Corporate and promo video production
Make short promo, training and social videos for local businesses, shooting on location and editing from home.
- C$3k-12k
- Side hustle
- From home
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
A small video production business making promo films, customer testimonials, training videos and social media clips. You plan, shoot on location with a compact kit, then edit at a home workstation.
Your first three steps
- Make two or three sample videos for friends, a local business or a charity and put them on a simple portfolio site
- Price a few standard packages (for example a 60-second promo) after checking what local videographers charge
- Contact 20 local businesses with a short pitch and link to your best sample
Who pays
Local businesses, real estate and trades firms, non-profits, restaurants, clinics and small organizations that need video for their website or social channels.
How it makes money
Fixed project fees (for example per finished video) or day rates for shooting and editing, plus extras like captions, extra cuts and music licensing. Monthly content packages can bring repeat income.
Skills that help
- Filming and lighting basics
- Video editing and sound
- Pitching and clear client communication
- Planning and meeting deadlines
Watch out for
- Commercial general liability and equipment insurance, check what you need for shoots in other people's premises
- Home-based business licence rules, check with your municipality
- Written contracts covering ownership, usage rights and revisions
- Music, stock footage and location permissions, make sure everything used is licensed or cleared
- Check your provincial rules and the CRA threshold for registering for GST/HST
Deep research report · Canada
Everything you need to start: corporate and promo video production
Researched with live web search for Canada: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a video production business in Canada?
Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on your camera, lighting, sound and editing setup, plus insurance. Costs vary with how much of the kit you already own.
What should I check before starting a video business from home?
Check insurance for shoots on other people's premises, home-based business licence rules with your municipality, written contracts on ownership and usage rights, licensed music and location permissions, and GST/HST registration rules for your province.
How much can a small video production business earn?
Estimates suggest monthly revenue is typically around $800 to $5,000, depending on how many projects you win and how many hours you commit. The estimates assume at least about 10 hours a week.
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