It is normal to see quotes for a corporate video that differ several times over; the gap comes from length, shoot days, crew, locations and editing. We explain the items that set the price, how to compare quotes and how to get more out of the same shoot.
The short answer to “How much does a professional promotional video cost?” is: it depends on what is being filmed. A 60-second corporate film shot in one location, with one camera, in a single day and a commercial shot across several cities with actors and a voice-over can differ in price several times over. In this article we go through the items that determine corporate video cost one by one, show what to look at when you put quotes side by side and explain how to get more content out of the same shoot.
What determines the cost of a corporate video?
Length and purpose of the film
A corporate video for your website and presentations usually runs 60–120 seconds. Videos made for social media and advertising run 6–30 seconds. The longer the film, the more scenes need to be shot and the longer the edit takes, so the cost goes up. First be clear about where the film will be published and what it should get the viewer to do; the length follows from that answer.
Number of shoot days
This is the single biggest factor in the price. Every shoot day means crew, equipment, travel and preparation. If a factory’s production line, its office and a project on site have to be filmed on separate days, the cost multiplies accordingly. A good shooting plan reduces the number of days by filming several scenes on the same day.
Number of locations and shoots out of town
Shooting in a single location is the most economical option. Every change of location means setting up lights and set again. For shoots outside the city, travel and accommodation come on top; ask for them to be listed as a separate item in the quote.
Crew and equipment
A single camera operator does not cost the same as a crew made up of a director, a director of photography, a gaffer and a sound recordist. Drones, gimbals, special lenses or studio hire also affect the cost. Ask what your film really needs; not every project calls for a large crew.
Script, actors and voice-over
Who writes the script, and whether actors or a professional voice-over artist are used, changes the price. In many corporate films, having your own employees and managers tell the story is both more authentic and more economical.
Editing, colour, sound and graphics
After the shoot come editing, colour grading, audio clean-up, music licensing, subtitles and motion graphics. Using licensed music matters: a film published with a song found on the internet can receive copyright claims on the platforms.
Number of versions and revisions
Will a single horizontal film be delivered, or will vertical social media versions and short ad cut-downs also be made from the same footage? How many rounds of revisions are included? These questions directly change what the quote covers.
Questions to ask when comparing quotes
- How many shoot days and how many locations are included?
- Who is on the crew, and what equipment will be used?
- Who is responsible for the script and the shooting plan? At what stage is approval given?
- Is the music licensed? Are voice-over and subtitles included?
- How many versions will be delivered? Horizontal, vertical, short cut-downs?
- How many revision rounds do you get?
- Will you receive the raw footage? Who holds the usage rights?
A large price gap between two quotes usually comes from different answers to these questions. Compare the scope, not the number.
Getting more out of the same shoot
A promotional film shoot means the expensive part is already done: the crew, the lights and the location are all in place. That is why adding the following to the shooting plan from the start is the best way to use your budget efficiently:
- Short vertical scenes for social media (for Reels and Stories).
- 6–15-second cut-downs for advertising (for Meta and YouTube ads).
- Photos taken on the shoot day for your website and catalogues.
The result is a content library from a single shoot that you can use for months.
How is video production priced at AGO?
We price our video production work per project; we do not publish a fixed package price, because the items above differ in every project. The process works like this: first we talk about the purpose of the film and where it will be published, and we put the script and shooting plan together with you. Then we give an itemised quote covering shoot days, locations, crew and the versions to be delivered; for shoots out of town, travel and accommodation are listed separately. Two rounds of revisions are included as standard, and the raw footage is handed over to you if you ask for it. If you already have footage you shot yourself, you can also book editing only.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a corporate video be?
For a website and presentations, 60–120 seconds is usually enough. If you need a longer film, splitting the topics into separate short videos increases the view-through rate.
How long does a corporate video shoot take?
On most projects the shoot itself takes one or a few days. Add the script and preparation, then editing and revisions, and the process usually takes a few weeks; the exact schedule is set together with the shooting plan.
Is a video shot on a phone good enough?
For everyday social media content, often yes. For the main video on your website, or a corporate film for trade fairs and presentations, the quality of light, sound and editing directly shapes how your brand is perceived.
What should I prepare to get a quote?
The purpose of the film, where it will be published, the locations to be filmed and a few example videos you like are enough. Fill in the quote form and we will work out the shooting plan together.
