Drop the answers into the rate calculator and it applies each multiplier for you.
When and how to raise your rate
Raise your base rate every five completed paid deals, or any time you are booked out two weeks ahead. A 20–30% increase per step is normal, and you do not need to justify it to new brands — the new number is simply your rate.
For repeat brands, give notice rather than surprising them: tell them your rate increases from a set date and offer to lock the current rate for one final booking. Most say yes, and the ones who leave were never going to grow with you.
Your first rate is not a price. It is a precedent.
What to do with the first few deals
- Save every quote and every signed scope somewhere you can find it again
- Track how long each video actually took, start to finish — including revisions
- Note which categories paid best; specialise there
- Read every contract before signing, even the short ones
Not sure what your first quote should be? Price a real brief in under two minutes, free.
Open the rate calculatorFrequently asked
- Is $100 too low for a UGC video?
- For most briefs, yes. Once you count concepting, filming, editing and a revision round, $100 usually works out below minimum wage. $150 is a more realistic floor for a single organic-use video.
- Should I work for free product when starting UGC?
- Only for your first two or three pieces, only if the product is worth roughly what you would have charged, and never once the brand is putting paid ad spend behind the video.
- How often should new UGC creators raise their rates?
- Roughly every five completed paid deals, or whenever you are consistently booked two weeks ahead. Increases of 20–30% per step are normal.
Repped is educational software for creators. This article explains commonly used commercial terms in plain English. It does not provide legal, financial, or tax advice, and reading it does not create an attorney–client relationship.