How much to charge for a corporate video in 2026

Corporate video is the broadest category in production pricing. A two-day startup explainer might land at $5,000; a flagship brand film for a Fortune 500 client can stretch past $250,000 for the same number of shooting days. The reason isn't just the quality difference, it's the production layer the client is paying for.

Here's how to think about corporate video pricing in 2026, with concrete tier ranges working studios actually charge.

The five tiers of corporate video

• Tier 1: Startup explainer or social cut. $3,000 to $8,000. Single-day shoot, one to two deliverables, in-house client or simple stock-graphics approach. Lean crew (1 to 2 people).
• Tier 2: SMB brand video. $8,000 to $20,000. One to two day shoot, light agency involvement, talking-head + B-roll structure, basic colour and sound design.
• Tier 3: Mid-market campaign. $20,000 to $60,000. Two to four day shoot, multiple deliverables (hero + cutdowns), agency-creative-direction, drone, multiple locations, professional colour and sound.
• Tier 4: Enterprise brand film. $60,000 to $150,000. Multi-day shoot, multiple cities, full crew (producer, DP, AC, gaffer, sound, hair/makeup), agency or in-house brand team, custom graphics and music, premium post.
• Tier 5: Premier or flagship. $150,000 to $500,000+. Multi-week shoot, celebrity talent, multi-country production, full agency involvement, broadcast-quality finishing.

What drives the spread

The same one-minute brand video can cost $5,000 or $250,000. Understanding which factors actually move the needle helps you scope quotes correctly.

• Crew size and union rules. A 3-person crew can shoot all day for $4,000 in equipment and labour. A union DP crew is $15,000 to $25,000 a day. Tier 4 and up almost always involve union or near-union day rates.
• Talent. Non-paid employees on camera: free. Hired actors: $500 to $5,000 per day plus usage rights. A name with brand recognition: $25,000 to $500,000+ depending on the name.
• Locations. Office or in-studio: minimal cost. Permitted public locations: $500 to $5,000 per location per day. Bespoke set builds: $20,000 to $200,000+.
• Music and rights. Royalty-free library: $40 to $500 per track. Custom composition: $1,000 to $10,000. Licensed commercial track: $5,000 to $250,000+ depending on artist and usage.
• Post-production depth. Basic colour and sound: included in most tiers. Full colour grade with separate colourist: $3,000 to $15,000 added. Custom motion graphics or VFX: $5,000 to $100,000+ depending on complexity.

How to scope a corporate quote

Most corporate quotes use itemised line items rather than a flat fee. The reason: the client's accounting team often needs to break the spend by category (talent, crew, equipment, post, licensing). Build your quote in this order:

1. Pre-production. Creative development, location scouting, casting, scheduling. Typically 10 to 15 percent of the total.
2. Production. Shoot days, crew, equipment, locations, talent, travel. Usually 35 to 50 percent.
3. Post-production. Edit, colour, sound, graphics, music. 30 to 40 percent.
4. Project management and producer. 5 to 10 percent. Some studios bundle this into pre-production; either is fine as long as it's billed.

The quote template shows the structure most studios use, with concrete examples for each section.

Common pricing mistakes

• Quoting too low to win the bid. Wins the project, kills the margin, sets a bad anchor for next year. Better to lose the bid than to set the wrong rate with a client you'll work with for three years.
• Flat fee on a multi-day shoot. Day-rate overruns are common (weather, talent delays, location issues). Flat fees absorb the risk; the client has no incentive to keep the day moving.
• No buffer for revisions. Corporate clients often have 4 to 6 stakeholders, each leaving feedback. Build 2 or 3 revision rounds into the quote with clear scope on what counts.
• Forgetting usage rights. Corporate clients sometimes assume "full buyout" comes free. Spell out the usage terms: 1-year vs perpetual, geo-restricted vs worldwide, broadcast vs web-only.

Where the portal helps

Corporate clients have procurement teams. A polished, branded portal where the quote, contracts, deliverables, and invoices all live makes the procurement review faster and builds trust on the first engagement. See the agencies page for how MyStdio handles multi-stakeholder corporate workflows.

Corporate video pricing is a function of the team behind it, not the camera in front of it. Quote the team, not the deliverable.