How to Start a Successful Video Production Company
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 มิ.ย. 2024
- I've put together a complete, step-by-step checklist for starting a video production company. After 15 years in this business, I noticed a huge lack of information when it comes to the business side of video production and filmmaking.
Hopefully, this checklist can help you save some time, money, and a lot of frustration in creating a successful video production company.
Video Production Company Checklist:
www.filmmakingmentor.com/star...
This video will be a 7-step process with plenty of details regarding each step.
Step 1: Exactly where to start
Step 2: Creating a company (Step by Step)
Step 3: Pick a lane (Niche down)
Step 4: Setting up your Offer / Service Offering
Step 5: Getting Clients (Marketing and sales)
Step 6: Fulfillment (creating and delivering videos)
Step 7: Scaling / Hiring
Resources I mentioned in the video: (some are affiliate links, but I've used everything personally)
My Gear Recommendation: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Logo Design: 1.envato.market/c/1318479/629...
Quickbooks: quickbooks.intuit.com
Legalzoom: www.legalzoom.com
Thanks so much for watching. Please give this video a thumbs up and subscribe to this channel for easy to follow filmmaking videos.
Learn the exact blueprint I used to go from a struggling videographer, to running a profitable video production business, in this one-hour free training.
www.filmmakingmentor.com/Vide...
Hopefully, this free checklist can help you save some time, money, and a lot of frustration in creating a successful video production company.
www.filmmakingmentor.com/starting-a-production-company-checklist
Please please please keeps this type of information coming bro! You’re my TH-cam Professor!
You got it!
Omg! Your video looks like someone you know sits with you at the same table and literally tells you how grow bigger in your life! Thank you man!
not having a mentor is a madness, I'm grateful to TH-camrs like you bro for videos like you.🙏
People like you are really important to have around and learn from, thanks for the help!
Great info, Saj! Thank you!
This was amazing, never seen a video like this. Really helps clear a path for myself, thank you! ✨
I’m so glad I found your channel this is so huge
Love what you’re doing man, come on with this course!!!
This video just gave me so much confidences. Truly thank you.
Thanks so much for this info!
This. Is. Everything. THANK YOU ❤🙏
Thanks for the content man, appreciate it.
What a great resource - thank you! 🙏
Love the Video. Thanks for the step-by-step!
Really helpful and informative checklist, Saj, you're the best, thank you!
I’m learning and taking action! Just you wait till I update you! Thank you brother!
Love your channel and amazing advice!
Very thorough. Great job Saj.
Listening to this at 3 am, getting me fired up and motivated for sure. Thanks for the upload probably the best video about this subject I’ve seen.
Just found this 2023 so Happy New Year, really great information and the spreadsheet is super helpful, thank you
You’re content is amazing!
This is the ultimate videography business startup video. Awesome. It's very similar to how I have seen other small businesses grow their company upwards in a service industry.
Your a good man! Thank you for this video 🙏🏼
I really needed this. Thanks. I use this as a guideline. I have no experience but would like to start a video production company this year. I have the basic gear I need. Now I just to figure out what niche and create a portfolio.
this is so great. i'm at the level where i've been working sets, mostly narrative, in different higher level roles. I've felt fortunate in that I've had a lot of interesting opportunities and been able to do some very cool things, but it's not sustainable. I haven't been making enough money despite these opportunities, and I've felt like I've been going in circles.
thank you for sharing this journey, it very much speaks to me.
This video is something I never expected to find today! I am your biggest fan. I will definitely check out your videos. Thanks!
Watching at 3AM. Thank you for guiding us 😊
Dig this channel! thanks for your work Saj.
Please keep it going, your my mentor
Thank you for this content and a lot of informations bro,
I'll start my new company in the few coming months.
Beautiful info. Thank you.
Thank you for the video Saj! So much great advice packed into an easy to follow roadmap. I’m just breaking past the freelancer step and excited to hear that I’m in the right path. Thank you thank you! Will be looking at your course
Glad it was helpful!
This is valuable thank u. looking g forward to the course.
this video made me subscribe.
thank you for your experience and knowledge
Great information!! Thanks so much!!!
Great info men, really helped me a lot
Thank you so much for this video, really.
Good job spot on! What helped me in the past with N3DVP was networking, I got to know a ton of people just going to networking groups such as the Chamber of Commerce.
