What to look for in a video quote when comparing suppliers
A quote half the price of the other usually signals a figure that does not add up; a quote around 30% higher usually signals an agency in the middle. Here are the lines to compare, one by one, before choosing.
The right instinct is not to compare two totals, but the breakdown line by line: preparation, crew, kit, post-production, margin. That structure is what lets you understand why a gap in price exists, and whether it is justified.
What should a detailed video quote contain?
A serious quote sets out at least: pre-production time (script, location scouting, casting, production), the make-up of the crew (how many people and in what roles), the kit used (camera, lighting, sound), the number of shooting days, post-production time (editing, grading, mixing) and, where relevant, the usage rights included. A quote reduced to a single line reading "video production" allows no serious comparison at all.
How do you read a large gap in price?
A quote half the price of another for an identical brief often points to a figure that was badly calculated, an underestimate of the real time involved, or a lack of rigour in declaring crew and social charges. Conversely, a quote around 30% higher usually points to a communications agency sitting between you and the production company: it takes its own margin on the studio's work, without the quality of the production necessarily changing.
How is a production company's margin worked out?
In France, a serious production company pays its crew on the basis of the audiovisual collective agreement, adds the corresponding employer contributions, then applies a margin: usually around 10% on a standard project, 15% on a heavier one, and sometimes up to 20% depending on the complexity and the risk of the shoot.
And the kit, how do you check the prices make sense?
Equipment rates (camera, lighting, sound, drone) are generally in line with standard rental prices on the market. A quote charging kit well above a standard professional rental deserves a direct question to the supplier.
A checklist before signing
- A breakdown line by line, not a single total.
- Equipment prices consistent with standard rental rates.
- More than 30% above another quote: check whether an agency sits in the middle.
- Far below the other quotes: check the employment status of the crew and what charges are actually included.