How much do UGC creators make

Updated July 2026 · ~7 min read

One of the most common questions for people getting into this world is: how much do UGC creators make? Let's look at real rates, the factors that determine them and how to raise your earnings.

Average rates per video

A single UGC video starts at around €79, with a median rate around €175. In practice:

• Beginner: €50-150 per video, while you build a portfolio and experience.
• Intermediate: €150-250 per video, with variants and ads rights.
• Advanced: €250+ for premium content and ongoing collaborations.

The factors that determine your fee

Experience and quality

A solid portfolio and well-shot videos justify higher rates. The quality of your shooting, editing and hooks makes the difference.

Usage rights

This is the factor that weighs the most. Organic use costs less; if the brand wants to use the video in paid campaigns, a surcharge is added (often +50-100% for each usage period).

Variants

Each hook or call-to-action variant is extra work — and extra value — because it gives the brand material to test.

Complexity

Length, number of scenes, advanced editing and tight delivery times all affect the price.

How to increase your earnings

• Specialize in a profitable niche (beauty, supplements, tech).
• Offer packages (e.g. 3-5 videos) with more perceived value.
• Sell rights for ads, not just organic use.
• Constantly improve quality and delivery speed.
• Retain brands: recurring collaborations are worth more than single jobs.

VAT and tax matters

If the activity becomes ongoing, in Italy you need to open a VAT number to invoice brands. It's a natural step when earnings grow: it's best to get informed in advance with an accountant.

How to start earning

If you're just starting out, begin with spec videos and a portfolio: you'll find everything in how to become a UGC creator. When you're ready, you can apply as a creator with us and work on the UGC video projects of our brands.

A practical rate calculation example

Imagine starting from a base rate of €120 for a 30-second video for organic use. If the brand wants to use it in ads for 30 days, you can add +60% (€72). If they request two hook variants, add the cost of the variants (for example €30 each). The realistic total for that project therefore comes to around €210-250. Thinking "in components" — base + rights + variants — helps you quote transparently and avoid underselling yourself.

How to present a quote

A clear quote conveys professionalism. Specify: number of videos and length, number of hooks/CTAs included, scope of use (organic/ads) and duration of rights, delivery times and number of revisions. Offering two or three options (basic, complete, premium) helps the brand choose and often raises the average order value.

Realistic monthly earnings

How much you can make per month depends on volume and rates. A part-time creator who makes 8-10 videos a month at €150 can reach €1,200-1,500; someone working full-time with recurring clients and higher rates can go well beyond that. The key is consistency: fixed collaborations are worth more than occasional one-off jobs, because they cut the time spent looking for clients.

Upsells and add-on services

• Extra variants of hooks and calls to action.
• Photos of the product in addition to the video.
• Multiple formats (9:16, 1:1, 4:5) for different channels.
• Extended rights over time or across multiple platforms.
• Monthly packages with a set number of recurring videos.

These services increase the value of each project without multiplying your working time.

Practical points not to forget

When the activity becomes ongoing, get your tax situation in order (in Italy, typically by opening a VAT number) and keep written agreements with brands on fees and usage rights. These are steps that protect you and make your relationship with clients more solid.

In short

A UGC creator earns from a few dozen to several hundred euros per video, depending on experience, variants and usage rights. Quote "in components", focus on recurring collaborations and upsells, and take care of quality: these are the factors that truly grow your fees. To get started, see how to become a UGC creator.

Rates vary by niche

Some sectors pay more because the value of the end customer is high: beauty, supplements, tech and finance tend to have bigger budgets than other segments. Specializing in a profitable niche, and becoming a reference for that type of product, lets you raise your rates faster than staying a generalist.

Pricing mistakes to avoid

• Giving away ads rights together with organic use.
• Not charging for extra variants.
• Keeping rates low even when your portfolio is already solid.
• Not putting scope and duration of use in writing.

How to negotiate without underselling yourself

When a brand asks for a discount, avoid simply lowering the price: instead reduce what's included (fewer variants, organic use only) while keeping the perceived value. Alternatively, propose a bigger package at a better per-unit price: you earn more in total and the client feels they got a deal. Remember that your time and your quality have value: communicating this with confidence is part of the job.

From single videos to stable income

The difference between occasional earnings and a stable income as a UGC creator lies in the working model. Those who sell videos "one-off", now and then, stay hostage to the constant search for new clients. Those who instead build recurring relationships — monthly packages, brands that come back, ongoing collaborations — get more predictable income and spend less time chasing work. Getting there takes three things: consistent quality (brands come back to those who make them look good), reliability on timing and revisions, and professional communication about rates and rights. As you establish yourself, you can raise prices, pick the best clients and expand your offer with add-on services like photos, multiple formats and extended rights. That's how UGC goes from a side income to a real profession: not by endlessly increasing the number of videos, but by increasing the value of each collaboration and the stability of your client base.

If you're at the start of your journey, begin with the guide how to become a UGC creator and take care from day one of your hooks, the first element brands evaluate in your videos.

In conclusion

How much a UGC creator makes depends much less on luck and much more on method: rates built "in components", attention to usage rights, smart upsells and above all recurring relationships with brands. You can start with a few dozen euros per video and reach, with experience and fixed clients, a stable and growing income. The quality of your content, reliability in deliveries and professional communication about prices and rights are the ingredients that make the difference. Treat it as a real business, not an occasional hobby, and the numbers will follow.

Frequently asked questions