In the world of content creation, videos have become a go-to tool for many businesses. Understanding the costs associated with video production is key for effective budgeting. In this blog post, we'll break down the average costs for video production depending on who you hire.
Hiring A Freelancer
When you choose a freelancer for your video production needs, the cost will vary based on their experience. You may be able to save some budget by hiring someone right out of college, but know it’s a bigger risk.
Most freelancers will charge a day rate for filming and an hourly editing rate for post-production. Before your project begins, they will give you an estimate or quote, but sometimes it can be hard to guess how many hours it will take them to edit.
Low End:
- Day Rate: $300-$400
- Editing Rate: $30 per hour
Average:
- Day Rate: $600-$1,200
- Editing Rate: $60-$90 per hour
High End:
- Day Rate: $2,000 per day
- Editing Rate: $100 or more per hour
Keep in mind that extra expenses, like voiceovers or pre-production requirements, might add to your overall video production costs. Be sure to give your freelancer as much detail as possible so they can give you an accurate quote.
Hiring A Video Production Company
Professional companies, like agencies, will almost always charge more than freelancers. This is for a good reason because the risk you take hiring them is lower, and the results are typically much better.
Agencies usually charge a flat rate or project rate as opposed to an hourly rate. After a discovery session, they will give you a quote or proposal depending on their process. Some agencies will also charge an additional retainer fee on top of project fees.
Average Costs:
- Small Project: $5,000 - $20,000
- Medium Project: $15,000 - $40,000
- Large Project: $40,000 and above
A small project is typically a one-day shoot with a small crew. A medium-sized project is typically a one-day shoot with a large crew or a multiple-day shoot with a smaller crew. Large projects almost always have multiple paid actors and large crews.
Hiring An Internal Video Team
For those regularly creating video content, building an in-house team can be a great way to save costs.
Average Costs:
- Videographer: $70,000 per year
- Video Editor: $60,000 per year
- Equipment: $20,000 - $30,000
Although having an in-house team does present its own challenges. You have to allocate additional time to manage the team, and you have to account for all the equipment costs. Additionally, sometimes the skill level of the employees might not be where you’d like it to be. But if you can find great talent, hiring an internal video production team is a great way to save costs.
Video Production Pricing Sheet
We’ve put together a video production pricing sheet that you can save. This shows the average costs of video production based on who you hire.
It’s important to know that costs will still likely vary depending on your location, the size of your business, and your intended results. Whether you choose a freelancer, a professional company, or an in-house team, each option has its own advantages and considerations.
View Our Video Production Pricing
Capture provides flat-rate video production pricing for businesses, making it easy to plan marketing budgets. Get all the marketing videos you need and more at a simple monthly rate. View our pricing or contact us to learn more!
