Guide
Influencer rush fee
Figures and workflows here are illustrations, not financial, tax, or accounting advice. Talk to a tax or finance specialist in your jurisdiction before you invoice, set payment terms, or treat a number as a rate you should charge.
24 / 48 / 72-hour table
Clock starts when brief is accepted and product has arrived. A brief without the box on your doorstep is not a rush job yet.
| Deadline from start gun | Add to content fee | Revisions included | Weekend / night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (7–10 business days) | 0% | 1 round, 3 business days for their notes | Not included |
| 72 hours | +20–30% | 1 round, 8-hour notes SLA | +15% if Sat/Sun |
| 48 hours | +35–50% | 1 round, 4-hour notes SLA | +20% if Sat/Sun |
| 24 hours | +50–75% | None, or +$150 for one recut | +25% or decline |
| Same calendar day | +100% or no | None | Usually no |
Example: $800 Reel + 48-hour rush at 40% = $1,120 before usage. Saturday +20% stacks on that subtotal: $800 × 1.40 × 1.20 = $1,344 (not $800 × 1.60 = $1,280).
| Scenario on $800 Reel | Rush % | Weekend? | Total before usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard 10 business days | 0% | No | $800 |
| 48-hour weekday | +40% | No | $1,120 |
| 48-hour including Saturday | +40% +20% | Yes | $1,344 |
| 24-hour, no revisions | +60% | No | $1,280 |
| Same day + whitelist | Usually no | — | Split into two rush products or decline |
Clock starts only when the payment hold is funded + brief accepted + product delivered. Their late notes pause the clock.
Their delay is not your free rush
Notes SLA
If they miss the notes window, delivery slides 1:1. The rush percentage already paid does not refund because they were in meetings.
Scope creep mid-rush
A second location or a new SKU during a 48-hour job is a no, or a new 24-hour cell on the extra work.
Usage mid-rush
Same-day Spark or whitelist is a second rush product. Access mistakes at 2am are how accounts get wrecked.
When to refuse rush outright
- You already have two paid jobs in that window.
- The script is not final.
- They want exclusivity + whitelist + 24-hour film as one “quick collab”.
- Payment is still “the PO is coming”. Rush without a platform payment hold is how you work Friday night for free.
Lock payment terms (Net 30 vs deposit) before you clear the weekend for anyone who still “has a PO coming”.
Start gun, in writing
Paste this under the rush line: “Rush clock starts when (1) the package is paid or in a platform payment hold, (2) I have accepted the brief, and (3) the product is in my hands with tracking showing delivered. Notes from the brand longer than [SLA] pause the clock. Weekend hours are only included if the weekend surcharge is on this quote.” Without that paragraph, they will start the 24 hours from the Slack ping they sent on Tuesday while the box is still in Ohio.
72-hour rush on an $800 Reel at 25% is $200 to blow up two other evenings. If that number feels high to them, they have a standard 10-day SKU. Speed is inventory. Creators who waive rush “because the brand is nice” train every future client to be in a hurry.
Related guides
Platform rates & formats
Rush fee questions
+What counts as rush versus standard turnaround?
Standard is whatever you printed on the card — often 7–10 business days from brief acceptance and product in hand. Rush is anything inside 72 hours from that start gun. “We need it this week” on a Wednesday is 72-hour rush, not a favour.
+How much extra is a 24-hour delivery?
A working range is +50–75% of the content fee, plus you drop other work. 24-hour with a custom script and a reshoot clause is +100% or a no. Do not do 24-hour whitelist plus 24-hour film unless both are paid.
+Does rush include weekend shooting?
Only if the quote says so. Weekend or night is an extra +15–25% on top of the rush cell, or refuse. Brands treat Sunday as a business day; your kit does not.
+Can a brand buy rush after the contract is signed?
Yes, as a new line, paid before you move the date. A signed 10-day job that they want on Thursday is not covered by the original fee.
+What if their delayed feedback eats my rush window?
The rush clock pauses while they hold notes past the SLA (e.g. 12 hours). If they sit 48 hours on a 24-hour job, the rush fee stays — you already cleared the calendar — and delivery moves by their delay. Write that sentence on the quote.
Add rush as a line item, not a panic
A live rate card can carry a rush toggle next to the package. They pay it at checkout into a platform payment hold before you clear the weekend. Free for creators.