Common Deal Types:
Pro Tips:
Section 3: Factors That Affect Your Rate
Section 4: Deliverable Types & Pricing
| Deliverable | Pricing Multiplier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| In-feed video (1) | 1x base rate | Standard deliverable |
| In-feed video (3-pack) | 2.5x base rate | Bundle discount vs 3x single posts |
| Spark Ads rights (30 days) | +50-100% | Brand can boost as ad |
| Spark Ads rights (unlimited) | +200-300% | Perpetual ad usage |
| LIVE stream mention | 0.5-0.7x base | Less permanent, lower production |
| Product showcase/unboxing | 1.2-1.5x base | More work, product demo |
| Series (5+ videos) | 4-5x base | Volume discount, ongoing partnership |
| Multi-platform (TT + IG + YT) | 2.5-3.5x base | Broader reach, more work |
| Brand ambassadorship (3 mo) | 8-12x base | Exclusivity, ongoing content |
| Exclusivity clause (no competitors) | +100-150% | Opportunity cost |
Section 5: How to Negotiate with Brands
The Negotiation Framework
- 1
TikTok creators: Let them make first offer (if possible): "I'd love to work together. What's your budget for this campaign?" Often they offer more than you'd ask.
-
2
If you must quote first, start high (20-30% above target): "My rate for this type of campaign is $5,000." Gives negotiation room.
-
3
Justify with data: "Based on my 8% engagement rate and 50K followers, the Brand Deal Rate Calculator suggests $4,000-6,000 for my tier."
-
4
Use silence: After stating your rate, STOP TALKING. First person to speak loses leverage. Let them respond.
-
5
If they counter low, negotiate deliverables not just price: "At $3,000 I can do 2 videos instead of 3, or we remove Spark Ads rights."
-
6
Know your walk-away number before negotiating: If your minimum is $2,500, don't accept $2,000 just because they're pushy.
Handling Low Offers
Brand offers 50% of your rate:
"I appreciate the offer. My rate accounts for my 8% engagement and production quality. I could meet you at $X [20% below your ask] for this scope."
If they won't budge:
"I understand budget constraints. Let's reduce to 2 videos at $Y instead of 3 at $Z."
When to Walk Away
- Offer <50% of calculator estimate (unless you love brand)
- Unlimited usage rights without 3-4x premium
- Exclusivity without 2x rate increase
- Product-only when you're past 25K followers
- Red flags: no contract, vague payment terms, "exposure" talk
Section 6: Rate Packages & Bundling
Create tiered packages to increase deal size and give brands options.
Bronze Package
$2,000
- ✓ 1 in-feed TikTok video
- ✓ 1 Instagram Story mention
- ✓ 1 round of revisions
- ✓ 30-day usage rights
- ✓ Campaign performance report
Best for: First-time collaborations, testing fit
MOST POPULAR
Silver Package
$4,500 (Save $500 vs individual)
- ✓ 3 in-feed TikTok videos
- ✓ 2 Instagram Stories
- ✓ 1 Instagram Reel
- ✓ 2 rounds of revisions
- ✓ 60-day usage rights
- ✓ Detailed analytics report
Best for: Campaign launches, established partnerships
Gold Package
$9,000 (Save $1,500 vs individual)
- ✓ 6 in-feed TikTok videos
- ✓ 4 Instagram Stories
- ✓ 2 Instagram Reels
- ✓ 1 YouTube mention/integration
- ✓ Unlimited revisions
- ✓ 90-day usage rights
- ✓ Dedicated campaign strategysession
- ✓ Monthly performance reports
Best for: Long-term partnerships, product launches
Section 7: Contract Essentials
Never start work without a signed contract. Here's what must be included:
Must-Have Clauses
- ✓ Payment amount: Exact dollar amount and currency
- ✓ Payment schedule: 50% upfront, 50% on delivery OR Net 30/60
- ✓ Deliverables: Exactly what you're creating (1 TikTok, 60 seconds max, etc.)
- ✓ Timeline: Draft due date, final due date, posting date
- ✓ Usage rights: Duration (30/60/90 days vs perpetual), platforms, purposes
- ✓ Revisions: Number allowed (1-2 rounds), what counts as revision
- ✓ Approval process: Who approves, how long they have, what happens if delayed
- ✓ FTC compliance: Who's responsible for disclosure, approved language
- ✓ Kill fee: What you get paid if they cancel mid-project (50-100%)
- ✓ Content ownership: You own content, brand has licensed rights only
Red Flag Terms
- "Payment upon satisfactory performance" (undefined, risky)
- "Unlimited revisions" (scope creep nightmare)
- "Perpetual, worldwide, exclusive rights" without 5x premium
- "Brand can use content for any purpose" (too broad)
- Non-compete lasting 12+ months (limits future deals)
- "Payment Net 90" or longer (cash flow killer)
- Penalty clauses for underperformance (you can't control algorithm)
- No kill fee if they cancel
- "Work for hire" giving them all rights (negotiate this out)
- Vague deliverable descriptions open to interpretation
Section 8: Scaling Your Rates Over Time
When to Raise Prices
Follower Milestones
- Every 25K-50K followers: Increase 20-30%
- Hitting 100K: Often doubles rates from 50K
- Hitting 500K: Another 1.5-2x increase
- Hitting 1M: 2-3x increase from 500K
Performance Triggers
- Engagement rate increases 2%+ (raise 30-50%)
- Booking every inquiry within 48hrs (too low)
- Case studies proving ROI (raise 20-40%)
- Demand exceeds capacity (raise until it slows)
Grandfathering Existing Clients
When raising rates, honor existing clients' old rates for a transition period (3-6 months), then raise to new rates. This maintains relationships while increasing income from new clients.
