Usage rights, whitelisting and exclusivity: what to charge

Usage rights decide what a brand can do with your content after you make it. Reposting it on the brand’s own channels is often included in your fee; running it as paid ads (whitelisting, Spark Ads, partnership ads) is usually charged on top, commonly at 20% to 50% of your base fee per month. Exclusivity, raw footage and buyouts are priced separately too. Here’s what each term means and what creators charge.

The terms, in plain English

Why usage costs extra

Your base fee pays for making the content and showing it to your audience. When a brand runs it as an ad, it reaches many more people, for longer, and replaces content the brand would otherwise pay an agency to make. That’s extra value, and brands expect to pay for it.

On Collabstr, deals that included usage rights paid about 39% more on average: $307 against $221 without (Collabstr 2025 report).

What creators charge (2026 benchmarks)

A simple rule many creators use: 30% of the base fee per month of paid usage, with a 30-day minimum, and +10% for each extra territory.

Pricing exclusivity

Exclusivity costs you real money: you have to turn down competing brands. Price it by how many brands it blocks and for how long:

• Category exclusivity (no other brand in the category): +15% to 30% of the total fee (Influencer Marketing Hub).
• Platform exclusivity: +10% to 15%.
• Longer periods: 30 days often adds 25% to 50%; 90 days or more can roughly double the fee (Influee).
• 24 to 48 hours around the post is usually included free.

Always define the category (for example “haircare”, not “beauty”), the platforms and the dates.

A worked example

Influencer Marketing Hub’s example: a $2,000 Reel becomes $4,200 once you add 60 days of paid usage (+$800), 60 days of exclusivity (+$600), raw footage (+$300), an extra revision (+$200) and a management fee (+$300).

How to word it in a quote

Protect yourself in the contract

• Put an end date on paid usage and access to your handle.
• Use the platform’s tools (partnership ads, Spark Ads codes), never your password.
• Say what happens when usage ends: ads stop, and the brand needs a new licence to continue.
• Avoid “perpetual, worldwide, all media” unless you’re paid a proper buyout.

For big, long or exclusive deals, a buyout, or any clause that hands over your copyright, get a lawyer to check the contract before you sign. If you’re under 18, a parent or guardian usually needs to sign too. See the full contract checklist.

Frequently asked questions

How much should I charge for usage rights?

A common approach is 20% to 50% of your base fee per month of paid usage, with a 30-day minimum. Sources vary, so pick a number you can explain and stick to it.

Is whitelisting the same as usage rights?

Whitelisting (or partnership ads) is one kind of paid usage: the brand runs ads through your account. It’s usually priced as paid usage, sometimes with a small extra for access to your handle.

Should I give a brand perpetual usage?

Only for a buyout fee, often 100% to 150% on top of your base rate or more. Perpetual usage at an organic price means the brand can use your face and voice in ads forever without paying again. For a deal this big, get a lawyer to check the contract.

What should I charge for a Spark Ads code?

Commonly 10% to 30% of your post rate per month of use. Set the authorisation period to match what the brand paid for.

Do UGC creators charge for usage rights?

Yes. UGC is made for the brand to use, so usage is central to the price: many UGC creators charge 30% to 50% of the base rate for paid usage. See UGC rates.