How do I know which price is fair for our video?

Q: Dear Chris, I've gotten quotes from several production companies for a sales training video that we are doing, and they are all over the place in regards to pricing. What's going on? Thanks very much for your help. Marcie

A: Hi Marcie, That's a very good question, it can be hard to decide between many different quotes.

The first thing I would do is ask lots of questions to make sure you are comparing apples to apples.

Ask the companies about the crews that they plan on sending to the shoot. Crews range from one-man-bands, to small 3 or 4 person crews, to film crews. Also, find out what type of equipment the crews are using.

Find out how they will edit the piece for you, and if they intend to incorporate motion graphics or animations to add style and polish to your video. Look at their company demo reels to determine how professional and appealing their work is.

Make sure the companies fully understand your needs and expectations regarding the scope and production values of your video, particularly if your video will be shown outside your company and will be the "face" of your organization to the public.

Above all, don't be afraid to ask lots of questions about what you're getting for your money. Different companies have different strengths, and the more you know, the better you can compare prices and quotes with confidence.