Documentary and branded film company

Charities, brands, museums, universities, public bodies, streaming and broadcast commissioners, and sometimes funders or crowdfunding backers.

Production fees and budgets agreed per project, sometimes with a producer fee built in. Further income can come from licensing or selling the finished film.

• Producing and budgeting
• Directing, shooting or editing
• Pitching and relationship building
• Managing freelancers and deadlines

• Public liability insurance, plus production insurance for shoots and employer's liability if you hire staff
• Contracts with crew and contributors, including release forms and clear ownership of rights
• Cash flow, as payment can come late or in stages, so agree deposits upfront
• Clearances for music, archive footage and locations
• Safeguarding and risk assessments when filming vulnerable people or in hazardous places
• Limited work at first, so income can be uneven in the early months

Startup costs are typically around £3,000 to £15,000, depending on your equipment, insurance and how much you hire in. Treat these as estimates rather than quotes. Cash flow matters, as payment can come late or in stages, so agree deposits upfront.

Monthly revenue is typically around £1,000 to £5,000, depending on the commissions you win and how many shoots you run. These are estimates, and income can be uneven in the early months because work is limited at first.

Check you have public liability insurance, plus production insurance for shoots and employer's liability if you hire staff. Also check contracts with crew and contributors, release forms, rights ownership, music and location clearances, and risk assessments when filming vulnerable people.