Pricing your first PPV and customs without underselling yourself

Why is pricing so hard at the start?

If you're asking "how much should I charge?", you're in good company. It's one of the most common questions in creator forums, with its own tag in the biggest one. And lots of creators say the same thing a few months in: they were undervaluing themselves.

There's no magic number. But there is a method that keeps you from guessing.

How do I find my minimum price?

1. Count the real time. Prep, shooting, editing and sending. Not just the minutes on camera.
2. Set your hourly value. Pick a number you'd be happy with for an hour of your time. It's your number, not a benchmark.
3. Multiply. Time × hourly value = your floor. Below that, you're losing.
4. Add for exclusivity. A custom made for one person is worth more than a set you send to many.
5. Add for effort or limits. Anything that takes extra prep, outfits, or sits close to your limits costs more.

Hypothetical example

Say a custom video takes you 1.5 hours from start to finish, and you've decided your time is worth 30 an hour in your currency. Your floor is 45. Because it's made for one person, you add on top of that. The numbers here are made up to show the math, not a price recommendation.

How should I price my subscription?

Think of your subscription as the front door. It decides how many people walk in. PPV and customs are where you price your actual work. A few things that help:

• Match the price to what's on your feed. If most of the good stuff goes out as PPV, a low price or a free page can make sense. If the feed itself is the main thing people pay for, it can cost more.
• Check the platform's limits. Minimum and maximum subscription prices are set by the platform and can change, so look them up in your account settings.
• Go easy on discounts. A new-subscriber deal can help you test, but if you're always on sale, people learn to wait.
• Test, don't guess. Change the price once, leave it at least a week, then compare visits and subs. The 30-day diagnostic for when nobody subscribes shows you how to log it.

How do I build a price ladder for PPV?

A ladder means having a few clear levels instead of pricing every message on the fly:

• Entry level: short or less exclusive content, to get someone buying for the first time.
• Mid level: longer sets or videos, your regular offer.
• Top level: your most exclusive content, and customs.

Platforms have their own minimums and maximums for prices and messages. Check the current numbers in your account settings or the platform's help center before you set anything.

What goes on a custom menu?

Having it written down saves you from awkward back-and-forth and stops people from pushing. Here's a template you can copy:

Custom content menu
· Type: photo set / video / voice note
· Length: number of photos or minutes
· Personalization: name said or written, outfit from my wardrobe
· Delivery: within X days of payment
· Payment: 100% upfront, inside the platform
· Not included: anything outside my limits (they're listed and they don't change for extra money)
· One round of small adjustments; anything new is a new custom

• Always get paid upfront and always inside the platform. Payments outside it put your account and your safety at risk.
• Write the delivery time you can actually meet, with some breathing room.
• Keep your limits on the menu. It's easier to point to a list than to argue in the moment.

How do I price a paid chat session?

The trouble with sessions is when nobody defines what they are. Before you start, agree on:

• How long it lasts, or how many messages or pieces of content it includes.
• What content you'll send, and what's off the table.
• The price, paid before it starts.
• What happens when time's up: it ends, or a new session starts at the same price.

If someone tries to stretch a session without paying, a short, friendly note is enough: "That's our time for today. Want to book another session?"

How do I raise prices without losing fans?

• Raise prices on new content, not on things someone already asked for at an agreed price.
• Give a heads-up to your regulars if you're updating your custom menu.
• Change one thing at a time and watch what happens for a couple of weeks.
• Don't apologize for your prices. A short, clear message works better than a long explanation.

What about the prices I see in forums?

You'll see creators share what they charge. Treat it as anecdote: you don't know their audience, their niche, or how many people actually bought. Use it as a reference at most, never as a promise of what you'll make. Your own numbers, over a few weeks, will tell you a lot more.

How does it work with LuxOnly?

At LuxOnly, chat and sales are run by our team, which is all women, using your style and the limits you set in writing. You can read every conversation whenever you want, and your limits list can change at any time.

Frequently asked questions