Video production pricing depends on the concept, filming, editing, rights and final versions. Viva Media quotes each brief within broad service ranges. Use the ranges below to start a budget conversation, then compare estimates against the same scope.
What do video projects typically cost?
These are broad scoped ranges, not packages, minimums or guarantees. Talent, music licensing and location fees are quoted separately. GTA travel is included. Travel outside the GTA is quoted separately.
| Work | Broad range |
|---|---|
| Social ad campaigns | $5,000 to $30,000+ |
| Ongoing social content | $2,500 to $10,000 per month |
| Corporate video | $5,000 to $25,000+ |
| 2D/3D animation and motion graphics | $10,000 to $50,000+ |
| Commercials and brand films | $30,000 to $250,000+ |
Social ad campaigns are targeted ads built for social platforms first. Monthly content is an ongoing arrangement with its own agreed outputs and schedule. Neither range establishes a price per video. See Viva Media's pricing answers for project terms to discuss.
What determines video production pricing?
Preparation, crew, equipment, filming, post-production and usage all affect the estimate. Runtime alone doesn't describe the work. An interview needs contributors, a location, sound and lighting; an animated explainer needs a script, visual development, assets and approved movement.
| Part of the quote | Work to confirm |
|---|---|
| Preparation | Concept, script, storyboard, casting and location planning |
| Filming | Crew, equipment, locations, contributors and shoot schedule |
| Post-production | Editing, graphics, animation, colour, sound, captions and exports |
| Usage | Channels, territories and duration covered by each licence or release |
| Project expenses | Talent, music licensing, location fees and travel outside the GTA as separate line items |
For corporate interviews or training videos, identify contributors and subject experts. For commercial or product campaigns, include placements and campaign versions before planning the shoot. For animation and motion graphics, clarify which assets exist and which need to be designed.
Give each producer the same brief
Send this worksheet with each estimate request. Record what is approved, what your team supplies and what remains open. These prompts describe your project; they are not a package or a sample client budget.
| Brief item | What to write down |
|---|---|
| Objective | The message and action the video should support |
| Audience | Intended viewers and where they will see the work |
| Concept and script | Approved material, references and creative decisions still open |
| Supplied footage | File types, volume, organisation, access and known picture or sound issues |
| Filming locations | Addresses, access, permissions, restrictions and any travel outside the GTA |
| Crew and talent | Contributors, performers and production roles to confirm |
| Distinct edits | Each separate story, cutdown or alternate opening |
| Runtime | Intended duration for each edit |
| Aspect ratios | Required framing for each placement |
| Captions and languages | Caption files, on-screen text, translations and the language approver |
| Graphics | Titles, diagrams, animation and assets to supply or create |
| Sound | Dialogue cleanup, music, voice-over and mix requirements |
| Rights | Asset ownership, licences, releases, channels, territories and usage term |
| Approval owner | Who consolidates feedback and who signs off at each stage |
| Scope changes | How added work, cost and timing will be agreed |
Add the launch date, review windows and available budget. Viva Media's standard timeline is 4 to 6 weeks. Allow for two included revision rounds; additional rounds are billed at $150/hour. For social video production, distinguish a campaign from recurring content and list the outputs for each planning cycle.
Map deliverables to approvals
Use a row for each output and adapt the review stages to the proposal. Two revision rounds are included. Additional rounds are billed at $150/hour for post-production time. Agree approval stages in the proposal. The matrix below is a planning prompt, not a standard set of included deliverables.
| Item | What needs a decision | Who to name |
|---|---|---|
| Script or outline | Message, factual claims and intended use | Content owner and final approver |
| Visual plan | Storyboard, references, locations and graphics | Brand lead and producer |
| Each distinct edit | Story, pacing, selected footage and agreed revisions | Feedback coordinator and final approver |
| Each delivery version | Runtime, aspect ratio, captions, language and sound | Channel owner and language reviewer |
| Final files and handoff | File specifications, rights and any source-file request | Delivery owner and producer |
Standard production takes 4 to 6 weeks, depending on scope and scale. Rush and extended options are available; confirm availability and approval windows with the producer. Work back from the required release date and agree the approval windows before committing to delivery. If a decision or asset arrives late, revisit the schedule with the producer.
Compare quotes beyond the total
Put each provider's written answer beside the same brief. A lower total may cover fewer edits or assume that your team supplies more of the work. Resolve gaps before approving the estimate.
| Compare | Provider A | Provider B |
|---|---|---|
| Creative, filming and deliverables | Record scope | Record scope |
| Supplied assets and client responsibilities | Record assumptions | Record assumptions |
| Revisions, approvals and schedule | Record agreed stages | Record agreed stages |
| Rights and separate expenses | Record coverage | Record coverage |
| Changes, currency, taxes and payment timing | Record terms | Record terms |
Ask whether the fee covers an agreed project or a recurring scope, and how additional work is estimated. For most Viva Media projects, payment is 50% deposit to book and 50% on final delivery, with net-15 terms unless agreed otherwise. Projects over $100,000 use milestone billing. Keep the quote, exclusions and approved changes together.
Reduce the scope before cutting essential work
Discuss a more focused script, fewer locations or a smaller set of versions. Ask what each option changes in the work and estimate. Shared filming can support several outputs, but each edit still needs assembly, finishing and review.
Send consolidated feedback that identifies the version, scene and requested change. Approve factual claims and creative direction at the agreed stages. A new message after approval may affect several edits; agree its cost and timing before work proceeds.
Scope recurring content and editing separately
For monthly content, confirm the planning cycle, shoot schedule, outputs and handling of changed priorities. Production covers the agreed creative, filming and post-production work. Media buying covers paid placements; account management covers channel planning, posting and ongoing administration; analytics setup covers tracking and reporting. Identify the owner and budget for each separately.
If the footage is already filmed, say so. The producer needs to assess its condition, organisation, rights and suitability for the brief. Editing may still require story development, graphics, captions and sound work. Compare an editing-only estimate with other estimates for that same work.
Prepare for the estimate conversation
Bring the worksheet, budget, delivery needs and open decisions. Use Viva Media's published work to explain the production approach you have in mind. A reference helps discuss scope; it doesn't establish what that project cost or what yours will cost.
Originally published by Matthew Watts. This edition was updated by Viva Media with AI-assisted writing and review.
