Hiring a professional video editor is a key step to scaling up your content production and extending your reach.
It can also be painfully expensive.
Countless creators and businesses spend tens of thousands a year on video editing. Many conclude that it’s just not worth it. In many cases, it isn’t.
Not because professional video editors don’t bring massive additional value to the table.
But because these creators and business owners fell for predatory pricing models designed to lose them money.
Here’s how to save money on professional video editors. Plus, a case study on a business that avoided losing over $15,000.
Key Takeaways
- Avoid “unlimited” video editing models - subscription pricing that traps you with fine print and actually restricts your content output.
- Opt for more flexible project-based pricing.
- Work with video editing companies that offer redundancies and have the capacity to edit multiple videos in parallel.
Avoid “Unlimited” Editing Subscriptions at all Costs
First off, to avoid losing money on video editing, it’s critical to give “unlimited” video editing subscriptions a wide berth. In short, avoid them like the plague that they are.
On the surface, an unlimited video editing subscription sounds good. Straightforward. Predictable. All your editing needs covered by a single monthly fee.
The trap lies in the fine print.
While these “unlimited” video editing services allow you to submit as many orders as you want every month, they only get edited one after the other.
The result? When you factor in turnaround times and revisions, this actually puts a limit on your content output.
What’s worse, it puts a straightjacket on your creative flexibility.
Say you want to batch-produce content one month and have 8 videos edited for a new series or a marketing push you’re planning. Between 48-hour turnaround times and 24-hour revisions (say you need two rounds), you’re looking at a maximum of one video edited per working week.
Or look at the inverse. You’re taking time off for a few weeks to rest and recharge and have no videos in the edit queue. You’re still paying your full subscription. And lose money. Big time.
Prioritize Flexibility and Quality
So what’s the alternative?
Project-based pricing.
Instead of shelling out a monthly fee no matter if you take advantage of all the edits you’re allowed, pay only for the projects that actually get completed.
Prioritize the flexibility to produce six videos one month and two the next. Or none at all if you need a break. Without losing money on a bank-breaking subscription you’re not using.
Plus, many video editing services that offer project-based pricing also have batch discounts. At Tasty Edits, for example, you get 15% off if you purchase the credits for 8 video edits at the same time. How you space out those edits over time is entirely up to you.
The best bit? Project-based pricing also means you can have multiple videos edited in parallel.
Planning a product launch that needs a video marketing push? Plotting a new video series for the new year or centered around a new passion?
You don’t have to wait for your subscription’s single editors to slowly go through your backlog of video editing requests one after the other. Instead, multiple editors will work on your projects at the same time for maximum efficiency.
Let’s Do the Math: Saving $15,000+!
Let’s look at a quick case study. Say you’re a creator or a business owner and want to produce 24 long-form videos per year. A decent output.
They’re not evenly spaced out, though. Your productivity varies depending on the availability of your team, vacation days, and the sales seasons.
You’re planning a big push in spring, though. Think a new marketing campaign, or a series of travel vlogs. So, 7 of these videos need to get edited in May and June.
Then, you take a break in July and hit your content creation rhythm again in August.
48-hour turnaround times. 24 hour revisions. You need two revisions per video.
Your video editing subscription costs $1,999 per month. Project-based pricing comes at $278 with a batch discount.
With subscription pricing, you end up paying $23,988 that year. And in spring, you still have to wait an extra month for all your edits to be done, one after the other.
With project-based pricing, you pay $6,672. And can move at your own pace.
The difference? $17,361 saved – and peace of mind.
The Bottom Line
The best way to save money on video editing while still getting quality deliverables is not to go for cheap freelancers on Fiverr.
It’s to opt for professional video editing services that prioritize your creative freedom and adjust their services to your schedule. Not the other way round.
Project-based video pricing gives you maximum flexibility and predictable budgeting. As we’ve seen in the case study, it can help you save tens of thousands a year.
Ready to get started? Tasty Edits offers all-round video editing services and YouTube channel management for professional creators. Check out our portfolio or start your first edit today!
FAQs
How to save money on video editors?
The best way to save money on video editing while still getting quality deliverables is not to go for bargain-basement freelancers on Fiverr. It’s to opt for professional video editing services that prioritize your creative freedom and adjust their services to your schedule.
How much does it cost to hire a video editor?
Professional video editing services offer long-form video edits for as little as $278 per video.
How to budget video editing costs?
The easiest way to budget video editing is to opt for per-project pricing. That way, you pay only for the projects that actually get done. Subscription-based pricing is often a trap, especially if your video output varies between months.
