How much to charge for UGC as a beginner
Most new creators charge $75 to $150 for one short video. Pick a price you can say out loud without a question in your voice. For a first paid job, $100 is a fair start.
Followers don't matter. Brands pay for the video, not for your audience. The video goes on their page or in their ads.
Just starting out? How to become a UGC creator walks you through your first week, from samples to your first email.
UGC rates in 2026: a simple rate card
A rate card is a short price list you send to brands. Start with the price for one video, then add what they ask for. Each line says why.
Make your own rate card with these prices, then download it as a PDF or an image.
| What they ask for | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 finished video, first paid jobThis pays for your time: the idea, filming, cutting, text and music. One short video takes about 3 hours. | $100 |
| 1 finished video, after a few jobsBrands can see your past work, so they know what they'll get. | $175 |
| 1 finished video, 10+ jobsA full portfolio and happy brands behind you. Less risk for them. | $300 |
| They run it as an ad, 1 monthAn ad makes them money every day it runs. One month is short, so it adds a little. | +30% |
| They run it as an ad, 3 monthsThe longer your video sells for them, the more it's worth. Three months adds half. | +50% |
| They run it as an ad, foreverThey can use your video for years, and you can't charge again later. So the price doubles once, now. | +100% |
| Raw clips as well as the videoRaw clips let them cut many new ads from one shoot. More ads from your work means more money for them. | +30% |
| Ads from your account (whitelisting)The ad runs under your name and face. People see you, not the brand. You're lending them your trust. | +50% |
| Post it on your pageYour page and your followers are worth something too. A post on your page is like a small ad for them. | +50% |
| Skip similar brands (exclusivity)You say no to other paying brands for a while. This pays you back for that lost work. | +30% |
| Fast deliveryFast work means moving your other plans. You charge a little extra for that. | +25% |
| 3 or more videosOne order means one brief and one filming day for many videos. You save time, so you can give a little off. | −10% |
What are usage rights in UGC?
Usage rights means the brand can run your video as a paid ad. Ads make them money, so you charge more. The longer the ad runs, the more you add.
Why +30% for a month but +100% forever? You're paid once, but the ad keeps working for them. A one-month ad sells for them for a few weeks. A video with no end date can sell for years, and you never get paid again. So the longer they can use it, the more you ask now.
Example: your video costs $100. For 1 month of ads you ask $130. For 3 months, $150. Forever, $200.
Many brands don't say it in the first message. Always ask: "Will you run it as an ad?" The reply from the calculator asks for you.
What is whitelisting?
Whitelisting means the brand runs ads from your account, under your name. On TikTok it's called Spark Ads. People see your face and your name, not the brand's, so you're lending them your trust. That's why it adds +50%.
A brand offered a gifted collab. What now?
Gifted means free product instead of money. It's your choice. If you want to be paid, you can say so kindly and still leave the door open. Paste their message in the calculator and pick "They offered free product".
A bonus for views or a sales commission isn't promised money. Price the videos as if the bonus pays nothing.
How we calculate
Prices come from public 2026 UGC rate guides. Where they disagree, we use the lower number, so a brand is more likely to say yes to your first price. "Post it on my page" has no number in those guides, so we price it like ads from your account. That part is our rule.
Your lowest price is 80% of your asking price. Hours are a rough guess: 3 hours for a finished video, 2 for clips only. Updated September 2026.
