What would you charge for a video like this?

by 31 replies
39
Hey guy's,

I made this video the other day for my girlfriends pet sitting business. I wrote the script and did everything apart from the voice over.

What do you think?

Pet Sitting Lincoln | Dog Walking Lincoln Pet Checkers - YouTube
I thought about offering this video creation as a service but not sure what to charge.

What would you expect to pay for something like this?

Regards,

Ben
#main internet marketing discussion forum #charge #video
  • Back when I was doing video production and editing, I'd charge about $250 for a video like that (well done btw) if all the raw footage was provided. If there were parts I had to shoot, I'd add $50 an hour for the shoot.

    Of course, this was more than 10 years ago so not sure what current pricing is.
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  • It depends on how long you took to put this together, and what the equivalent of your time is worth.
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    • Most often I agree with your take but this is an exception. This isn't about time at all, it's about quality. This is a quality video. Whether it took 10 minutes or 200 minutes isn't relevant as the value, in the proper market, would probably range from $100 to $250+

      The OP needs to position himself where he can get top dollar. That means marketing far away from fiverr and other low rent venues as the price could just as easily range from $10 to $25.
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  • Clean, professional, and overall well done.

    Just throwing out a number, I would say $500 for something like this.

    If you go to a big business, I'm sure they would have no problem paying that much if not much more
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  • Depends on a lot of Variables, including the client sometimes, but $250-$400 is right in line I'd say.
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  • Really awesome video skills i can't actually give any random number but you should what a company that offer video creation normally charged them you can figure out how much you can charge for your business.
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  • Nicely done. Depending on the size of the client, I'd say you could charge $500 to $1000 for original content.
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  • Thanks for the input guy's.

    I might start offering it to offline clients then!
  • First, super video. I was very impressed.

    Actually $250 to $500 seems a mite low to me. You might be worth much more. As someone observed already, this is not strictly about your time (although you must cover expenses like paying the VO talent).

    Consider the *value* to the client. If your video helps them double bookings each week, then your contribution is extremely valuable. Remember, they will no doubt be using this video for years! I hope you have plans to monitor their success and gather a smashing testimonial so you can share it with future prospects!

    Of course, you should test your market. Here's an old-timer's tip: If you quote a price and the prospect says "Fine!" you know you've asked for too little.
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    • Very, very nice video! I agree with most of the statements here on pricing. Also, check around what your local competitors are offering for this quality of video service if you're going to be offering this service locally.
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  • It depends on where you are marketing it. My video designer would probably charge me under $200 for this video. However, I would have to supply the voice over.
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    • This is a nice video. I think you could do well with offline small businesses.
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  • Your video is very well done, I have had several videos created, not exactly in that format, but usually pay about $250 for every minute of video. So your video I think you could get about $350 for. If you put in some special effects could even be more.
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  • I agree with you. I was actually expanding on my statement, and my first sentence was mainly just a starting point for my response, however something came up and I had to leave this post.

    If you can do this project in 10 / 30 minutes, and find clients that will pay beyond the value of your 10 / 30 minutes, (a few hundred dollars or more perhaps) then by all means, go for it!

    However, since you mentioned Fiverr, my thoughts were along those lines where I would not spend x amount of hours or days on creating a project by myself without outside help, and pay for video images and graphics with the proper rights, etc, in order to not be able to find those clients in order to cover my time and expenses, AND on top of that, make a profit.

    So what I meant to say was: Start there first (time, expenses...) when figuring out what to charge, and then add on top of that whatever markup you wish in order to make your required profit.

    This may seem logical on the surface, but so many folks out there make the mistake of talking themselves out of the realistic time frames and hard work it takes to put certain projects together.

    I remember someone stating a while back that it only took them 2 days to finish a big project. Then I asked them if they slept at all... (There's a difference).

    Finding clients that may be willing to pay $100 - $500 for this type of video is not impossible, but yes, that does mean marketing far away from Fiverr etc...
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  • Gr8 video!!! Loved it. If I had a pet, your service looks like the one I would hire. WHo are you targeting? High paying clientele pet owners or lower end??? Website owners will figure in return on their investment. Most probably want the best for cheap. Don't we all ?!
    If you do want top dollar, I would make a quick promo (30 sec) with their name etc . They usually relate to it more and are willing to pay for it. Especially if they get a cheaper service like from fiverr, they'll always have something to compare it too.
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    • This particular business (which is my girlfriends) is really trying to aim for more affluent pet owners.

      There is quite a lot of money where we live and she wants a piece of that.

      There are also a lot of other pet sitters/dog walkers in our area but most of them have really crappy websites and they don't present themselves very well at all.

      I have taken the time to build a nice site, and write some decent copy and try to touch her audience on an emotional level and as we all know, when emotions are in the mix, price often goes out the window!
  • You would be doing yourself a huge injustice if you sell a video like that for $250. It's a really good video, charge a premium price.

    I wouldn't charge anything less than $1k for a video of that quality.

    It's always easier to lower your prices later, but it's hard to be the guy that was charging $250 last month and now he's charging $1k for the same video.
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  • Thanks for the input guy's!

    This is something that I would be doing here in the UK and $250 or £150(ish) seems a little low to me.

    By the time I've factored in costs/time etc, I'd be working for just about minimum wage as it took 2 days to complete.

    So I was thinking £500 or $800 would be a fair price to the right client.

