Introduction

“How much does a video cost?” is one of the first questions businesses ask, and one of the hardest to answer without more information. A 15-second social reel filmed on a phone in an afternoon and a 30-second TV commercial with actors, several locations, original music and visual effects are both “videos”, but they involve completely different amounts of work.

Video pricing can feel opaque. Quotations vary widely, include unfamiliar terms and sometimes leave out costs that appear later, such as music licences or extra edits. This uncertainty makes it hard for businesses to plan budgets or compare suppliers fairly.

This article explains what goes into the cost of video production, the main factors that make projects more or less expensive, typical cost structures for different types of video, how to budget, how to read a quotation and how to get more value from your spend. It also explains what is included in our three monthly content creation packages at Dsigngo Group: Starter Plan, Advanced and Premium.

What you pay for in a video

Every video budget is made up of the same broad categories:

Pre-production

• Creative development: concepts and ideas.
• Scriptwriting and storyboarding.
• Casting, location scouting and permits.
• Planning, scheduling and production management.

Production

• Crew: director, producer, camera operators, lighting, sound, stylists, make-up and assistants.
• Equipment: cameras, lenses, lighting, sound gear, grip equipment and drones.
• Talent: actors, models, presenters and voice artists.
• Locations and studios: hire fees and permits.
• Art department: sets, props and wardrobe.
• Logistics: transport, travel, accommodation and catering for longer shoots.

Post-production

• Editing and revisions.
• Colour grading.
• Sound design, voice-over recording and mixing.
• Music licensing or composition.
• Motion graphics, animation and visual effects.
• Subtitles and translations.
• Versions, formats and delivery.

Rights and usage

• Talent usage fees, often based on media, territory and duration.
• Music licences.
• Stock footage or images.

Understanding these categories helps you see where money goes and where savings are possible.

The main factors that affect cost

1. Length and complexity

Longer videos usually need more filming, editing and graphics. But complexity matters more than length. A 30-second commercial with several scenes, actors and effects can cost far more than a three-minute interview film.

2. Number of filming days

Each filming day requires crew, equipment, talent and logistics. Consolidating scenes into fewer days, or filming several videos in one day, reduces costs.

3. Crew size and equipment level

A small crew with compact cameras suits social media and simple corporate films. Commercials with cinematic lighting, cinema cameras, specialist lenses, dollies and cranes need larger crews and more equipment.

4. Locations and sets

Filming at your own premises is usually the most affordable. Hired locations, permits, multiple locations, travel and studio sets add cost.

5. Talent

Professional actors, models and voice artists cost more than staff or customers, and well-known personalities or influencers cost significantly more. Usage rights add to talent fees, especially for TV and wide online use.

6. Music

Stock music licensed for business use is affordable. Original compositions cost more but give exclusive, reusable brand music. Popular commercial tracks can be very expensive and need permissions from rights holders.

7. Animation and effects

Motion graphics add moderate costs. Detailed 2D character animation, 3D modelling and visual effects require specialist time and increase budgets accordingly.

8. Drone and specialist filming

Aerial filming requires registered drones, approvals, experienced pilots and planning. Underwater, high-speed and specialist rigs add further cost. Insights Article 5 explains drone filming.

9. Languages and versions

Each language version may need translation, new voice-over, subtitles and on-screen text changes. Each format, such as vertical, square or short cut-downs, adds editing time, though far less than filming again.

10. Revisions and approvals

Projects with many decision-makers or late changes cost more. Agreeing revision rounds and approving scripts and storyboards before filming keeps costs under control.

11. Timeline

Urgent projects may require extra crew, overtime or rush editing, which increases costs. Planning early is the simplest saving.

Typical cost structures by video type

Rather than quoting figures that change with market rates and project details, it is more useful to understand how different types of video compare.

Our monthly content creation packages

Our three monthly packages give brands a steady flow of professional content for Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. Each combines high-quality reels, custom graphic designs, stories and social media management across those three platforms, with Meta ads management in the Advanced and Premium packages. Prices are per month, in Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) for clients in Sri Lanka and in UAE dirhams (AED) for clients in the UAE. Single videos, corporate films, commercials and full campaigns are quoted separately, based on the brief.

Starter Plan: LKR 35,000 or 3,999 AED per month

For small brands that want a consistent, professional presence on social media.

