Guides
The business side, answered straight.
What to charge, what the clause means, how to budget the program. Written from the brand side of a few hundred creator deals, with the same numbers the free calculators use.
For creators
How much to charge for a sponsored post in 2026
A working formula for Instagram Reels, TikTok videos and YouTube integrations, with real numbers at 10k, 50k, 100k and 500k followers, and the add-ons brands forget to mention.
6 min read
Usage rights in brand deals, explained
What organic, paid, perpetual and whitelisting usage actually mean, how long each should last, what to charge for them, and the contract wording that quietly gives them away.
5 min read
Exclusivity clauses: what they cost you and what to charge
Category exclusivity sounds harmless until it blocks three deals. How to read the clause, how long is reasonable, the monthly price for it, and the wording that keeps it narrow.
4 min read
The brand deal contract checklist: 14 clauses to read before you sign
Payment terms, usage, exclusivity, kill fees, morals clauses, indemnification, auto-renewal and more. What each one means, what is fair, and what to ask for when it is not.
8 min read
Getting paid: Net 30, invoices, late fees and the nudge that works
How payment terms work in brand deals, what to put on an invoice so it gets paid, when a late fee is enforceable, and the exact follow-up email for an overdue brand.
5 min read
What to put in a media kit (and what brands skip)
The five things a brand looks for in a media kit, the numbers that matter, how to show rates without a rate card, and why a link beats a PDF.
4 min read
How to reply to a brand email (three templates that get a number)
The reply for a vague inquiry, the reply for a lowball, and the reply for a good offer. Short, specific, and written to get the brand to name a budget.
4 min read
Can ChatGPT manage your brand deals? What it gets right, and the six things it cannot do
ChatGPT is fine for a first draft. It cannot know your rates, your signed contracts, your exclusivity dates or who owes you money. Here is where a chat window stops and a manager starts.
5 min read
Do you need a manager? What they do, what they cost, and when it is worth it
Managers take 15 to 20% of every deal. Here is exactly what that pays for, the point at which it makes sense, and how to do the three things they do yourself until then.
5 min read
What should a video editor charge in 2026?
Day rates by level and city, and what to charge per short, per YouTube episode, per podcast, per brand film, plus revisions, rush and color. From the same numbers as the rate tool.
5 min read
How much should a DJ charge for a wedding, a party, a corporate event?
DJ rates for 2026: weddings, corporate and private parties, bar nights, the extra hour, lighting and sound. By level and city, from the same numbers as the rate tool.
4 min read
What should a photographer charge in 2026? Headshots, brand shoots, events, usage
Photographer rates by level and city: headshots, half and full days, event hours, retouching per image, and the usage line most photographers leave off.
4 min read
For brand teams
How to budget an influencer program (with real cost per creator)
What creators cost by size, what a post actually buys in views, how usage and whitelisting change the total, and a worked $25,000 budget with the CPM it delivers.
6 min read
Creator tiers and commission structures that do not fall apart
How to set tiers by trailing revenue instead of follower count, the commission and perk ladders that keep creators posting, and the overrides you will need.
5 min read
Creator whitelisting for brands: setup, pricing, and the expiry problem
How whitelisting (Spark Ads, partnership ads) works on TikTok and Meta, what to pay for it, how to write the clause, and how to stop running ads on rights that ended.
5 min read
The influencer agreement: clauses a brand actually needs (and the ones that scare creators off)
A fair agreement closes faster and gets better content. The clauses to keep, the ones to drop, FTC disclosure language, and how to run signing without a law firm.
6 min read
What should a talent booker or talent relations freelancer charge?
Per-booking fees, rebooks, shortlists, headliners, on-site days, kill fees and monthly retainers for talent booking and talent relations work, 2026.
5 min read
What should a freelance social media manager charge per month?
Monthly retainers for one platform or three, content calendars, community management, audits and launch sprints. 2026 rates by level and market.
4 min read
What should a freelance influencer marketing manager charge?
Per-campaign fees, sourcing-only lists, per-deal negotiation, monthly program management and strategy days for freelance creator and influencer marketing work, 2026.
4 min read