A rate card is a one-page document showing what you charge for each type of sponsored content, built before a brand asks, not while you are drafting a reply to one. Creators without one tend to either lowball themselves under pressure or go quiet for two days trying to work out a number. Having rates ready removes both problems and makes the conversation with a brand move faster, which itself signals that you have done this before.
Before filling in the template below, it helps to know what actually makes a rate card usable to a brand reading it cold:
- Your identity and contact. Channel name, handle, and the fastest way to reach you.
- A current audience snapshot. Followers, average views, engagement rate, and where most of your audience is based. Brands use this to sanity check your rates against your reach.
- Base rates by format. A feed post, a Reel, a Story, a dedicated video, and an integration are different products with different production time. Price them separately.
- Add-on pricing. Usage rights (running your content as an ad), category exclusivity, and rush delivery all typically cost more than a standard organic post. State the premium upfront so it is not a separate negotiation later.
- Payment terms. When you expect payment and in what split, so this is settled before content is delivered, not after.
- A validity date. Rates tied to a specific quarter make it clear the card gets revisited as your numbers grow, rather than looking frozen in time.
Copy the structure below into a document, or use it as a printable reference while you build your own. Every bracketed field is yours to fill in.
[Your Name / Channel Name]
[@handle] · [email address] · Rate Card valid through [Q3 2026]
| Deliverable | Rate |
|---|---|
| Instagram Feed Post | $[ ] |
| Instagram Reel | $[ ] |
| Instagram Story (3 frames) | $[ ] |
| TikTok Video | $[ ] |
| YouTube Integration (60-90s) | $[ ] |
| YouTube Dedicated Video | $[ ] |
- Paid usage rights / whitelisting, 30 days: +[ ]%
- Category exclusivity, 30 days: +[ ]%
- Rush delivery, under 5 business days: +[ ]%
- Multi-post bundle discount: -[ ]%
Payment terms: [50% on signature, 50% on delivery] · [Net 15] · Rates reflect a [ ]% average engagement rate and are reviewed quarterly.
Copy this structure into a doc, spreadsheet, or design tool. It works as-is.
Where a Static Template Runs Out
A template like this one gets you a professional-looking document today, and it is genuinely enough for most creators sending their first few rate cards. It has real limits worth knowing about upfront:
- Every number is manual. When your following or engagement changes, you have to recalculate and re-send the whole document yourself.
- There is no pricing logic behind it. It does not account for how niche, tier, or audience geography should shift a rate, so you are estimating those adjustments by hand.
- It does not scale across platforms automatically. A separate calculation is needed for each format if your rates use different logic per platform.
If you would rather have those numbers calculated for you, and exported as a finished PDF instead of a document you format yourself, that is what SponsorCraft's rate card generator does. It is worth seeing what that looks like before deciding whether the manual version above is enough for you.
What an Automatically Generated Rate Card Looks Like
Instead of filling in the fields above by hand, SponsorCraft calculates each line from your actual stats and exports a finished rate card like the one below, tier badge and negotiation note included.
Every placement rate calculated automatically, exported as a PDF ready to send.
Enter your stats once and SponsorCraft calculates every placement rate, then exports it as a finished PDF rate card. No login, no subscription, $49 once.
Generate a Rate Card Automatically →Do I need to give my email to use this template?
No. The template on this page is fully visible and usable with no signup, no email capture, and no login. Copy it directly into whatever document tool you use.
How often should I update my rate card?
Quarterly is a reasonable default, or any time your average views, engagement, or follower count shift meaningfully. A rate card with a validity date attached (as in the template above) makes this a routine update rather than something you forget to revisit.
Should my rate card include exact numbers or a range?
Exact numbers, generally. Ranges invite a brand to anchor on the low end. If you genuinely need flexibility for different budgets, use add-on pricing (usage rights, exclusivity, rush delivery) to adjust the number rather than quoting a wide range upfront.
What is the difference between this template and SponsorCraft's rate card generator?
This template is a static document you fill in and update by hand. SponsorCraft calculates each rate from your actual stats (niche, engagement rate, tier, geography, format) and exports a finished PDF automatically, so there is no manual recalculation each time your numbers change.
Can agencies use this template for multiple creators?
Yes, though it is built for a single account at a time. Agencies managing several client rate cards at once tend to outgrow the manual version quickly, since each update has to be repeated per creator. That repetitive work is exactly what an automated generator removes.