What is included each month:

• 4 high-quality reels, planned with you and edited for vertical viewing.
• 8 custom graphic designs for posts, in your brand style.
• 1 shooting session to film the month’s reels efficiently.
• 15 stories to keep your audience engaged between posts.
• Social media management for Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, including scheduling and publishing.

Meta ads management is not included in the Starter Plan. It can be added by moving to the Advanced package.

Best for: cafés, salons, boutiques, clinics, consultants and new brands building their first regular content programme.

Advanced: LKR 55,000 or 7,999 AED per month (our most popular package)

For growing brands that want more content and paid reach on Facebook and Instagram.

What is included each month:

• 8 high-quality reels, covering products, tips, behind-the-scenes content and offers.
• 12 custom graphic designs for posts and promotions.
• 1–2 shooting sessions, depending on locations and content plan.
• 15 stories.
• Meta ads management, planning, running and optimising Facebook and Instagram ads. The ad budget itself is paid separately.
• Social media management for Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Best for: restaurants, retailers, real estate agents, education providers and service businesses growing their customer base. Insights Article 3 explains how we plan and produce reels.

Premium: LKR 68,000 or 9,999 AED per month

For established brands that need a high volume of content and active paid campaigns.

What is included each month:

• 12 high-quality reels.
• 20 custom graphic designs.
• 3–4 shooting sessions, allowing more locations, products and people.
• 30 stories.
• Meta ads management, with the ad budget paid separately.
• Social media management for Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Best for: hospitality and retail groups, multi-branch businesses, consumer brands and companies advertising in the UAE and Sri Lanka.

What the package fee covers

The package fee covers planning, filming, design, editing and management. The advertising budget paid to Meta for your Facebook and Instagram ads is not included in the package fee and is paid separately. This keeps your ad spend flexible: you can increase it for a launch or a busy season and reduce it in quieter months, while the package fee stays the same. From time to time we may run limited-time offers; any current offer is shown on the video page while it applies. We review your package with you every month and recommend changes when your goals, seasons or campaigns change.

Rush delivery and extras

Extra reels, additional shooting sessions, drone footage, motion graphics and subtitles in more languages can be added to any package. Urgent content can sometimes be delivered faster, subject to crew availability, for an additional fee. Extras are quoted when you request them.

Comparing the three packages

Single videos, corporate films and campaigns

Not every project fits a monthly package. A product launch film, a corporate profile, a TV commercial or a full seasonal campaign is planned and quoted individually, using the cost factors explained earlier in this article. Many clients combine both: a one-off brand film or commercial, with a monthly package that turns the same footage and message into reels, posts and stories. Insights Articles 1 and 2 explain commercial and corporate film production.

The hidden costs of cheap video

Low-cost video can be tempting, but it sometimes costs more in the long run. Common problems include poor sound that makes interviews unusable, music used without a licence that leads to muted or removed videos, footage that cannot be reused because rights were never agreed, missing vertical versions that require reshoots, and generic content that fails to represent the brand. A video that has to be redone, or that damages how customers see the business, is expensive however little it cost to make.

The goal is not to spend the most, but to spend wisely: match production level to purpose, invest where quality is visible to customers, and make sure every video can be used fully and legally across the channels where it is needed.

Planning a year of video

Businesses that plan video for the whole year usually get better value than those that commission projects one at a time. A simple annual plan might include a company profile refreshed every two to three years, a seasonal campaign for the busiest sales period, monthly social reels, product videos for new launches and short training videos for staff. Grouping shoots by location and season reduces crew and equipment days, and footage from one project can support others throughout the year.

How to set a video budget

1. Start with the goal. What should the video achieve, and what is that result worth to the business?
2. Decide where it will be used. TV, cinema, website, social media, exhibitions or internal training.
3. Consider lifespan. A company profile used for three years justifies a different investment from a reel for one weekend promotion.
4. Include distribution. A video needs an audience. Budget for paid promotion if organic reach will not be enough.
5. Plan for versions. Include cut-downs, formats and languages from the start.
6. Allow a contingency. A small reserve covers unexpected needs, such as an extra location or translation.

A useful rule is to think in terms of cost per use. A well-produced video used across the website, social media, ads, sales presentations and exhibitions for years may cost little per use, even if the upfront budget is significant.

