Pricing guide
What Does Short-Form Video Production Cost?
Professionally produced 15–30 second TikToks, Reels and YouTube Shorts typically cost $1,000 to $3,000 each, and monthly short-form retainers commonly run $1,500 to $5,000+ (Vidico, updated September 2026).
Published 2026 price ranges
| What you buy | Published range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Short-form video, any production level | $500–$5,000 per video | Vidico, Sep 2026 |
| Professionally produced 15–30 sec clip | $1,000–$3,000 per video | Vidico, Sep 2026 |
| Monthly social video retainer | $1,500–$5,000+ per month | Vidico, Sep 2026 |
| Basic video retainer (1 shoot day, 3–4 short clips) | $750–$2,000 per month | Vidico, 2026 |
| Clip retainer, 8–12 clips/month | $1,500–$2,500 per month | Skapo, Oct 2026 |
| Clip retainer, 20–30 clips/month | $3,000–$5,000 per month | Skapo, Oct 2026 |
These are national ranges published by video companies, not quotes. Skapo's tiers are mostly for cutting clips from existing long videos, which costs less than filming original content on location.
What moves the price
- Filming vs editing only. Turning your footage into clips costs less than sending someone to film.
- Volume. Batching several videos into one shoot day lowers the per-video cost; Vidico notes retainers bring per-video prices well below one-off pricing.
- Concept and people. A scripted skit with a recurring on-camera personality takes more planning than a quick product clip.
- Posting and growth. Some prices cover the video only; others include captions, posting, Google Business Profile updates or ad management.
- Ad spend. Always separate. It's paid to Meta, Google, TikTok or YouTube.
Per video vs monthly retainer
Per-video pricing fits a one-off: a grand opening or a sales event. If your goal is for people to recognize your business, consistency matters more than any single clip, and a monthly retainer is usually the better value.
What Garnet charges
Engagements start at $1,500 a month. What's included depends on how much filming, posting and growth work you need. We'll send a plan and a quote after looking at your current content and channels. See services and deliverables.
What you're paying for
Cheap video is easy to make and easy to scroll past. Garnet's short-form for Kramer Autoplex, built on recurring showroom personalities, inventory reveals and fast hooks, has reached 26M+ public TikTok views (September 2026). The case study breaks down the formats. Steven brings about ten years of dealership marketing to deciding what's worth filming. Want to try it yourself first? Start with how to film short-form video with a phone.
Frequently asked questions
How much does one TikTok or Reel cost to produce?
Professionally produced 15–30 second clips typically cost $1,000–$3,000 each, according to Vidico's 2026 guide. Simpler edits of footage you supply cost less.
Is ad spend included in short-form video pricing?
Usually not. Ad spend is paid directly to the platform; agency fees cover making and managing the content.
How much does Garnet charge for short-form video?
Engagements start at $1,500 a month. We quote the rest after reviewing your goals and current channels.
Sources
- Vidico, “Social Media Video Cost: Complete Guide (2026)” (updated Sep 28, 2026)
- Vidico, “Video Retainer Cost: What You'll Pay in 2026” (accessed Oct 13, 2026)
- Skapo, “How to Price Short-Form Video Services in 2026” (updated Oct 11, 2026)
- Garnet portfolio: public view counts on Kramer Autoplex TikTok (@kramerautoplex_tx) and YouTube Shorts, September 2026
Let's make your business the one people watch.
Tell us about your business. We'll review your current content and channels and send back a plan and a quote.