Example: "My new rate is $5,000, but since we've worked together before, I'll honor $4,000 for this campaign. Future campaigns will be at the new rate."
Premium Positioning Strategy
- Specialist premium: Position as THE expert in your niche, charge 2-3x generalists
- Results-based premium: Showcase proven ROI, charge more for guaranteed delivery
- Scarcity premium: Limited availability (max 2 deals/month) justifies higher rates
- Quality premium: Invest in better production, charge for elevated output
Calculate Your Brand Deal Rate Now
Use our Brand Deal Rate Calculator to get your data-backed pricing in seconds. Never undercharge again.
Related Guides
How to Price Brand Deals Step-by-step pricing strategy for partnerships How to Negotiate Brand Deals Negotiate higher rates and better terms How Much to Charge for Sponsorships Determine fair rates for different content types Complete Brand Deal Guide Comprehensive brand partnership resource
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I charge for a TikTok sponsored post?
Industry standard: $0.03-$0.08 per follower as base rate, adjusted for engagement. Nano (1K-10K): $50-$300. Micro (10K-50K): $300-$1,500. Mid (50K-500K): $1,500-$10,000. Macro (500K-1M): $10,000-$25,000. Mega (1M+): $25,000-$100,000+. Use our Brand Deal Rate Calculator for personalized pricing based on your metrics.
How do I calculate my influencer rate?
Formula: Base Rate = Followers × $0.03-$0.08, then multiply by engagement factor (Your Engagement / Industry Average). Example: 50K followers × $0.04 = $2,000 base. With 8% engagement vs 5% average: $2,000 × 1.6 = $3,200 final rate. Factor in niche premium (finance/tech 2-3x, entertainment 1x) and deliverables (Spark Ads +50-100%).
Should I charge per post or per campaign?
Both. Offer single post pricing and package deals. Packages increase average deal size - 3-post bundle at 2.5x (vs 3x) encourages larger commitments. Example: Single post $2,000, 3-post package $5,000 (saves brand $1,000, you get more guaranteed revenue). Long-term partnerships (3-6 months) should be 8-12x single post rate.
What if a brand says my rate is too high?
Justify with data: "Based on my 8% engagement and Brand Deal Rate Calculator, market rate is $X-$Y for my tier." If they won't budge, negotiate deliverables (reduce posts or remove Spark Ads rights) rather than dropping price. Walk away if offer is less than 50% of calculator estimate - underpricing hurts the entire creator economy.
How much extra should I charge for usage rights?
Spark Ads rights (30 days): +50-100%. Spark Ads (unlimited): +200-300%. Exclusivity clause: +100-150%. Multi-platform rights: +50% per additional platform. Perpetual usage: 3-4x base rate. Always negotiate usage rights separately from creation fee - they're licensing your content, which has separate value.
When should I raise my rates?
Raise rates every 25K-50K followers (20-30% increase), when engagement rate improves significantly (+2% = 30-50% raise), if booking every inquiry within 48 hours (demand exceeds supply), or when you have case studies proving ROI. Test new rates on new clients first, grandfather existing clients for 3-6 months before applying new rates.
Can I charge more in premium niches like finance or tech?
Yes. Finance/tech/B2B creators charge 2-3x entertainment creators at same follower count. Example: 100K beauty creator charges $3,000, 100K finance creator charges $7,000. Why? Higher-value audience, larger brand budgets, longer sales cycles, premium positioning. Always factor niche premium into calculations.
Should I work for free to build my portfolio?
Only if you have fewer than 1,000 followers and desperate for case studies. Once you hit 5K+ followers, always charge cash (minimum $50-100). Product-only deals are acceptable for 1K-5K creators from brands you genuinely want to promote. Never work for "exposure" - exposure doesn't pay rent. Charge your worth.
How do I handle brands asking for my rate sheet?
Send tiered packages (Bronze/Silver/Gold) showing deliverables and prices. Include engagement metrics to justify pricing. Don't send rock-bottom minimums - start 20-30% above target to leave negotiation room. Add "Custom campaigns available - let's discuss your goals" for larger opportunities. Update rate sheet every 3-6 months as you grow.
What percentage of my rate should I pay to management/agents?
Standard is 15-20% of gross deal value. Some managers charge 20-25%. Only work with managers who increase your deal flow and rates by more than their fee. A good manager at 20% who gets you $10,000 deals beats no manager getting you $5,000 deals. Negotiate commission percentage when you're at 500K+ followers.