In-House vs. Hiring a Video Production Company: Pros, Cons, and Cost Comparison

Today’s online world is a multifaceted and varied place, except for one area where you’ll find video content – it seems to be everywhere. Whether it’s brand storytelling, sharing your employees’ personal experiences, or product promotion, video is the most powerful type of content you can use to engage your visitors. However, when organizations choose to incorporate videos into their marketing and sales strategies, one question stands out most: should they go for an in-house video production team or hire a professional video production company?

This battle — In-house video team vs. video production company — is central to the vast majority of companies’ marketing plans. They each have their respective merits, challenges, and costs. Understanding the importance of an in-house video team vs a production company can help you make a smart choice that aligns with your business model, resources, and vision for future success.

In this post, we’ll look at the pros and cons of each, compare costs and quality (and a whole lot more), and help you decide if In-house video team vs. video production company is the way forward for your brand.

What Does In-House Video Production Involve?

When you’re trying to do it in-house, that means building a video team within your company to handle all of your video work. It’s not one person with a camera; it’s the real deal.

The staff for their own team would normally include:

• A producer in charge of scheduling and planning.
• A director in charge of the artistic vision.
• A camera operator is capturing the footage.
• Cut and polish (the video) editor.
• A motion graphics artist who adds moving images to the narration.

These are full-time dedicated employees working only for your company. Which is to say they’re available all the time to help jump into a new project focused solely on your brand.

The single biggest advantage is that the team you’ve already got knows your business inside and out. They get your value system, your products and your audience. This makes creating content with an authentic and on-brand feel that much easier.

For instance, if your company consistently runs social media campaigns, you can have a quick video filmed and edited by an in-house team and make it available immediately. You won’t have to walk a new external agency through your brand voice repeatedly.

What Does Hiring a Video Production Company Mean?

If you are hiring a video production company, it means outsourcing your video work to someone outside of your business. You describe what you want, and they do the rest. This is what we refer to as outsourcing video production.

The agency will bring its own team, equipment, and expertise. They can work with you on a project-by-project basis, or you can hire them on retainer if video content is something you need regularly.

When you select a production company, what you are really buying is their experience, creativity and technical gear. They typically have access to pro-quality cameras, lighting, audio gear and editing software. They also offer a degree of expertise — such as drone videography, 3D animation, or cinematic storytelling — that can be tough to develop in-house.

For instance, if you want a TV commercial with cinematic special effects, hiring a production company means you have access to a team that does that all day long. This is one of the benefits of the debate regarding in-house video production vs. outsourcing.

In-House Video Production: Pros and Cons

Let’s review the pros and cons of in-house video production so you can determine if it’s a suitable option for your business.

Pros

• Continuous Accessibility: Your staff is never gone. This is particularly useful for fast projects or last-minute tasks. It is attractive for fast-moving businesses due to the ease of access, particularly in the context of video production versus outsourcing.
• Deep Brand Knowledge: Your team already knows your brand’s mission, values and goals. This has the potential to make them exceptionally skilled at crafting authentic content that aligns with your brand’s voice.
• Cushioning and Control: You’re in creative control from start to finish. If you want to change something mid-project, you can do it on the spot — no need to wait for agency approval.
• Continuity: Your in-house team can maintain the same look and feel (and tone and style) across all your videos. This uniformity reinforces your brand’s identity.

Cons

• High upfront costs: Hiring staff and purchasing equipment to run an operation can be expensive. Cameras, lights, editing equipment and a studio space can all run tens of thousands of dollars.
• Lack of Skill Set: Your team may not possess all the necessary skills. For a specialised project — a 3D animation or high-end commercial, for example — you might still need outside help.
• Support and training: Technology evolves. You will have to continue updating equipment and providing your team with regular training.
• Overhead Costs: Salaries, benefits, and office space for a video team can become a long-term financial obligation.

Hiring a Video Production Company: Pros and Cons

So here are some of the pros and cons of working outside a professional agency to create videos.

Pros

• Top Talent & Gear Access: Agencies spend thousands of dollars on both staff and gear. You have access to skilled people and high-end equipment, but you’re not buying it.
• Costs by Project: Pay only for what you use. That can be a lot more cost-effective than hiring an in-house team if you produce only a few videos a year.
• Fresh Eyes: Freelancers often bring a new perspective to things. They often identify where the potential for opportunities lies within your organisation when that might not be obvious to your internal team.
• No Overhead: You never need to worry about salary, benefits or gear upkeep. That burden remains on the agency.
• Scaling: Agencies can scale up resources for a large campaign or scale back for smaller projects as needed.

Cons

• Less control: You exert less control over day-to-day production. If you are comfortable with that degree of autonomy, you know, and feel like your ideas can be carried out without a lot of oversight — let an agency take care of things for you.
• Potential for Miscommunication: The agency doesn’t operate within the world of your brand, so you will spend time explaining your goals and identity.
• Greater Per-Project Costs: A single video from a production company can run you thousands of dollars that may sound steep compared to internal production, especially if you only need a few videos.
• Conflicts of Scheduling: Agencies often juggle multiple clients. If they’re overextended, your project may not always be the highest priority.

In-House vs. Hiring a Video Production Company: Cost Comparison

In the debate between in-house video production and professional video production, cost is often the primary consideration.