    And Fiverr doesn't even need to be mentioned. I wouldn't waste my time!
  • I would be ready to make a video like that for $500 as a service. Well done.
  • Well made video. I would call videographers and ask how much they charge for a 2-3 min commercial style video. And i would ask for prices on numerous different niches. From realstate, plumbing, dental, and all the way down to yoga & for martial arts schools.

    The prices should varie and give you a better idea how much to charge.
  • Simply High Quality Video.

    Just 2 months ago, a professional made me a video for local TV commercial and I happily paid him £500 ($820)
    and trust me quality of your video is not less than that video.
    You should be charging in that range about $800.

    Some advices above who are advising you to consider time in calculating the price, that is wrong (professional video makers don't calculate times for pricing but value)

    I can send you my TV commercial video that I have spent £500 for, you would get idea.
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    • Yes I would love to take a look at that video as a comparison if that it ok? I have just messaged you.
  • Very nice video, very good flow and speed, perfect.

    It depends a bit what costs you have to do it in respect of shooting the video footage or buying it, same goes for images and the voiceover (not everybody buys at Fiverr).

    Based on above the video should cost somewhere between $500 to 1k.

    Wonder how you will do with finding those clients, good luck.

    G.
  • Hi Ben_Doyle,

    I have sent you link of my video. All the best
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  • I do some local television advertising and most local TV stations have a video production crew. All the ones I've dealt with charge $75 for a 1 minute commercial, as long as they don't have to put in more than an hour at your place of business shooting the video. And, that is regardless of whether or not you get them to run the ad.

    Most pricing suggestions here are well intended, even if they are wrong. It doesn't matter how long it takes you to make the video, or how much use your client will get out of it, or anything else. The ONLY thing that matters is if they want it, and if they know where to get it already, and how well they like you.

    Business owners are just like everyone else, they buy what they want, not necessarily what they need, and they buy it from people they like, regardless of the price (within reason). If I met you personally, and liked you, and you offered to make me a 1 minute commercial for $150 or less I'd give you a shot, even though I knew I could get the same or even better quality video from the local tv station for $75. However, no amount of salesmanship in the world would get me to pay more than $150, even if you were my mother.

    But, the proof is in the pudding, as they say. I'd be real interested if you'd actually sell a few video commercials to your local businesses, then let us know the sales pitch to actual sales ratio and the average price. I'd be willing to bet, you won't get anywhere near $1000 or even $500. The market just simply doesn't support those kinds of prices, at least not in Kentucky or Florida.

    One good thing to keep in mind though, is that it really doesn't matter whatsoever what me or anyone else here on the forum says. It only matters how many business owners are willing to write you a check, and for how much. That's where the true value of any product is set.
  • Good job bro, the video looks clean and professional.

    Does the video clip shoot by yourself, if it is indeed a well done job.

    I will pay $250 excluding extra shooting scene, means the customer provide shooting scene and pictures.
  • As a customer, a big concern would be the rights to use the media included in the video. Are the video clips stock media, and if so, can you pass the rights on to the customer?

    When using stock media, the cost of licensing needs to be factored into the price you charge you end customer. You don't want to get your clients into trouble concerning copyrights.

    If anyone is outsourcing video creation, you need to know where the creator is getting their media.
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  • Congratulations on a very impressive commercial. Twenty years ago, the company I used to work for as a production manager/assistant director would have charged around £15,000 for that. Sadly, no-one pays that kind of money today.

    Instead of offering a one-price fits all solution, consider tailoring the budget and the price to suit the what the client wants.

    If I were budgeting something like this I would add up everything I've actually had to spend money on - stock footage, voice-over talent etc. - then factor in a figure for my time. For writing the script, I would charge about £50. As for editing, because you're providing your own equipment and are outside London, I would estimate a fee of between £100 - £150 per day.

    Add it all up, and then multiply the result by 15% and add it to the total as a Production Fee. Add a further 10% as a contingency in case you go over budget. This can be returned to the client later if it's unspent.

    Doing it this way will give you the maximum flexibility. If, for example, a client with an offline business wants a specific shot of his premises, and you have to hire a camera crew to shoot it, you can factor that into the budget.

    As you're going after local, offline clients (notoriously stingy in my experience) you don't want to charge too much, but don't sell yourself short either. It's easier to charge a lot and offer a discount, than to do it the other way around.

    I don't know if it's still in print, but try and track down a copy of Film & Video Budgets by Michael Wiese. It's the best publication I've found on the subject.

    PM me if I can be of any assistance.

    Shaun Pearce
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    • Hi

      I am a pro video producer and I personally feel this is a very well made video. Honestly I don;t have any idea about what rates you will be able to sell this for to your offline clients, but all I can say is this is the kind of video that would actually convey the message without much fuss.

      One suggestion I would give is test various price points that seem reasonable to you and see what works for you. With creative works like these and variations in customer requirements its very difficult to have a one price fit all approach.

      Best
      HonestIM
  • This is certainly one of the better quality videos I've seen...kudos to you Ben!

    I was offering videos to small businesses and the quality wasn't nearly as good (however, I charge a lot less than most are suggesting here).

    I have actually spoken with business owners locally who would easily pay close to $1k for this type of video.

    With your skills, (and hopefully your sales and marketing skills) you should look into offering this. You'll do well!
  • You can now find people who do quality work sooo cheap! I used to produce 30 - 60 second vids. People expect way too much for what they are willing to pay.

    The clientele you solicit should be the main concern. Do some research and price what the competition (for high end clients) is pricing.

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