Video Production Pricing Guide

Perhaps you are looking to produce a series of TikTok videos showcasing your product. Or, maybe you are on the search for someone who can create a tutorial video. There are an immense number of options available for consumers to produce videos for themselves or their businesses. How do you know which service to choose when creating your video? The first step is to determine the type of video that best fits your business needs. After you determine what you are trying to produce, you will need to narrow down what service to use for production.

Let’s say you are trying to produce a 30-second ad for YouTube for example, you discover you can hire freelancers who can create a video ad for as low as $25, and you were also quoted by an advertising agency to create an ad campaign for $40,000. What is the right route for you, or your business, with such a vast gap in the cost of service? Depending on your budget and your goals, certain services may better fit your needs. The questions below will dispel some of the confusion when choosing a video production company or service. 

Why are some services more expensive than others?

Let’s use the example from the advertising agency we discussed above. When using agencies and production companies that employ larger staff, you should expect to pay more for your video. Because your video is more expensive, you should also expect your production quality to be higher than when using a freelance service or contractor. 

The reputation of the agency, the cost of technology, and the specialized crew are all factors that make costs rise when using an agency.

To expand on the specialized crew, these positions may be professional directors, cinematographers, actors, animators, equipment operators, sound designers, editors, and more who might be needed in the production. Oftentimes, these positions are outsourced based on the needs of the production. These skilled workers will result in higher production costs. 

What drives production costs up?

Beyond larger crews and higher production quality, several other factors can make the cost of your video rise, and these are often applicable to videos at any budget level. In general, longer production times increase costs. The length of your final video, coupled with the length of time it takes to produce, will drive costs up. Specialized equipment like drones, camera support, and other equipment will make costs higher. Custom and complex editing and animation will also come at a higher price.

What services cost less?

If we look back at our example, we also found freelancers who can create videos for as little as $25. Using freelance services like Fiverr and Upwork, consumers can source freelancers who can make low-cost videos with short delivery times. However, many of these videos are templated and use stock footage and imagery. Your video will not be unique or have as high production quality as an agency or production company. Similar to these services, AI video generators and drag-and-drop software like Canva will cost less to produce than outsourcing to an agency. Perhaps you are looking to create videos on a more consistent basis rather than a one-off project and you don’t want the expense that comes along with using an agency. You might look to source a contractor or freelancer for your company who can create high-quality original assets for you. 

What about AI video production?

With the development of AI video production tools like Hey Gen, Synthesia, and Runway, users can create videos with monthly subscriptions ranging from $0 to 100 per month, depending on features. Some tools are also offered at the enterprise level and can range from $500 to $5000 per month. You can also source freelancers from places like Fiverr and Upwork. Some agencies also offer AI-generated video production, and prices generally range from $1000 to $10,000 per video.

What drives production costs down?

Shorter-length videos, with smaller crews, less equipment, and technology are all factors that will drive the overall cost of your video down. Using AI, templates, and pre-existing digital assets to create your video will also be more budget-friendly. 

Where does Noremac Creative fit into this spectrum of services?

Our crew sizes usually consist of one to three people. Our prices will be higher than those found on platforms like Fiverr or AI generation. However, we deliver a full-service video production and a more personalized experience than those offered by freelance and video-generating platforms. Similarly, Noremac is not an advertising agency, and our listed pricing reflects the costs of video production. So we will generally have lower costs than marketing, PR, or advertising agencies. As a general rule, the less complex the ask, the more moderate the cost of the video. With larger-scale ideas and concepts, the greater the cost of production. In the agency realm, clients often play a much smaller role in the concept stage. The creative ideas are generated by the agency and then pitched to the client to narrow down what they like. Noremac can provide this service, but we can also help you craft a video that you may already have in mind. Many of our clients are communicating specialized and complex information, and we can help you simplify and improve your messaging to deliver it through video.

The information above should serve as a guide to help you better understand not only our pricing but pricing across much of the video production industry. If you have any questions about this guide, the video production industry, or Noremac Creative, reach out using the form below.