Most Brand Budgets Are Flexible If You Know How to Ask

Let’s be honest. When a brand says, “Our budget is fixed,” what they often mean is, “Let’s see if they’ll accept less.”

If you don’t know how to hold your ground, you’ll keep getting ghosted, underpaid, and burned out.

Here’s how I flipped that mindset and started negotiating like I run a business. Because I do.

1. Make It Feel Custom, Not Complicated

Forget sending a 12-option rate card with your media kit. That just creates confusion.

Now, I send one clean offer: “Here’s the rate, what you’re getting, and why it works for your brand.”

It’s simple. Direct. Tailored. It sounds like I built it just for them. Because I did.

2. I Price Above Budget on Purpose

If a brand says their budget is $300, I respond with $550 or $600.

Why? Because I expect negotiation. I want to leave room to land where I’m comfortable.

And here’s the truth. Most brands do have wiggle room. They’re just waiting to see if you’ll fold first.

3. I Upsell in Stages, Not All at Once

I used to list every add-on at once. Raw footage, ad rights, usage, spark codes. It overwhelmed them.

Now I space it out:

• A couple options in the intro call

• One more when we’re close to finalizing

• One last upsell post-delivery when they’re already happy
  
  

It feels smoother. More professional. And instead of squeezing the deal, I’m building trust and momentum.

That’s what turns one-off campaigns into long-term retainers.

When You Negotiate Like a Pro, Everything Changes

I went from $150 one-and-done gigs to multi-month retainers paying four figures. And it had nothing to do with my camera settings.

It came from treating each conversation like a partnership, not a transaction.

Because great creators don’t just pitch content. They position value.

Once you start negotiating like a closer, you stop chasing deals and start stacking them.