An accurate production quote needs more than a target running time. An interview filmed in one office and a film combining several locations, contributors and animation can have the same length but require very different work.

To plan a corporate video budget, define what needs to be filmed, what needs to be delivered and who will do each part. That gives suppliers a common brief and makes their quotes easier to compare.

Start with the decision the film should support

Identify the audience, the message and the next action you want someone to take. A customer case study needs a different approach from an internal training film or a product demonstration. Share where the video will appear, any fixed launch date and the people who need to approve it.

Then list the required outputs: the main film, shorter versions, captions, different screen shapes and any still images. Agreeing these at the start helps the production team plan the shoot and edit around the actual job.

What changes the production cost?

  • Planning and creative work. Research, scripts, interview questions, storyboards and location planning all need time. Establish what your team can supply and what the production team should develop.
  • Locations and access. Travel, permissions, setup time, working hours and restrictions at a live site affect the filming plan. Several rooms at one site can still require separate lighting and sound setups.
  • People and equipment. The number of contributors, the action being filmed and the sound and lighting requirements determine the crew and equipment. Agree the appropriate setup for the brief.
  • Post-production. Selecting footage, building the story, editing sound, colour work, animation, captions and versioning are separate tasks. Ask which are included.
  • Approvals and revisions. Define review stages, who consolidates feedback and the number of revision rounds. Changes to an approved script or structure may change the scope.
  • Rights and handover. Clarify any music or third-party material, the intended uses and whether the handover includes finished films, recorded footage or project files.

Compare scope before comparing totals

Ask each supplier to separate planning, filming, editing and optional work. Check the assumptions behind filming days, travel, deliverables, revisions and the delivery timetable. Confirm whether tax and expenses are included in the total.

A shorter list of deliverables may suit your budget better than reducing the time needed to capture the essential interviews and supporting footage. Identify the material the film cannot work without, then prioritise additional shots and versions.

Would filming-only support suit your team?

If your marketing team can edit the video, commissioning the footage separately may be useful. Your editor still needs a clear brief, usable sound, sufficient supporting shots and files that work with their editing setup.

Agree crew availability, recording format, audio, usage rights, file organisation, transfer and storage before filming. Editing, colour work, captions and finished versions should be explicitly included or excluded in the agreed scope. Our video production service covers full production and filming-only enquiries.

Use our filming checklist for marketing teams to plan the capture and handover if you intend to edit the footage yourself.

A real example of scope

For Health Connect’s healthcare launch, Studiowide delivered seven films in four weeks, combining location filming, aerial footage and animation. The job included digitally recreating facilities that were still under development. The project illustrates the scope of the work; a new brief needs its own quote.

What to send when requesting a quote

Send a short description of the audience and purpose, locations, contributors, required outputs, deadline, available assets and an indicative budget if you have one. State who will handle scripts, approvals and editing. Useful reference films can help explain the style you have in mind.

Planning a project in Liverpool or the North West? Send us your video brief. We can scope the production around the footage and finished content you need.