Per-video pricing
A unit quote can be easy to understand when runtime, source complexity, graphics and versions are tightly defined. It suits discrete outputs. Extra footage or a changed concept may fall outside the unit and require a revised quote.
Monthly retainer
A retainer can suit predictable demand and ongoing style development. It must specify deliverables or capacity, review expectations and scheduling rules. The fee alone does not establish unlimited work or guaranteed turnaround.
Cost and operating trade-offs
Create quiet, typical and busy-month scenarios using actual proposals. Include overages, unused capacity and your internal coordination time. Choose the structure whose rules remain understandable when a project is delayed, unusually complex or cancelled.
Compare the actual proposals
Ask both options to quote the same representative source material and delivery list. A proposal should make the handoff and approval process clear enough to test. Record unanswered questions instead of filling them with assumptions about a provider category.
- Who owns creative direction and consolidates feedback?
- Which masters, captions and alternate versions are included?
- What happens when footage is late or the brief changes?
- How are rights, confidentiality and file handover handled?
- What availability and backup arrangements are explicitly agreed?
A decision scenario: defined units or reserved recurring work
Per-video pricing is easier to interpret when the unit is well defined: source complexity, runtime, graphics, versions and review. A retainer can fit a continuing relationship, but must explain what capacity or deliverables the recurring fee covers. The contract should make an unusual request understandable under either model.
Model a quiet, typical and busy month using actual proposals. Include overages and unused capacity where those rules exist. Do not divide a retainer by its maximum theoretical output if your team cannot supply and approve that much work. Equally, do not compare a simple per-video unit with a broader recurring service without adjusting the scope.
Choose terms that remain clear when plans change
Ask what happens to delayed recordings, extra versions and unfinished work at cancellation. A useful agreement explains those cases before a disagreement occurs. Choose the model whose rules match your workload and review process, then revisit the decision as demand changes. No billing structure alone establishes creative quality or marketing value.
Explore the existing editing portfolio
Review genuine client edits for pacing, sound design, color grading, and visual retention. Review our real project samples below:
Before you brief
Useful questions
When is per-video pricing better than a monthly retainer?
Per-video pricing is ideal for sporadic releases, quarterly company updates, or one-off product launch campaigns.
How much do you save by switching to a monthly retainer?
Monthly retainers offer 30% to 45% savings compared to per-video quotes, while providing dedicated queue priority and faster SLAs.
Are revision rounds included in per-video editing packages?
Yes. All per-video packages include two full rounds of collaborative revisions via Frame.io.
Can we upgrade from per-video to a monthly retainer at any time?
Yes. Many clients start with a single paid pilot and transition to a retainer once they experience our turnaround and edit quality.