How the marketplace works
Plumely's marketplace is an introduction layer. A business describes what it needs, creators pitch for it, the two sides talk, and then they do business with each other directly. Everything below is a description of that, including the parts where Plumely deliberately isn't involved.
1. A business posts a brief
A brief describes the video: the deliverable, the platform it's for, what footage already exists, a budget band and a rough deadline. It's published to the public brief list, where it's readable by anyone — including search engines, which is how creators find the work without having to sign up first.
2. Creators bid
A creator reads the brief and sends a short pitch with relevant work attached. Their profile travels with the bid, so the business sees the verification facts and account history alongside the pitch rather than having to go looking. Bids are metered rather than unlimited — that's what keeps the list free of copy-pasted applications.
3. The business shortlists and picks
Bids arrive in one place instead of four inboxes. The business can shortlist, ask questions, and then accept one. Accepting closes the brief, declines the other bids, and opens a conversation between the two parties.
4. You talk — here or elsewhere, your choice
Awarding a brief opens a message thread between the two of you, and every message is timestamped — which is exactly what you need if anything later goes wrong. Direct contact-detail exchange is still being built, so for now the thread is the place to agree scope, price and the advance.
5. You agree terms — in writing, wherever you are
Before work starts, settle scope, deliverables, the total, how much is paid in advance, and the deadline — in writing. Plumely does not enforce any of it and is not a party to it. Keep your own copy: a written record of what was agreed is exactly what you need if you ever have to escalate somewhere that does have enforcement powers. An on-platform agreement summary is planned to make this automatic.
6. Money changes hands — not here
This is the part to be clear-eyed about. Plumely does not process, hold, escrow or insure payments between users, and takes no commission. You pay each other directly by whatever method you agree. In exchange for keeping 100% of the money, both sides accept that Plumely cannot reverse a payment, recover funds, or adjudicate a dispute about one.
What Plumely actually does for you
Stated plainly, so the boundary is obvious in both directions.
- Hosts the brief and puts it in front of creators, including through search.
- Will verify specific, checkable claims — domain control, channel ownership, link-backs — and show exactly what was checked and when. Not live yet.
- Keeps a timestamped record of the conversation, so there is evidence if a deal goes wrong.
- Takes reports, reviews them, and makes upheld ones visible on the profile.
- Will make repeat scams expensive by tying verification to single-use artifacts, so a banned account cannot re-verify the same domain or channel.
What Plumely does not do
- It does not hold or transfer money, and cannot get a payment back.
- It does not guarantee the quality, delivery or legality of anyone's work.
- It does not check anyone's identity documents, finances, or ability to pay.
- It is not a party to your agreement, not an employer, and not an agent for either side.
- It does not mediate, arbitrate or decide disputes between users. If you disagree about payment, delivery or quality, that is between the two of you — Plumely will act on reports about listings and accounts, but it will not rule on your deal.
What it costs
Browsing and reading briefs is free. Posting briefs and placing bids are metered: Plumely Pro includes one brief and five bids per calendar month. Credit top-ups for extra capacity are planned but not on sale yet. The meter is the entire business model, which is precisely why there is no commission on the deal itself.
FAQ
Why doesn't Plumely handle payments?+
Handling payments would mean taking a cut to fund it, plus escrow, KYC and dispute-resolution machinery. The trade here is the opposite: you keep all the money, and you take on the counterparty risk yourself. That trade is only honest if it's stated clearly, which is what this page is for.
What stops fake businesses or fake creators?+
The plan is verification tied to assets that cost real money — domains and established channels — each usable by only one account across the whole platform. That does not make fraud impossible; it makes repeat fraud expensive, which is the achievable goal. It is not live yet, so for now read the safety page carefully and treat every account as new.
Can I use the marketplace without the video editor?+
Yes, entirely. They share an account and nothing else.
What happens if a deal goes wrong?+
Report it. We review reports, and upheld ones appear on the profile so the next person sees them. We can't recover your money — which is why the safety guidance is worth reading before you're in that position rather than after.
Ready when you are
The marketplace is opening soon. Tell us which side you're on.
Browse open briefs →What works today
The marketplace is new. Here's exactly what's running and what isn't, so nothing comes as a surprise once you're mid-job.
- Post a brief and receive bids
- Browse and search open briefs
- Pitch for work with a bid
- Business and creator profiles
- Track your briefs and bids
- Monthly brief and bid allowances
- Report a brief, bid or profile
- In-app messaging once a brief is awarded
- State usage rights on a brief
- Send and accept a usage licence on an awarded brief
- Domain and portfolio verification badges
Not yet
- Contact-detail exchange. Arriving with messaging.
- Credit top-ups beyond your monthly allowance. Pro's monthly allowance applies today; one-off credit packs are not on sale yet.
- Reviews after a completed engagement. Needs real completed engagements to mean anything.