How Much Should You Charge for a Sponsored Post? A Starting Formula

New creators either guess low out of fear, or guess high and get ghosted. Neither helps you build a sustainable rate. Here's a starting formula that at least gives you a number to negotiate from.

The basic math: CPM × views × engagement multiplier. Take your average views per post, divide by 1,000, and multiply by a CPM (cost per thousand views) that's typical for your platform — YouTube and LinkedIn tend to command a higher CPM than TikTok or Threads, because the audience intent and ad rates differ. Then adjust up or down based on your engagement rate: an engagement rate under 1% pulls your number down, over 6% pushes it up.

Add for usage rights and exclusivity. If a brand wants to reuse your content in their own ads, or wants you off competitor deals for a period, that's a separate line item — usually 20-50% on top of the base rate, not baked into it.

Give a range, not a single number. Brands negotiate. A range like "$800 to $1,300" gives you room to land somewhere reasonable without either side feeling like they lost.

Say no to "exposure." If a brand's only offer is free product plus visibility, that's fine for a true early-stage creator building a portfolio — but the moment you have real average views, it's a rate conversation, not a favor.

This is a starting point, not gospel. Your actual rate depends on niche, region, and how much brands specifically want your audience. Use a calculator to get in the right neighborhood, then adjust based on what similar creators in your niche are actually charging.

If you want a quick rate estimate based on your own views, engagement and deliverables — plus a pitch email and a deal pipeline to track brand conversations — Creator Command Center has all three in one tab.