Getting a video budget approved can feel like one of the hardest parts of the video production process. You know the value that video brings, but leadership often focuses only on production costs without seeing the bigger picture.
The truth is, quality video is an investment. Smart video pricing goes beyond covering expenses. It’s about proving that the right spend leads to measurable ROI and long-term business results.
In this guide, we’ll look at what goes into a video production budget, how to present it with confidence, and the best ways to show that every dollar is working toward your company’s goals.
Benefits of Video Marketing
Before you ask for a bigger budget, you need proof that video is more than just a “nice-to-have.” Decision-makers want to see numbers, and the numbers tell a clear story.
- Faster revenue growth: Forbes reported that companies using video grew revenue 49% faster than those that didn’t. While this study is older, it highlights a long-term trend that continues to shape video marketing today.
- Stronger lead generation: According to Wyzowl’s 2025 report, 93% of marketers say video helps them win new customers.
- Growing industry investment: Siege Media reports that digital video ad revenue jumped 19.2% from 2023 to 2024, making video the fastest-growing ad format at 24% of overall ad spend.
- Higher efficiency: A single video project can be repurposed for social media, email campaigns, landing pages, and internal training, multiplying ROI across channels.
- Improved conversion rates: Businesses that rely on corporate production video consistently report stronger sales pipelines and more engaged audiences compared to those relying on static content.
When you frame your video marketing strategy around these benefits, your budget request shifts from being a gamble to being a business case.
What to Include in Your Video Production Budget
A strong video production budget covers far more than just the shoot itself. To get approval, you’ll need to show every stage of the process and explain why each line item matters.
Pre-Production Costs
This is where the creative vision comes together. Plan for scriptwriting, storyboarding, and pre-production planning. If you’re working with a professional video production company, this stage makes sure the concept aligns with business goals before the cameras roll.
Production Costs
Most of the budget is spent here. Think crew members, camera operators, sound technicians, lighting, location fees, and specialized equipment. Strong production quality reflects on your brand, and cutting corners usually costs more later
Post-Production
This is where your video takes shape. Account for video editing, motion graphics, sound design, music licensing, and revisions. Post-production is also when you prepare different formats, from short clips for social media platforms to full-length versions for corporate use.
A clear and transparent breakdown of production costs builds trust with executives. It shows you’re not overspending, you’re planning for quality and ROI.
Typical Video Production Pricing Ranges
Every video production project is unique, but costs usually depend on scope, style, and level of polish.
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Note: These are typical costs seen across the industry. Actual pricing will vary based on creative requirements, length, and the overall scope of the project. Try our Video Pricing Calculator to get a clearer picture of what your project might cost.
How to Get Your Video Production Budget Approved
Bringing a budget too soon is the fastest way to get a no. You need strategy, evidence, and ROI.
Here’s how to build that case:
Show How Video Fits Into Business Goals
Executives don’t approve projects just because they look good. They approve investments that move the business forward. Position your video as a tool to generate leads, improve training, or boost retention. When the project connects directly to KPIs, it feels less like a cost and more like a growth driver.
Use a Video Production Pricing Guide
A vague statement like “this video will cost $10,000” won’t build confidence. Break down the process into clear categories: pre-production, filming, and post-production. Showing exactly what leadership is funding makes the budget easier to understand and approve.
Compare Options and Cost Efficiency
Decision-makers want to know why you chose a specific approach. Compare using an in-house team, hiring freelancers, or working with a video production company. Freelancers may charge lower day rates, but agencies bring strategy, consistency, and higher production quality. Framing your choice as the most cost-efficient path makes your proposal stronger.
Provide Examples and Benchmarks
Don’t just describe the type of video you want, show it. Share examples of corporate video production or explainer videos from trusted sources. Pair them with benchmarks, such as: “Explainer videos can improve understanding of complex products by 95%.” This helps executives visualize the outcome and see the ROI.
Include How to Repurpose Video Content
One of the strongest cases for approving a video budget is that a single project can deliver value well beyond its first use. With smart planning, you can create more videos from the same shoot and maximize impact across multiple channels.
Social Media Platforms
Clips from your main video can power social media campaigns on LinkedIn, Instagram, or TikTok. Short, targeted edits keep your brand visible and extend the life of your content. Branded social media videos lead 84% of consumers to make a purchase after watching videos.
Blog and Website Content
Adding video to blogs and landing pages can boost conversions by up to 80%. You can even repurpose your video script into a blog post and embed the video link, giving readers multiple ways to engage. This improves SEO, time on page, and inbound traffic.
Email Campaigns
Video can boost email click-through rates significantly. A short explainer video or a testimonial clip stands out in crowded inboxes and grabs attention faster than text alone.
Internal Use
Video also drives efficiency inside the company. Training content, onboarding guides, and educational videos can save staff hours of repetitive work and create consistency across teams.
Repurposing makes sure your video production costs aren’t tied to a single deliverable. Each platform and use case multiplies the return on your investment.
Back-Up Your Video Strategy With Data
Even the strongest pitch needs evidence. Executives want to see how a video project will deliver measurable results, so come prepared with benchmarks and a clear plan for tracking ROI.