Reading a video quotation

A clear quotation should state:

• The deliverables: number of videos, lengths, versions, formats and languages.
• Pre-production, filming days and post-production included.
• Crew and equipment level.
• What is included for talent, locations, music and graphics.
• Number of revision rounds.
• Usage rights for talent and music.
• Who owns the final video and raw footage.
• Timeline and payment terms.
• Items excluded or charged separately.

Be cautious of quotations that do not mention music licences, revisions or usage rights. These often become extra costs later.

Ways to get more value from your budget

• Film several videos in one day. Plan a company profile, product videos and social reels in the same shoot.
• Use your own premises and staff where appropriate.
• Plan vertical and short versions before filming, so one shoot serves every platform.
• Approve scripts and storyboards carefully, so filming and editing go smoothly.
• Limit decision-makers and consolidate feedback.
• Choose music wisely: licensed stock music for short-term content, original music for long-term brand use.
• Reuse footage in future edits, such as seasonal versions.
• Combine video with photography during the same shoot.
• Book early to avoid rush fees and secure the best dates.

Measuring return on video investment

To judge whether a video was worth its cost, compare results with the goal set at the start. For marketing videos, track views, watch time, website visits, enquiries and sales during campaigns. For sales videos, ask the sales team how often they use the film and whether prospects respond. For training videos, compare training time and error rates before and after. Combining these measures with the cost per use gives a realistic picture of value and guides the next investment.

Who owns the video?

Clients usually own the final edited video for the agreed uses. Talent and music are licensed for specific media, territories and periods, so extending use later may need additional fees. Raw footage ownership and project files should be stated in the contract. This is one of the promises on our video page: usage rights are agreed clearly in writing, and you receive the final files and project masters.

Illustrative example

The following example is illustrative and does not describe a real client.

A growing chain of fitness studios wants a launch video for a new branch and regular content for social media. Instead of two separate projects, the team plans one combined shoot. A separately quoted 60-second launch film shows the new studio, trainers and classes. On the same day, the crew films material for the first month of the Advanced package: eight reels covering workouts, trainer tips and member experiences, filmed with members’ written consent.

By combining the shoots, the studio receives a launch film and a month of reels while paying for only one set of crew and equipment days. In the following months, the Advanced package continues with regular shooting sessions, and the best-performing reels are promoted through Meta ads. The package covers managing the ads, and the studio pays its ad budget separately.

Frequently asked questions

Why do video quotations vary so much?

Suppliers may include different crew sizes, equipment, revisions, music and rights. Compare quotations line by line against the same deliverables.

Can we start small and scale up?

Yes. Many clients begin with the Starter Plan, then move to Advanced or Premium as their content and advertising needs grow.

Do you require a deposit?

Payment terms are stated in each quotation, usually with a deposit before pre-production.

Is the Meta ad budget included in the package price?

No. The Advanced and Premium packages include managing your Meta ads, but the advertising budget paid to Meta is separate from the package fee. You decide how much to spend, and we plan and optimise the campaigns around that budget.

Are prices different for UAE projects?

Projects filmed in the UAE involve different crew, permits and travel costs. We quote each project individually.

What if we need changes after delivery?

Changes within the agreed revision rounds are included. Further changes or new versions are quoted separately.

Conclusion

Video production costs reflect the work involved in pre-production, filming, post-production and rights. Length matters less than complexity: crew, filming days, locations, talent, music, animation, versions and timelines drive budgets. Clear goals, careful planning, combined shoots and well-defined quotations help businesses get the most value.

Our Starter Plan, Advanced and Premium packages give clear monthly starting points, and single videos and campaigns are quoted individually.

Want a clear quotation for your video? Send us your brief.

Request a Video Quote

Sources

• Raiden (Pvt) Ltd company profile (cinematography, commercial photography and motion graphics services): https://www.raiden.lk
• TikTok, Commercial Music Library: https://www.tiktok.com/business/en/blog/commercial-music-library
• YouTube Help, Copyright and fair use: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/9783148
• Wyzowl, Video Marketing Statistics 2026: https://wyzowl.com/video-marketing-statistics/
• Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka, FAQs on drone operations: https://caa.lk/en/faqs/on-drone-operations