Thank you Thank you. With this great advice, I should grow into a proper video production company by the end of this year.
Thank you very much for this video!!!
Very helpful, Thanks for sharing well organised information. 🙏
Absolutely helpful... thank you
Thanks for this video
Loved this!
Amazing content. Great job
You are a god sent thank you so much for this video!
Thanks for taking the time to go into detail about starting from the ground up. Sheesh. So much information I’m a little overwhelmed. Hi, I’m Alexa and I’m trying to escape the 9-5 and follow my passions. Would also love to be a part of a film making community where we all help and support one another, anyone interested? 😅
I watch every video you put out. Great content man
Thanks very much!
Thank you for this lesson
Really really helping and interesting video, thanks a lot for that
Great review
Yo nobody is tellin us information like this. ✌🏾 heaven sent !
Starting as a freelance is quiet difficult. This video really helped
Amazing video man!
Solid advice!
I love your video. I wish I could learn more from you. Am in the process of developing a production company.
Great Video! I am a young aspiring filmmaker and this was really helpful :)
amazing video!
Thank for this video really a lot of good informations
Thanks a lot
This information is going to change many peoples lives
I absolutely love that you are providing such amazing information into your videos, that most other people aren't offering. It seems like most people just try to convince you to "join" their "classes" and whatnot, and it makes finding really helpful information like this seem few and far between. As someone who is just starting out as a freelancer (though I am trying to turn it into a business as well) and is not sure about dropping $500-1000 just to join some "class" I really appreciate seeing all of this. Thank you for taking the time and effort to help the community! Definitely subscribing to your channel and look forward to watching several other videos.
Thank you. I certainly think paid courses have their place and TH-cam content has it's place, but I will try to keep my TH-cam content as valuable as possible and give away as much free information as I can.
@@Filmmakingmentor Oh, I totally agree with you that paid courses can be extremely beneficial. I do plan to hopefully get into some courses in the future but starting off it is nice to try to delve in and get as much information as possible before joining a course. But I do think courses will be fantastic for honing skills and becoming even better.
Lies again? Serie A Leader Sistic Official Soundtrack
Thanks for sharing
*thanks youuuu sooo much ... this is very helpful .... you're a good guy *🥰
Thank you for this checklist video, just starting my Business in this industry, I will be interested in joining your course!
Glad it was helpful! Let me know if you have any questions.
Great advice.
Thank you so much brother 🙏
Always welcome
amazing video
YOu're good with people dude... You can do anything you want. You just happen to like doing this.
You should have seen me 15 years ago. I wasn’t always good with people. Had to learn along the way
Awesome one
OMG the throwback to dreamweaver 😂. Great video!
Great video
Can I subscribe twice? This is incredibly helpful. Thank you!
This is by far the best video I’ve ever watched on TH-cam concerning business. EVER. Thank you 🙏🏾
Course sounds great might check that out but:
I need a 1 on 1
Thank you. I don’t offer any one on one, but I do personally answer questions in the Facebook group and group calls.
love it
Best business videos
Thank you for doing this! Very generous of you to share your experience and knowledge. I currently have my own small LLC videography company focusing on weddings and gained some very useful information from this! 🤟
Thank you so much, this was super valuable 😭🙌🏾🙌🏾 I've been freelancing for years and taking the plunge this year to start my own business, your videos help a ton, thanks so much for providing value first instead of putting all the information behind a paywall, as I grow my business definitely looking to get more information on your paid content, also do you provide any consulting for people trying to transition to business owners?
Hey. Thank you. I have the paid course coming out next month but I don’t offer any consulting at the moment. I might be able to in the future as I get more hands off video production
@@Filmmakingmentor ahh that's awesome, looking forward to it when you have the free time, I'll be keeping eye on your course for now
My niche was making car commercials for dealerships I started in 2020 I made great money my niche has slowed down tremendously because the car shortage. Now I'm trying to pivot and it has been difficult to land other businesses because of how niche I was in the dealership world.
Thank you for the video and recommended gear list. What audio devices do you recommend to connect the Sennheiser shotgun mic to?
Great video! Thanks for sharing this. Would love to see a more in-depth video about profitable niche's to get into?