- Engagement metrics: Watch time, click-through rates, and unique views show how audiences interact with your content.
- Conversion metrics: Sales, leads, or sign-ups tied directly to your video highlight bottom-line impact.
- Efficiency metrics: Compare production costs to time or resource savings, like shorter onboarding, fewer support tickets, or more streamlined training.
These cost factors shift the conversation from expenses to business impact.
Share The Cost of Not Producing a Video
When pitching a video budget, it helps to flip the perspective: what does it cost the company if you choose not to invest?
Competitors are already using corporate video production to power their marketing, recruiting, and sales. If your brand falls behind, you lose visibility in search, miss opportunities on social media, and watch potential leads go elsewhere.
Avoiding production expenses doesn’t actually save money. It shifts the cost into lost growth. Every month without fresh video content means missed sales conversations, weaker brand awareness, and fewer conversions.
Meanwhile, other production companies are helping businesses build authority and scale. The real cost is letting them capture the audience your brand should own.
Invite Executives Into the Production Process
Executives don’t need to be part of every shoot or edit, but including them at the right points in the production process can go a long way in building buy-in.
Start by sharing early ideas during pre-production planning so leadership understands the creative direction. Then, bring them back in during post-production when the video is close to final. This shows how strategy and planning translate into a polished deliverable.
When decision-makers see the effort that goes into a professional shoot, from crew members to editing and sound design, they gain a deeper appreciation for the investment. The next time you pitch a project, they’ll already trust the process.
How to Maximize Your Video Production ROI
Getting your video budget approved is a big step. But the real payoff comes once production starts. To make sure your investment delivers, you need to connect strategy, execution, and measurement.
Set Clear Goals Upfront
During pre-production, define what success means for the project. Are you creating corporate videos to build brand awareness, explainer videos to support sales, or training content to save onboarding time? Linking goals to business outcomes ensures you can measure ROI later.
Match Production Style to the Project Scope
Not every project calls for a large crew or high-end effects. Sometimes a polished explainer will outperform a cinematic ad. Matching the production style to your audience and objectives keeps costs balanced and results strong.
Track the Right Metrics
Views alone won’t prove ROI. Look at engagement, conversions, and how the video supports larger marketing campaigns. Use those insights to fine-tune your approach and allocate budget more effectively.
ROI doesn’t come from one video alone. It builds over time as each project improves the next.
Know Your Video Marketing Goals
Every successful video starts with intent. Decide early: is the goal to generate leads, train employees, or strengthen brand awareness?
For corporate video production, goals often tie to sales enablement, recruiting, or internal communication. Define your KPIs upfront, click-through rates, conversions, or training completion rates, so your marketing team knows exactly how to measure success.
Find the Right Video Length
Longer doesn’t always mean better. Online, attention spans are short, and most viewers decide within seconds if they’ll keep watching.
Keep your message focused. Short explainer videos or campaign clips work best on social media platforms, while longer educational videos or corporate overviews are better suited for employees, stakeholders, or training. The ideal length depends on your audience and where the video will be shared.
Make Videos Accessible
Accessibility should never be an afterthought. Adding captions, clear voiceovers, and strong visuals ensures your content works for everyone.
Captions matter because most videos on social feeds are watched without sound. Voiceovers help people with visual impairments follow along. Together, these simple adjustments improve production quality and expand the reach of your video.
Work With a Video Production Team to Maximize Your Budget
Getting your video production budget approved is only the beginning. To get the most from it, you need the right team supporting the project.
A professional video production company brings strategy, structure, and experience to every stage, from pre-production planning through editing and distribution. Instead of juggling freelancers or relying only on an in-house team, you gain a partner who knows how to balance creativity with ROI.
With the right crew in place, scriptwriters, camera operators, editors, and sound technicians, you avoid costly mistakes and ensure consistent quality across every deliverable.
Partnering with an experienced video production company means your investment doesn’t just deliver a video. It delivers results you can reference in your next budget conversation.
Levitate Media helped businesses across industries turn their video production budgets into real results. From corporate explainers to animated campaigns, our streamlined process makes it simple to create professional-quality videos that deliver.
Frequently Asked Questions
What factors influence video production costs?
Video production costs vary depending on scope, crew size, location, equipment, and post-production needs. For a full breakdown, see our Video Production Services Guide.
How much should I budget for a corporate video?
Corporate video budgets typically range from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on goals and complexity. A professional video production company can help scope the right investment.
Is animation cheaper than live-action video?
Not always. Animation removes location costs but can be more expensive if detailed motion graphics or 3D elements are required. Explore our 2D & 3D Animation Services for options.
Can I produce a video with an in-house team?
Yes, but results vary. While an in-house team may save on costs, working with an agency ensures higher production quality and strategic support across the full process.
How do I prove ROI on a video project?
Track conversions, leads, engagement, and savings in time or resources. Presenting these metrics makes it easier to justify your video production budget for the next project. For real-world examples of ROI in action, explore our Case Studies.
Ready to build the case for your next video project? Contact us and let’s talk about your project and map out the right video strategy for your business.
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