u/Best_Researcher_7331

For creators/brands who outsource full YouTube production, what are you paying and what does "full service" mean to you?

I produce YouTube content for business/brand channels, not personal creator channels. My clients are companies using YouTube as a long-term sales and brand awareness tool (think luxury hospitality, real estate, high-end construction). The videos are evergreen commercial content, not vlogs.

My full scope: on-location shoot days, full cinematic edit, color grade, thumbnail design, title/description/SEO, and publishing. I'm essentially a one-person production company and YouTube director.

Trying to get a sense of what the market actually looks like from the buyer side.

1. If you've hired someone to produce YouTube videos at a commercial quality level (not just editing your footage), what did you pay per video?

2. Is a monthly retainer model (2 videos/mo on a 5-month commit) something that makes sense to you as a buyer, or do you prefer one-off pricing?

3. What's the difference in your mind between paying for a YouTube editor vs. paying for someone who runs the whole channel, strategy, production, SEO, thumbnails, publishing?

Genuinely trying to understand how buyers think about this, because the gap between editor-for-hire pricing and full channel director pricing is huge and I want to make sure I'm communicating value correctly.

Doing a full pricing gut check for 2026. What are people charging for video production, social content, YouTube management, and Meta ads?

I run a small digital media company doing full-service content production and social media work for clients in luxury hospitality and construction/trades. Everything I do is cinematic quality, shot on a cinema camera and drone. Trying to make sure my rates are where they should be before going into new client conversations.

Here is the full breakdown of what I offer and what I am currently charging.

Video production:

- Long-form commercial/YouTube video (on-location shoot days, full cinematic edit, color grade, thumbnail design, title/description/SEO, publishing and scheduling): $5,000 per video one-off, or $8,000/mo on a 5-month retainer for 2 videos per month

- Fully directed premium short-form reels (concept, talent/casting direction, on-location shoot, edit): $800-$1,000 per reel

- Standard short-form reels (edited from existing content bank, captions written, 6-8 per month): $2,000/mo

Social media management:

- Scheduling, publishing, community engagement, no content creation included: $750-$1,000/mo per account

Meta advertising:

- Ad creative plus full campaign management, ad spend billed directly to client: $750-$1,000/mo

- Ad creative only, client manages campaigns themselves: $500/mo

Content strategy:

- Monthly content calendar, hooks, topic ideation, posting schedule delivered as a doc: $500/mo

On-location travel production:

- Remote shoot days where client covers travel and lodging: $1,750/day

A few things I am genuinely trying to figure out.

1. For full-service YouTube video where you are handling everything from shoot to published, is $5,000 per video the right number or are people getting more for that level of service?

2. For the retainer model on YouTube (2 videos/mo, 5-month commit at $8,000/mo), does that structure make sense or do most people do per-video pricing with no commitment?

3. For clients who want a base retainer but also have big months where scope could 2-3x, do you lock overage rates into the contract upfront or handle it per project?

4. Is separating content creation from social management something clients understand easily or do you constantly have to justify it?

5. For Meta ad management, are you doing flat fee, percentage of ad spend, or a hybrid?

Would love to hear from anyone doing similar full-service work, especially if you are working with hospitality, real estate, or trades clients.

What are you charging for social media management, Meta ad management, and video content in 2026?

Trying to get a current read on what people are actually charging for social media management, paid ad management, and short-form video content, specifically for small to mid-size business clients in hospitality and construction/trades.

I keep content creation and management as separate line items and I'm curious if others are doing the same or bundling everything together.

My current pricing:

Content creation:

- Short-form social reels (pulled from existing content bank, roughly 1-2 hrs edit + caption per piece, 6-8 per month): $2,000/mo

- Fully directed premium reels (concept, casting direction, shoot, edit, full production): $800-$1,000 per reel

- Long-form commercial/YouTube video (on-location shoot, full cinematic edit, color grade, thumbnail, SEO, publishing): $5,000 per video one-off / $8,000/mo retainer for 2 videos on a 5-month commit

Management + ads:

- Social media management (scheduling, publishing, community engagement): $750-$1,000/mo per account

- Meta ad management (creative + campaign management, ad spend billed directly to client): $750-$1,000/mo

A few specific questions:

1. For the short-form reel packages, is $2,000/mo for 6-8 reels with captions in line with what you're seeing, or are you getting more/less for that volume?

2. For fully directed premium reels where you're concepting, directing talent, shooting, and editing, does $800-$1,000 per piece feel right or is that leaving money on the table?

3. For long-form YouTube/commercial video where you're handling everything start to finish, what's the market expecting to pay? Is a per-video rate or a monthly retainer easier to sell?

4. Is $750-$1,000/mo per account for pure social management (no content creation) in line with what you're seeing?

5. For Meta ads, flat monthly fee, percentage of ad spend, or a mix?

Clients range from local small businesses up to established regional and national-level companies. Content is cinematic quality, cinema camera and drone. Brand building and lead gen for hospitality and trades.

I've been running a small media company doing full video production and social content for a handful of clients — luxury hospitality and high-end trades/construction. Shifting from a single anchor client setup to properly running a multi-client agency and trying to make sure my pricing is structured right before I start having those conversations.

For context on what "full production" means in my case: I'm the director, DP, editor, colorist, and in anchor case the YouTube channel manager and strategist. Cinema camera + drone. I deliver everything from raw concept through published final product.

My current thinking:

- Long-form commercial/YouTube video: $5,000 per video (one-off), $8,000/mo retainer for 2 videos on a 5-month commit

- Monthly social content retainer (short-form reels + posts, from content bank): $2,000–$3,000/mo depending on volume

- Social management and Meta ads: $750–$1,000/mo each as add-ons

Main question: for those of you doing retainer-based work with multiple clients, what commitment length do you require? How do you handle months where a client wants to "load up" and go beyond the retainer scope — straight overage rate, or a separate agreement?

Also curious whether anyone's found that packaging YouTube channel direction with on-location production is something clients understand and pay for, or if you're always educating them on why it costs what it costs.

Been shooting commercial video for a few years now — mostly luxury hospitality and construction/trades clients. I do everything start to finish: shoot days on location (sometimes remote/travel required), full cinematic edit, color grade, music licensing, thumbnails, SEO/metadata, and publishing.

Trying to calibrate my rates heading into new client negotiations. Here's roughly what I'm working with:

- One-off long-form commercial video (shoot + full edit + delivery): I'm at $5,000 per video. Is this in the right range for someone doing the full stack with a cinema camera and drone?

- Monthly content retainer (2 long-form videos/mo, full production): thinking $8,000/mo on a 5-month commit. Does that track with what others are doing?

- Short-form social reels from existing content bank (6 mo with captions): $2,000/mo

- Fully directed premium reels (concept, casting direction, shoot, edit): $800–$1,000 per piece

Clients are in luxury hospitality and construction. Would love to hear what others in commercial/branded work are charging — especially anyone doing retainer arrangements.