How to price your first UGC video

What to charge for a UGC video as a beginner: base rates, usage rights, add-ons, and how to answer "what's your rate?" without underselling yourself.

The first time a brand asks for your rate, it's tempting to name the lowest number you can think of. Don't. Brands expect creators to have a price, and a clear one tells them you've done this before, even if you haven't. Here's how to work out a number you can say with a straight face.

What you're actually selling

A UGC video isn't a post on your account. You're selling the content: a video the brand can use in its own marketing. That's why your follower count matters far less than you'd think. The brand pays for your filming, your on-camera delivery, your editing and your idea, and then for the right to use the result.

So your price has two parts:

The video itself. Your base rate.
How the brand will use it. Usage rights, which can double your fee or more.

Step 1: pick a base rate

Your base rate is for one edited video, 30–60 seconds, with two rounds of changes, that the brand posts on its own accounts (organic use). Typical US rates by experience:

Experience	Brand videos made	Base rate per video
Beginner	fewer than 5	$100–$150
Intermediate	5–25	$150–$300
Experienced	25+	$300–$500

If you're new, start at the bottom of the beginner range, and raise your price every few videos as your portfolio grows. Your niche, the quality of your work and how quickly you deliver all move you within the range.

Don't have brand videos yet?

Make two or three spec videos for products you already own, filmed like real ads. They're your portfolio until the first brand says yes, and you can price like a beginner rather than working for free.

What agencies look at in a beginner's portfolio

When an agency checks a new creator, four things come first. Without them, your price barely matters, because they won't get as far as asking it:

A clear photo of you, face visible. Brands want to see who'll be on camera. A logo, a product or a sunglasses shot doesn't tell them that.
A talking-head video. At least one example where you speak straight to the camera. It shows how you come across, how you deliver lines and whether you'd fit the brand.
A short description. Two or three lines: who you are, your niche, and the kind of videos you make.
The basics done right. Vertical 9:16, good light, clear sound. Audio problems lose more jobs than anything else on camera.

And a few things that help you stand out:

Range. Two or three videos in different styles, say a talking head, a product demo and an unboxing, so they can picture you in their campaign.
A strong first 2 seconds. Agencies scroll fast, just like viewers.
Your rates, written down. It saves a round of messages and shows you're ready to work.

On ugeesy

Your profile covers all of this: a profile photo, up to three example videos that play right on the page, a short description and your rate card. Brands see it before they invite you.

Step 2: add usage rights

Usage rights say where and for how long the brand can use your video. Organic use (the brand's own accounts) is included in your base rate. When the brand runs your video as a paid ad, charge for the time it runs:

Usage	Add to your base rate
Paid ads, 1 month	+20–30%
Paid ads, 3 months	+40–60%
Paid ads, 6 months	+60–100%
Paid ads, 12 months	+100–150%
Paid ads, forever	+200–300%

Spark Ads (TikTok) and whitelisting (Meta) mean the ad runs from your account, under your name. That's worth another +20–50%.

Always ask how the brand plans to use the video before you quote. If the brief doesn't say, ask: "Is this for organic posting, or will you run it as an ad, and for how long?"

Step 3: add the extras

Raw footage only. About 75% of your base, since the brand edits.
Extra hooks. $25–75 for each extra opening, so the brand can test which one works best.
Rush delivery. +25–50% for delivery within 72 hours.
Posting on your own account. Add about $8–15 per 1,000 followers for the reach.
Bundles. It's common to take 10% off for 3+ videos.

Putting it together: an example

You're a beginner. A skincare brand wants 3 videos and will run them as ads for 3 months. Your base is $100–$150. Three months of paid usage adds 40–60%, so each video is roughly $140–$240. For three videos with a 10% bundle discount, that's about $380–$650 in total.

Pick a number inside the range rather than quoting the whole range. The low end if you really want this brand in your portfolio, the high end if they need it fast or the usage is broad.

How to answer "what's your rate?"

Say a number and what it includes. For example:

"My rate is $150 per video: a 30–60 second edited video with two rounds of changes, for posting on your accounts. If you'd like to run it as an ad, paid usage for 3 months is an extra $70. Happy to put together a package for three videos."

Why this works: it's specific, it shows you understand usage rights, and it opens the door to a bigger order.

Avoid: "What's your budget?"

Asking for their budget first usually gets you a low number you'll feel stuck with. Lead with your price; brands will tell you if it doesn't fit, and you can adjust the package (fewer hooks, shorter usage) instead of your rate.

Beginner mistakes that cost money

Unlimited revisions. Say how many rounds are included. Two is standard.
"Perpetual" usage at your base rate. Forever is worth two to three times your base, at least.
Free work "for exposure". Gifted products are fine when you want the product, but the brand still gets a video it can use. Know what you're giving away.
Agreeing before you see the brief. Deliverables, deadline, usage and pay should be clear before you say yes.

When to raise your rates

Raise your base rate when brands say yes too quickly, when you're booked out, or every 5–10 brand videos as your portfolio improves. Raise it for new clients first; keep returning clients at their rate for a while, then tell them in advance.