The honest answer is: it depends — but “it depends” doesn’t help you plan a budget. So here are the real numbers. If you are a Raleigh-Durham business weighing a corporate video, here is what production actually costs in 2026, what drives the price up or down, and how to get the most for every dollar.
Corporate video pricing, in plain numbers
Most corporate video work falls into three tiers:
- Basic ($1,500–$5,000). A straightforward talking-head interview, an internal update, or a simple single-location shoot filmed in one day with a small crew.
- Mid-range ($5,000–$20,000). A polished brand story, product demo, or recruiting video with a full crew, real scripting, and one to two shoot days. This is where most Triangle companies land.
- Premium ($20,000–$100,000+). Large-scale campaigns, broadcast commercials, multi-location shoots, professional talent, and custom animation.
Another way producers quote it is per finished minute of video. Expect roughly $1,000–$2,000 per minute for basic work, $3,000–$5,000 per minute for professional-grade production, and $5,000–$10,000+ per minute for premium pieces with animation and actors. A finished minute takes far more time to produce than people expect, which is why the number is higher than it first sounds.
What actually drives the cost
Two videos of the same length can cost wildly different amounts. Here is where the budget goes:
Crew and equipment
This is usually the largest line item. A director, cinematographer, and camera team each carry a day rate, and specialized gear — cinema cameras, lighting, audio, drones — adds up. More ambition on screen means more people and more equipment on set.
Pre-production and scripting
The planning phase — concept, script, storyboard, casting, scheduling — typically represents 15–25% of a budget. It is also the phase that most determines whether the finished video actually works. Skimping here is the most common way good money gets wasted.
Shoot days
Every additional day on set multiplies crew, gear, and location costs. This is also the single biggest opportunity to save (more on that below).
Post-production and animation
Editing, color grading, motion graphics, and sound design commonly account for 25–40% of the total. Custom animation and heavy graphics push it higher.
How to get more video for your money
You do not have to choose between “cheap” and “good.” A few smart decisions stretch a budget a long way:
- Batch your filming. Shooting three or four videos in a single production day costs dramatically less per video than booking separate days. If you know you will need content over the next year, plan it together.
- Come in with a clear goal. A tight brief — who it is for, what it should make them do — keeps the project from ballooning in revisions.
- Design for repurposing. One well-planned shoot can yield a hero corporate video, several social cutdowns, and a batch of testimonial clips. Plan the edits up front and you multiply the value of a single day on set.
What it costs in the Triangle
Raleigh-Durham, RTP, Cary, and Chapel Hill are competitive markets with a deep talent pool, which keeps quality high and pricing reasonable compared to New York or LA. At Remedy, we have produced video here since 2013 for companies like IBM, Merck, Lenovo, and Blue Cross Blue Shield — national-caliber work, produced locally. That means you get big-market craft without big-market overhead.
The best way to get a real number is to talk through your actual project. Tell us what you are trying to accomplish and we will give you an honest range — not a mystery invoice. Call (919) 473-6613 or get in touch, and see our recent work to get a feel for what is possible.
