Should You Include Rates in Your Media Kit? Pros & Cons

50% of creators include some form of pricing in their media kits (CreatorIQ, 2024).

But should you? Including rates can signal professionalism, save time, and attract serious brands, or it can limit your flexibility and potentially scare off high-paying opportunities.

Whether you’re a TikTok creator, Instagram influencer, YouTuber, or short-form video star, deciding whether to publish rates in your media kit is a key strategic choice.

Why It Matters for Creators

Your media kit is often the first impression brands get of your business. Including rates affects:

• Inbound deal volume

• Negotiation dynamics

• Your positioning in the market

• How efficiently you close deals

Getting this right means fewer dead-end conversations and more aligned partnerships.

Real Data & Industry Benchmarks

Here’s what the data says about including rates in media kits:

• 50% of creators include rates or starting rates (CreatorIQ, 2024).

• 68% of micro-influencers (10K–50K followers) report faster deal cycles when they include base rates (Influencer Marketing Hub, 2024).

• 42% of brand managers say they prefer upfront pricing clarity (Klear, 2023).

• 72% of influencer agencies say having “starting at” rates helps them filter and prioritize creators for campaigns (Kantar, 2023).

Example:

One fashion creator (75K IG followers) saw a 30% increase in inbound brand inquiries after adding a “Starting at $300/post” section in her media kit, with no decrease in deal size.

Pros of Including Rates in Your Media Kit

1. Saves Time

You’ll filter out brands with mismatched budgets, focusing on high-fit leads.

2. Signals Professionalism

Rates show you take your business seriously and value your work.

3. Builds Trust

Brands prefer transparency, it fosters trust and speeds up negotiations.

4. Attracts the Right Brands

Clearly stating rates helps brands self-select and ensures expectations are aligned early.

Cons of Including Rates in Your Media Kit

1. Limits Flexibility

A fixed number can anchor negotiations or lock you into a rate that might not match the project scope.

2. Lacks Context

Campaign budgets depend on usage rights, deliverables, content type, and timeline, static numbers can’t capture this nuance.

3. Becomes Outdated Quickly

Failing to update your rates quarterly can lead to lost revenue or misaligned deals.

4. Risk of Underpricing

Some brands might be willing to pay more, but you won’t know if they anchor to your published rates.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Listing hard rates without context - Always use phrases like “Starting at” or “Rates from.”

• Not explaining scope-based pricing - Mention that final rates depend on campaign requirements.

• Neglecting quarterly updates - Your value evolves as your audience grows; reflect that in your rates.

• Overcomplicating pricing - Keep it simple: base rates + contact for detailed quotes.

Key Trends & Recommendations

• Micro-influencers (10K–50K): Including base rates can increase inbound interest by 20–30% (Influencer Marketing Hub).

• Mid-tier influencers (50K–250K): Hybrid model works best, show starting rates but indicate that custom quotes are available.

• Top-tier creators (250K+): Often omit rates to preserve flexibility and maximize earnings through tailored proposals.

Pro tip: Creators who pair rates with engagement data and past brand collaborations see the highest conversion rates in brand deals (Klear, 2023).

Actionable Checklist

✅ Assess your positioning - newer creators benefit more from listing rates.

✅ Test performance - try versions of your media kit with and without rates.

✅ Use flexible language - “Starting at $___” works better than exact pricing.

✅ Contextualize your rates - note that pricing varies by scope and deliverables.

✅ Update regularly - refresh your media kit every 3 months.

✅ Pair rates with strong value signals - showcase results, engagement, and past collabs.

TL;DR Recap

• 50% of creators include rates; 68% of micro-influencers report faster deal cycles when they do.

• Listing rates filters out mismatched brands and signals professionalism.

• Not listing rates preserves flexibility and allows for tailored negotiation.

• Use “Starting at” phrasing + clear disclaimers.

• Update your rates quarterly as your value grows.

• Micro and mid-tier creators benefit most from including base rates.

• Pair rates with data and social proof for higher conversions.

Conclusion: The Smart Way to Handle Rates

For most creators, a hybrid approach works best:

• Include base rates or starting points in your media kit.

• Indicate flexibility with campaign-based pricing.

• Keep your kit updated and position your value clearly.

By doing this, you’ll attract better-fit brand partners, save time, and negotiate from a position of strength.

👉 Ready to create a high-converting media kit? Use CreatorsJet’s media kit builder or explore our Complete Media Kit Guide to get started.