How Much Does Professional Video Production Cost?

Ask ten different production companies what a professional video costs, and you’ll probably get ten different answers. Some will tell you $500. Others will tell you $50,000. And the frustrating truth is…both might be right.

That’s why “how much does video production cost?” is one of the most searched questions in marketing. It’s not that people don’t want to spend money on video, most business owners understand its value. It’s that nobody wants to walk into the process blind, unsure if they’re about to be overcharged or under-delivered.

The good news? There are industry benchmarks you can use as a guide. And once you understand the moving parts, you’ll see where companies like Deliberate Media fall within those ranges; Usually right in line with (or even below) the national averages, but with transparent pricing and no hidden markups.

Our Video Production Lead directing a client shoot.

Why Video Production Costs Swing So Wildly

On the surface, video seems simple: hire someone with a camera, point, shoot, done. But the reality is more complicated. Professional video production is part logistics, part art form, and part storytelling. It’s not just capturing footage...it’s planning, lighting, sound, editing, and shaping raw material into something that actually moves people.

That’s why costs can look so different. A freelancer who charges $500 might be offering a single camera angle, minimal lighting, and basic editing. On the other end, a $50,000 project might include multiple days of filming with a full crew, advanced editing, custom animation, and professional actors.

Industry averages reflect this range:

• Basic corporate or testimonial video: $1,500 – $5,000

• Promotional/marketing video (1–2 minutes): $3,000 – $10,000

• Commercial or brand film with crew and multiple days: $15,000 – $50,000+

The challenge for most businesses is figuring out where their needs land on that spectrum.

The Lifespan Factor

Here’s a perspective that often gets overlooked: a video isn’t just a one-time expense, it’s an asset with a lifespan.

Think of it like buying equipment for your business. If you spend $5,000 on a piece of machinery that lasts five years, you don’t really think of it as “$5,000 all at once.” You think of it as $1,000 per year of value.

Video works the same way.

A polished brand video that sits on your homepage for three years might cost $9,000 upfront. But over its lifespan, that’s $250 per month for one of your most powerful marketing tools — something that greets every new visitor, builds trust, and helps close sales.

Now compare that to a $1,000 “budget” video that looks dated within three months. Technically, you saved money upfront. But in reality, you’ve just spent more per month on something you’ll replace quickly, and you’ve missed out on all the business that a stronger video could have brought in.

This is why underspending on video so often backfires. You’re not just paying for the production day — you’re paying for how long that piece of content will continue working for your brand.

A Practical Scenario

Let’s make this real.

Imagine you run a family-owned business in Austin. You want a 90-second video for your website and social channels that introduces your team, shows what makes you different, and leaves viewers with a sense of trust.

• Industry averages for a project like this: $3,000 – $6,500. That includes one day of filming and a professional edit.

• Where Deliberate Media lands: typically $2,700 – $3,500 for a project in that scope, depending on editing complexity.

Now let’s extend that over time. If you use that video for two years, you’re essentially paying $112–$145 per month for an asset that works 24/7. That’s cheaper than most billboard placements, print ads, or radio spots; Unlike those, the video doesn’t vanish after 30 days.

Why Overspending Hurts Too

Of course, there’s another side to the story: overspending.

Big production houses can create breathtaking work, but if you’re a small or mid-sized business, dropping $20,000–$30,000 on a single video can be overkill. Worse, if you don’t see instant ROI, you may walk away thinking video “doesn’t work.”

The truth? It’s not that video doesn’t work, it’s that the project wasn’t aligned with your actual needs and budget.

Video should be professional, but it should also be sustainable. You want to be able to reinvest in it regularly, not drain your marketing budget once and swear it off forever.

Finding the Sweet Spot

The best approach is to think strategically:

• What type of video do you need? (Brand story, testimonial, ad, explainer?)

• How long will it remain useful?

• Where will it be used? (Website, ads, social, all of the above?)

Once you know that, you can find the investment level that makes sense. For many businesses, that means spending in the $3,000–$10,000 range — enough for a polished, professional video without straying into bloated, unsustainable budgets.

And that’s where Deliberate Media’s pricing naturally fits. A small local shoot might come in around $2,700. A multi-day brand film could run $7,500–$12,000. Both sit right within national averages, but without the hidden markups that sometimes push projects out of reach.

Final Thoughts

So, how much does professional video production cost? The real answer is: enough to make it last, but not so much that it breaks your trust in the process.

Spend too little, and you’ll end up with a video that feels like a wasted opportunity. Spend too much, and you may resent the investment. The sweet spot is where the cost aligns with your goals, your audience, and the lifespan of the piece.

In today’s marketing world, video isn’t optional. The only question is whether your video is something you’ll still be proud to show two years from now, or something you’ll want to replace in three months.