Script Pricing: Starting Price, Final Offer, and Dynamic Pricing

How Script Pricing Works in Substy

Getting your PPV (pay-per-view) pricing right is one of the most important factors in maximizing your revenue. Substy gives you granular control over how each piece of content in your scripts is priced, including a powerful dynamic pricing system that lets the AI negotiate on your behalf.

This guide walks you through everything you need to know about Starting Price, Final Offer, and dynamic pricing so you can build a pricing strategy that converts.

Understanding Template Pricing

Every script in Substy is made up of individual templates, sometimes called PPV steps. Each template represents one piece of content that gets sent to the fan during a conversation. Every template has its own Price field that determines how the fan interacts with that content. For a step-by-step walkthrough of building your first script, see Create Your First Script.

Free Content (Price = $0)

When you set a template's price to $0, the content is sent as a free message. The fan can view the media without making any payment. Free templates are useful for:

Teaser content that builds curiosity and interest
Introduction messages at the start of a script
Reward content for loyal fans
Building rapport before transitioning to paid content

Paid Content (Price > $0)

When you set a price above $0, the content is sent as a paid PPV message. The fan must pay the specified amount to unlock and view the media. This is where your script revenue is generated.

Starting Price vs. Final Offer

For paid templates, Substy uses a two-price system that powers the AI negotiation engine:

Starting Price

The Starting Price is the initial, full listing price for the content. This is the price the fan sees first and is the highest amount the AI will ever ask for that particular template. Think of it as your "sticker price."

Final Offer

The Final Offer is the lowest price the AI is allowed to accept during negotiation. This is your floor — the minimum amount you are willing to receive for that content. The AI will never offer a price below this threshold.

The Final Offer must always be less than or equal to the Starting Price. When you set a Starting Price, the Final Offer defaults to 20% off the Starting Price automatically. You can adjust it to any value at or below the Starting Price.

How Dynamic Pricing and AI Negotiation Work

When dynamic pricing is active, the AI chatbot manages the negotiation process automatically during conversations. Here is how it works step by step:

Initial Offer: The AI presents the content at the Starting Price to the fan.
Fan Response: If the fan hesitates, asks for a discount, or indicates the price is too high, the AI enters negotiation mode.
Negotiation Range: The AI can offer any price between the Final Offer and the Starting Price. It adjusts based on the fan's behavior, spending history, and engagement level.
Closing the Deal: The AI works to close at the highest price the fan is willing to pay, never dropping below your Final Offer.

For example, if a template has a Starting Price of $30 and a Final Offer of $15, the AI might offer $25 to a moderately engaged fan, $20 to a hesitant fan, or hold firm at $30 for a high-spending fan. For a deeper look at how the AI handles negotiations, see How AI Negotiation Works.

Building a Progressive Pricing Strategy

One of the most effective approaches is a progressive pricing model, where content starts at a lower price point and increases as the script progresses. This strategy works because:

Lower initial prices reduce purchase friction and get fans buying early
Once a fan makes a first purchase, they are more likely to continue buying
Higher prices later in the script feel justified because the fan is already invested
It mirrors natural escalation in the conversation

Example: Progressive Pricing Script

Here is an example of a well-structured 4-template script using progressive pricing:

Template	Type	Starting Price	Final Offer
Template 1	Free Teaser	$0	$0
Template 2	Paid PPV	$20	$10
Template 3	Paid PPV	$30	$15
Template 4	Paid PPV	$45	$25

In this setup, Template 1 is a free teaser to hook the fan. Templates 2 through 4 gradually increase in both Starting Price and Final Offer, giving the AI room to negotiate at every step while ensuring your total revenue stays high.

Pricing Tips and Best Practices

Keep the gap between Starting Price and Final Offer reasonable. A gap that is too wide (e.g., $50 Starting Price / $5 Final Offer) can lead to inconsistent pricing that feels unpredictable. The default 20% discount is a good starting point, and a 40-60% gap works well for most creators.
Start with a free or low-cost template. Getting the fan to engage with the first piece of content dramatically increases the chance they will purchase subsequent templates.
Consider your total script value. Add up the Starting Prices of all templates to ensure the total script value meets your revenue goals. In Full AI mode, scripts need a total price of at least $45; in Hybrid mode, at least $20. See Script Modes and Requirements for details.
Test different price points. Duplicate scripts with different pricing structures and compare performance to find what works best for your audience.
Factor in the platform fee. The platform takes a percentage of each transaction, so price your content accordingly to ensure your net revenue meets expectations.
Track your results. Use Script Statistics to monitor conversion rates and revenue per script.

Summary

Substy's dynamic pricing system gives you the best of both worlds: you set the boundaries, and the AI handles the negotiation. By setting thoughtful Starting Prices and Final Offers and using a progressive pricing model across your scripts, you maximize both conversion rates and revenue per fan.

Updated on: 28/02/2026

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