How Much Is A Corporate Video?

Corporate video pricing is not one-size-fits-all. Production costs typically range from $1,000 for simple low-budget videos to $10,000 or more for complex multi-day shoots. The final cost depends on shoot days, talent, equipment, location, and post-production time.

How We Price Video Production

First things first: we don't charge by the hour. We're sometimes asked for a 1-hour video shoot; however, clients don't see all of the pre and post-production activities that take place. Things like travel time to and from the shoot, color correcting the video in post-production, and converting the files into a usable format all take significant time. In short, video production involves a lot more than an hour on set.

We charge using a day rate of $1,400 per day, or sometimes a half-day rate of $900. We figure out how much time will be spent on a project, then apply the day rate to arrive at our total cost.

Why 'How Long Is the Video?' Doesn't Determine the Price

The most frequent question we get is how much does a 3-minute video cost, a 2-minute video, or a 60-second video? Regardless of the video length, the answer is always: it depends. Here's why.

Let's use the 3-minute video as an example. The finished video might be 3 minutes, but each 3-minute video can vary greatly in how long it takes to produce. We've had 3-minute videos that took just a few days to produce, costing about $4,000. We've also had a 3-minute video take nearly two weeks to complete, costing over $10,000. It all depends on what has to be shot and how much time we'll need in post-production.

If you want to understand the true scope of what goes into pricing, reviewing our case studies gives a real-world look at different production scales and outcomes.

Low-Cost Video Options

We do produce low-cost videos for small business owners with limited marketing budgets, starting at $1,000. Those videos are all about keeping a very strict production schedule. From beginning to end, the entire production needs to take less than a day to create.

We do that with a 1-hour video shoot, during which we follow our 3-step storytelling process. We ask a string of questions leading to answers that essentially create the script on their own, then we edit everything together. These small business clients also relinquish creative control to us and trust we will deliver a video that's on-message. They do not get a script to approve or a preview video with revision requests. This cuts down significantly on post-production time, and our clients who have used this option have been very pleased with the end result.

Making Multiple Videos Affordable: The Retainer Model

If you produce videos on a regular basis, you might want to consider putting a video company on retainer. A video production retainer is an agreement to perform regular, ongoing video production services at a fixed cost for an agreed-upon amount of time. In most cases the retainer provides video service at a discounted price.

That said, we're not big fans of the traditional retainer model, which is why we created our VIP Video Club as an alternative. We feel like a lot of retainers go unused, which is great for the video company collecting paychecks but a bummer for customers paying for a service they don't end up using. Our VIP Video Club membership includes monthly reminders and quarterly planning sessions to help keep our members on track.

2-Minute Video Cost Breakdown

So exactly how much does a 2-minute video cost? It's hard to define a cost without understanding each of the production needs involved. At the average rate of $1,500 to $10,000 per finished minute, a 2-minute video will generally fall somewhere between $3,000 and $20,000, but that's still a very large range.

According to Wyzowl's video marketing research, businesses that invest in professionally produced video consistently report stronger ROI than those relying on DIY production. A properly planned and executed video is always worth the investment.

Here's a breakdown of potential video production pricing for various services involved in producing a 2-minute video:

Director: $25 to $250 per hour

Script-Writing: $60 to $150 per hour

Video Editing: $60 to $175 per hour

Camera: $25 to $400 per hour

Actors and Presenters: $50 to $500 per hour

Equipment: $25 to $100+ per hour

Studio Shooting: $100 to $400 per hour

Voice-Over Talent: $100 to $400

Audio Files: $30 to $1,000

Video Rendering: $30 to $75 per hour

B-Roll: 10% to 50% in addition to shooting costs

Miscellaneous Fees: $100 to $1,000+ per production

Cost of Video Production Per Minute

As a general rule of thumb, video production rates average around $1,500 to $10,000 per finished minute. Many factors come into play when defining a video production budget, such as the type of video, the unique needs for talent, and various pre-production needs such as scripting and location scouting.

Naturally, a video that does not require extensive voice-over talent or animated graphics may cost far less than one that does. A professional production crew can help you to better understand pricing and how each element comes together to create the right video for your brand.

Whether you need a commercial or a full marketing video package, the U.S. Small Business Administration recommends budgeting 7 to 8% of gross revenue for marketing, and video is increasingly the most impactful place to allocate those funds.

If a production crew gives you a price without asking detailed questions about the type of video, the purpose, and the effects needed, be concerned. Simply put, video production rates vary drastically depending on several factors, and accurate quotes require a thorough understanding of the project scope.

Our team at Portland Production Services will work through every variable with you so there are no surprises. Contact us today for a transparent, detailed quote.

Get the Most From Your Video Production Budget

Video production pricing is a function of time, talent, equipment, and complexity. There is no universal price list because no two productions are alike. The clearer you are about your goals upfront, the easier it is to build a production plan that fits your budget and delivers real results.

For businesses that are new to video, starting with a focused, lower-cost production is a smart way to get a feel for the process and the returns. From there, a retainer or ongoing partnership gives you the consistency and efficiency that compound over time. The businesses that win with video are the ones that commit to it strategically, not just sporadically.

Portland Production Services has helped businesses across industries plan and execute video production at every price point. Whether you're working with a lean budget or planning a premium campaign, we'll help you get the most from every dollar. Reach out today to talk through your project.

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