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Subscription vs Per-Project Video Production
Two pricing models, very different economics. Here's how to figure out which one makes sense for how your business actually uses video.
The traditional model
How per-project pricing works
You need a video. You contact an agency or freelancer, get a quote, negotiate the scope, sign off on a budget, and wait 2-6 weeks for delivery. Each video is its own procurement cycle.
Where it works
- You only produce 1-2 videos per quarter
- Each project has a distinct brief and budget
- You want a different creative partner for each piece
- No ongoing commitment required
Where it breaks down
- Costs are unpredictable and hard to budget for
- Every project requires a new procurement process
- Scope creep inflates the final bill
- Turnaround is measured in weeks, not days
- No incentive for the vendor to learn your brand deeply
The subscription model
How subscription pricing works
You pay a fixed monthly fee. That gives you a set number of video credits, access to professional editors, a centralized platform for managing projects, and a 48-hour turnaround on first cuts. No quotes, no procurement delays, no surprise invoices.
Your brand guidelines, templates, and style preferences are built into the system, so every video is on-brand without you having to re-explain it each time. And because you're paying a fixed rate, the more videos you produce, the lower your cost per video drops.
Predictable cost
Same monthly fee regardless of how many videos you ship. Budget with confidence.
48-hour turnaround
Submit footage today, get a first cut in two business days. Revisions are fast too.
Built-in brand control
Your brand kit, intro/outro, color palette, and fonts are locked into every edit automatically.
The math at scale
Per-project pricing is linear: double the videos, double the cost. Subscription pricing is flat: double the videos, same cost. The gap between the two widens with every additional video you need.
Per-project costs based on an average of $8,000 per video, which is common for mid-range agency work. Actual costs vary by scope. See Shootsta subscription pricing.
Stick with per-project if...
You produce video occasionally
If your team produces 1-2 videos per quarter and each one is a distinct project with its own scope, per-project pricing makes sense. You pay only when you need something, and the overhead of a subscription isn't worth it at that volume.
Switch to subscription if...
You need 3+ videos per month
Once video becomes a regular part of how your business communicates - social content, sales enablement, onboarding, internal comms, customer stories - a subscription is almost always cheaper and faster. The break-even point for most companies is around 3 videos per month.
Already comparing options? See how Shootsta compares to a traditional video agency or learn about the in-house vs outsourced production trade-offs.
Ready to See the Numbers for Your Team?
Tell us how many videos you need per month and we'll map out what a subscription looks like compared to your current per-project spend.