How to build a studio rate card
- List the hourly rate, minimum hours, base headcount and extra-person fee, VAT, and how time is counted.
- Small spaces tend to use ‘base headcount + per extra person’; large sets use crew-size tiers.
- In Korea, charging more only for card payments breaks the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act.
The first thing guests ask is ‘so how much is it?’ A clear rate card means fewer quote emails and fewer billing disputes on the day.
Five things a rate card needs
| Item | Example |
|---|---|
| Hourly rate | ₩50,000 per hour |
| Minimum hours | 2-hour minimum |
| Base headcount and extra fee | Up to 4 people; ₩5,000 per extra person per hour |
| VAT | VAT excluded (10%) |
| How time is counted | Arrival to departure, setup and wrap included; booked time is charged even if you finish early |
On one line: ‘₩50,000/hour · up to 4 people · ₩5,000 per extra person per hour · 2-hour minimum · VAT excluded’. ROKE location pages use the same order.
Two pricing structures
Base headcount plus extra-person fee is common in small studios. The price rises smoothly as the crew grows. The daylight and house studios on ROKE use this model.
Crew-size tiers suit large sets, where crews change by dozens and counting heads one by one is impractical. AMETAGE STUDIO uses two tiers: up to 25 people and 26 or more.
| Per extra person | Crew-size tiers | |
|---|---|---|
| Suits | Small studios, house studios | Large studios, standing sets |
| Upside | Fair to every crew size | Simple to calculate and count |
| Watch | You must count heads accurately | Big jump at each tier boundary |
Setting minimum hours
A minimum covers the fixed time it takes to host and reset for one booking. The longer cleaning and changeover take, the longer the minimum. Places on ROKE use two and four hours. If you set aside cleaning time after each shoot (for example 30 minutes), say so on the rate card or in the house rules.
What to watch when publishing prices
- No card surcharges (Korea) — Article 19 of the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act bars card merchants from treating customers less favourably for paying by card (para. 1) and from passing merchant fees on to them (para. 4). Don't advertise ‘+10% for card payments’.
- VAT — State whether prices include VAT. VAT is due on sales whatever the payment method, so waiving it only for cash can cause problems. Check the right wording for your business type with your tax accountant.
- Extras — Publish overtime increments (30 minutes or an hour), cleaning fees and how damage is charged before they come up.
For overseas guests, show the won price and the VAT-inclusive total together. ROKE location pages calculate a VAT-inclusive estimate from date, hours and crew size.
We checked the text of Article 19(1) (amended March 12, 2010) and 19(4) (amended January 20, 2015) of the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act on November 10, 2026. Example rates are as published by places on ROKE. Tax treatment varies; ask your tax accountant.