In-House

The upfront investment is high. Equipment bills can exceed around $50,000. Throw in salaries, and you’re looking at $150,000 to $250,000 a year for even a small team.

This option makes sense if:

• You produce a large number of videos (50–100+ per year).
• You need more frequent communications, such as product demos, training materials, or snippets of content for social media.

In such cases, the cost of each video will be very low over time.

Hiring a Production Company

Cost varies widely depending on the project. For example:

• An easy 2-minute explainer video: $5,000-$10,000
• A professional commercial: $20,000–$50,000
• An elaborate animation or cinematic commercial: $50,000+

If you need 5–10 videos a year, hiring a company probably makes more financial sense than the cost of keeping a team.

The key is to look at total annual spending. A single or double video a year company will save boatloads by outsourcing, while a content-heavy brand may save if they bring it in-house.

Other Factors to Consider in the In-House vs. Agency Debate

Price and control are not the only factors to consider. Here are a few additional things to think about:

• Speed: In-house teams can typically respond more quickly to urgent needs and last-minute changes because they are already part of the company and 100% devoted to its priorities. Meanwhile, agencies often have to plan projects and may experience longer turnarounds, particularly in busy times of the year.
• Quality: Video production companies will almost always offer higher quality due to their use of better technology, a skilled crew, and more experience. Their reel-ready work can help your brand gain a competitive edge. In-house doesn’t have to be bad, but they often lack the same level of expertise or tools.
• Scalability: Agencies are better equipped to handle large and unexpected projects. They can supplement with additional crew, resources or technology as they wish, which smaller in-house teams may find more difficult.
• Culture Fit: Your in-house team likely has a better understanding of your company’s culture, tone and objectives. However, agencies offer a different perspective, creative input from the outside, and new viewpoints that help your brand messaging remain fresh.

The Verdict: In-House Video Production vs Professional Video Production

Which is right for you? That depends, of course, on your circumstances, your budget and whether you’re looking for a short-term or long-term relationship.

Choose in-house video production if:

• You must be making a fair share of videos consistently.
• You’ve got your equipment, salaries and training paid for.
• You want control and fast turnarounds.

Opt for hiring a video production company if:

• You need a small number of really good videos each year.
• Your budget will be better suited for project spending.
• You’re in need of professional-grade expertise and gear without the overhead.

For most SMBs, it makes more sense to outsource video production. It delivers affordable and professional results, with a lower probability of operational hassle. Larger companies with substantial video needs may derive more value from constructing such a thing in-house.

Ultimately, the decision isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some companies adopt an in-house and hybrid model, maintaining a small team of employee content workers who can quickly execute projects while outsourcing larger campaigns to agencies.

Conclusion

I hate to break it to you, but the question of In-House vs. Hiring a Video Production Company is not ‘one size fits all. However, whether you should use an in-house video team or a video production company ultimately depends on your end goals, budget, and the type of content you’re looking for. If your priority is control and regular video output, an in-house team might serve you better. If you’re looking for a high-polished, creative, and professional-looking solution with no ongoing costs, consider an agency instead.

Ultimately, businesses should weigh the pros and cons of in-house video production versus professional video production before making a decision. For many companies, a mix of the two — in-house for day-to-day updates and agencies for larger campaigns — works best.

At Team Unity Media, we are experts in creating professional video content that brings brands to life in a compelling way. Our experienced crew and top-of-the-line equipment make us your one-stop shop for high-end video production! If you are considering In-House vs. Agency or seeking a video production partner, Team Unity Media will provide you with results that reflect your vision.

Faqs –

• Is In-house video production cheaper?

Not always. Creating a lot of videos can bring down the cost per video, but the upfront expense on cameras, lighting, editing software and studio set-up can be very expensive. Salaries, education and employee benefits for an in-house video team come with additional costs. For companies that create only a handful of videos annually, hiring outside help is likely the more cost-effective option.

• How much does a video production company charge per video?

The range for hiring a video production company can be huge. A cinematic 30-second advertisement featuring actors, multiple shooting locations and special effects could set you back tens of thousands. This distinction in price plays a significant role when businesses compare in-house video production with outsourcing to an agency.

• What are the skills required for an in-house video team?

An in-house video team requires a broad range of skills to create professional-looking content. Key skills include storyboarding, scriptwriting, filming, lighting, sound design, video editing, and motion graphics. Possessing some degree of marketing and branding know-how is also helpful. Because we’ve specialised in these fields, our work is reliable and seamless, allowing your videos to portray your brand as you wish with high-quality production.

• How long does it actually take to create a video with a production company?

It all depends on the project’s size. You can expect a simple video to be completed in 2-4 weeks with basic editing and minimal shooting, but a more complex production with fully scripted scenes, multiple locations, actors, and advanced editing would take months. Typically, production companies work with clients to define realistic timelines during the planning phase, thereby managing expectations.

• How is outsourcing video production better for brand consistency?

In general, you’ll have better brand consistency when you outsource production because companies like ours spend full-time learning your brand guidelines. They ensure that tone and visuals align with your brand’s overall identity. Because agencies have creative teams, they can consistently produce high-quality results across a variety of video types. It may be more difficult for small in-house teams to maintain this level of expertise.