A Straightforward Guide for Small-Business Owners
If you’ve ever tried to budget for video, you already know the feeling. One studio says £400, another says £40,000, and suddenly you’re wondering whether you’re buying a product, a service, or a small spaceship.
So let’s get to the point.
The real question isn’t “How much does video cost?”
It’s “What does the right video do for your business?”
Because the truth is: small businesses often look at the price tag before they look at the value. And hey, I get it — £750 to £1000 a day for a shoot can look steep at first glance. But when that day generates enough content for six months of social posts or the foundations of an entire website? When your sales conversions go up, there’s fewer price conversations with clients and they’re happy to pay more, suddenly the numbers hit very differently.
Let’s break down what actually goes into video pricing, what influences the final figure, and how to spend your budget in a way that genuinely moves the needle for your brand.
Popular Video Types (and Why They Matter)
Most of the businesses I work with come to me for three main kinds of content:
- A: Brand Stories
These are the “who we are and why we exist” videos — perfect for websites, ads, and onboarding new customers who want to know the human behind the brand.
- B: Social Content
Fast-paced, scroll-stopping visuals that keep your brand visible week after week. A single shoot can create a bank of content that you can drip out for months.
- C: Testimonial Videos
Your customers doing the selling for you. Nothing beats real humans talking about real results.
These three categories tend to deliver the highest return for small businesses, especially when planned strategically instead of produced randomly.
Why Video Pricing Seems Confusing
Many clients come to me thinking cost equates to minutes of footage, but that’s not how professional production works.
You’re not paying for 30/60/90 seconds of video, you’re paying for:
- Clear storytelling
- Quality lighting and sound
- Professional editing
- Consistency across your brand
- Months of usable marketing material
That’s why I always explain that a shoot day isn’t just “a day.”
It’s the foundation for your marketing for the next quarter, sometimes the whole year.
How I Structure Pricing
I price projects based on what the client actually needs, because honestly, most people don’t even know what’s possible until we chat.
I work in three flexible ways:
- Day Rate (Most Common)
- Full shoot day: typically from £750
- Editing at a lower rate from £450 per day (this varies depending on how many deliverables you want)
- Up to two rounds of revisions included
- Additional revisions available if needed
Perfect when you have a good idea of what you want and need help to bring your vision and ideas to life.
- Project-Based Pricing
After talking goals, needs, and deliverables, I draft a proposal with a full end-to-end plan and final total. This opens up bringing in other creatives such as copywriters, PR, graphic and web designers to get the best results. This also works well if you give me your budget and we can discuss the best way to get the results you want. Starting with what you want to achieve is the key to success here.
- Deliverable-Based Pricing
This is less common, but ideal for clients who know exactly what they want. If you already have a detailed marketing plan and are looking for a creative to provide the actual content, this cuts out a big chunk of the pre-planning and makes everything more efficient and cost effective.
In every structure, the aim is simple: full transparency and no surprises.
What Actually Affects the Cost
Some things increase your investment because they increase time, complexity, or external expenses. For example, advanced scriptwriting, hiring talent or voiceovers, props or location rental, advanced motion graphics (basic titles are included), travel beyond one hour from me and any extra deliverables (additional edits, variations, or specific formats).
If you don’t need these, great, I can keep it lean and cost effective.
If you do, I plan them properly so you actually get results from them.
My Production Process (And What Clients Often Don’t See)
Here’s the full journey from first message to final video:
- Initial Chat – goals, expectations, market, brand vibe and guidelines.
- Proposal – pricing, deliverables, timelines.
- Planning – shot list, logistics, brand alignment.
- Shoot Day – efficient, structured, and surprisingly fun.
- Editing – the magic stage where everything comes together.
- Delivery – you get your files in all the formats you need.
- Revisions – up to two rounds included.
Most clients underestimate how much the planning and editing stages matter. They’re quiet, but they’re the difference between “a video” and “content that converts.”
What Happens When Businesses Go for the Cheapest Option
Let’s be blunt: quality takes time and skill. Rushing any part of the process will lead to compromises in quality, storytelling and production value, ultimately having a detrimental effect on your return on investment.
Cheaper options often mean rushed shooting, flat, uninspiring lighting (as there’s mo time to set up options), weak audio, no storytelling, minimal editing, but most noticeably, no strategy.
And yes… the results show. If you’re already putting your brand in front of new potential customers, you want it to look like you actually mean business.
That said, it’s not rocket science, and if you’d like me to help you have a go yourself, let’s have a chat.
Why I Prefer Custom Proposals
Every business is different.
Your goals are different.
Your audience is different.
Your brand energy is different.
A custom proposal lets me make sure you’re not overpaying for things you don’t need or underinvesting in things that will actually drive growth.
It’s about matching your ambitions to the right creative approach.
How to Budget for a Full Year of Video
If you’re thinking long-term, here’s the most useful rule of thumb:
Start with a full-day shoot to build a strong content bank, then top up every couple of months (or once a quarter) with seasonal or campaign-specific videos.
This keeps your feed fresh, your website current, and your brand consistent without blowing up your budget.
So… How Much Is Video for Your Business?
Most small businesses can expect a £750 -1100 starting point for a professional shoot, with final costs depending on complexity, deliverables, editing time and extra requirements.
But the better question is:
How much value can that video bring to your business over the next 3, 6, or 12 months?
If the content boosts your visibility, builds trust, and helps you sell more, it stops being a cost and becomes one of your smartest investments.
If you want to walk through your own goals and build a strategy that actually fits your brand, I’m here to offer my help. Mine’s a decaf, cold milk, no sugar.
For more reading on this topic have a look at my blog posts:
How To Start Making Business Videos
How long does it take to see a return on investment from our video marketing?
Why Hospitality Brands Fail at Marketing
