Hourly rate for editing and motion graphics

[rawfa]

Hi guys,

What's the hourly rate in Florida to edit and create 30 to 40 second videos with motion graphics? I would receive around half an hour of footage shot by someone else and I would have to edit it, throw in some basic motion graphics, throw in some royalty free music and that's it.

 

[NorBro]

It varies...some people would do it for $200 and some people would ask for $10,000.

This business is widely inconsistent with rates.

IMO, it depends on the person's experience - communication skills - the particular clients - and how the stars in the universe have aligned at that moment. (Seriously; a simple meeting with a client that goes well could get you more $$$, or an awkward phone call could bring in less.)

Also, how badly one needs the work/finances factors in as well.

I recommend asking what you feel comfortable with based on your own situation.

 

[firehawk]

I've been waiting for others to answer.
I'm not in Florida but here the two biggest companies charge $200/hr for post.
I try to charge $150/hr or $800/day but I often adjust it based on various factors.
As NorBro said, rates are all over the place. Some people will take on a whole project for $100 these days.

People often won't tell you what their budget is so sometimes I will just open the can and get some realistic #s out there. I'll estimate how long I think it should take, calculate my rates and then tell them the cost based on the scope of the plan. If I think it will take 3 hrs I will use that for the math but wont' tell them 3 hrs because then it sounds really high per hour.
I might do $150 x 3 = $450. So I would tell them $450 and I'll have it done in 2 days etc... Depending on other workload.

 

[Publimix]

I publish the freelance-rate guide every year (in the Netherlands). And I can tell you: Don't charge per hour, charge per job.

And make sure your rate isn't much lower than the rates of the bigger companies, unless they have better equipment, or do the job better. So, ask an hour rate that is a bit less as the big companies ask 180-175 dollar

Don't talk about money, talk about their wishes, how do they want the job done etc.

good luck

 

[jcs]

Rate is proportional to value: quality of the work with the client's ability to pay factored in. Larger corporate clients can afford and pay more, smaller clients pay less (exception: multi-millionaire and billionaire clients). These comments are reasonable: https://www.quora.com/What-is-price-of-1-minute-motion-graphics-video-in-USD

Focusing on the cost per finished minute is a common approach and makes good business sense. You could be super talented and bust something out amazing in little time, charging a lot more (effectively per hour), vs. someone with less talent who spends all day to create something average. Thus, if you focus on the value of the work product, even if you are currently closer to average, as you get better, you'll work faster and make more money per hour. The client cares about the quality of the end product, not how hard it was for you to create or how many hours it took. My highest paying gigs have always been the easiest / least time / lowest effort projects which provided great value for the clients (after many years of working very, very hard and learning the trade).

 

[Josh Bass]

I’d say even if you charge a project rate youre doing based on a (perhaps secret) hourly rate and estimating the number of hours. I will say that I am waaaaaaay lower than the rates people have named here BUT I also dont edit regularly and am working a simple 2017 Imac system.