Sure working on that video soon
And yet again I agree with you on yet another point; it's called the film business for a reason. Because it's a business and if you can't run a business if you don't have the type of mind for it if you don't have a head for business then maybe you're better off just being an employee when it comes right down to it because finding someone else to run it for you is an excellent way to get screwed out of all your heart and money or in the very least just some of it. It's your company so it's your responsibility to run it and not just the fun stuff like doing the shoots and getting out the finished product but mind you I'm a weirdo so I find the business side actually a lot of fun actually I find it just as much fun as I have doing the shoots and creating the product but most people don't and for those of you just remember it's a job it's work it's not always going to be fun for me I enjoy both sides so it's like you never have to work a day in my life because if you love what you're doing to this point that I do then you truly never do work day in your life. However if you're like the other 90% or more of people and love the creating but hate the business side you're just going to have to deal with it buckle up and get it done because it's called the film business for reason it's business. Plain simple
I write my own script and I am hoping to film in the summer
New subscriber.
You got a sub… :) thank you for sharing !
Thank you!
It sound strange, but today it is a big problem that you can do no longer make mistakes. Because this is the stuff of tomorrow. In the past, people like you have risen out of those mistakes far more than those with more help than is offered today. Therefore, assistance is not quite necessarily a good thing these days. It takes more discipline and perseverance today and not quick access to help that paves the way to success. The Past creating You as an expert, that you are right now. Thank you for the help and support, even if I really shouldn't have it. You're just making it too easy for us. I appreciate your help but maybe better don't deserve it 😁😅😆
Subcribed
Has the video about helping us pick a niche been created ? :) Thanks for the video, i just discovered your channel and it the content is great help.
So far only in my course. Working on one for TH-cam
Saj first of all what you’re putting out is outstanding and rare and we’re ever grateful for that , I got a question though, what’s the point of mailing address,if it’s none physical, doesit mean it’s nonexistent, and if so then where do you get the mails delivered , or I just missing out on something, or I just plane don’t get the point,thanks.
Two points for a mailing address. This is for people that can’t afford a physical location. A mailing address can be provided by service that provide you a physical mailbox and forwards your mail like check to your home. You can also use it in online marketing since every business needs to have an address to put online and for email marketing. Basically, it’s a way to not use your home address online or when communicating with a client
Hello Saj,
Hope you’re well. I have been looking at your videos and you have been very helpful to answer my questions. Thank you.
I am a filmmaker (25 yo). I moved to Mumbai from a comparatively small city for studies. I finished studying advertising and then cinematography just before 2020. After the lockdown I couldn’t kick start my career. I am confused if it makes sense to set up my company in Mumbai (which has all the work there + Bollywood films, but more competition)
OR should I move back to my city where there is no competition as such, but also lacks resources.
I have been stuck at this stage since almost 2 years. Really appreciate your content.
in my opinion, it is a bit easier to break in the industry in a crowded market than in a small town. Both is possible, but from my conversations, people have a better chance when there is plenty of work to go around. I know the feeling of being stuck though. I was certainly in that position at 25. I think it's too early to judge if things are working out or not. I would try different approach to things but keep at it.
@@Filmmakingmentor True. I will be on it. Thank you Saj.
I started my career by moving out of LA to the philippines. That was 1990. I had some contacts. When I moved back to LA 2 years later I at least had marketable skills. Just go where your skills can improve. Having top notch skills is a big advantage in a crowded market.
@@manilamartin1001 Amazing. Yes, thank you.
Great video. What banks you recommend for business account ?
I think any of the big four like chase or Bank of America should be ok
Hey i love your videos, so much great info!, I had what question. What if you like to do more than one type of video work and dont want to stick to one Niche? is that really such a bad thing?
It’s just harder to charge a higher rate without a specialty. But it’s very possible to do pretty well if you want more of a mix
@@Filmmakingmentor I just starting a production company last year l, so I’m still in the beginning stages and figuring everything out. It’s hard to find a niche Bc I been freelancing for like 6 years and enjoyed doing a little bit of everything lol, if push come to shove I will definitely stick to one thing. Thank you I truly appreciate your videos.
A better alternative to buying new gear and or renting out new gear the day of because they Logistics of that can get very messy very quick and that's not a good look especially for your first few jobs. The best alternative I found especially because you're probably on a budget unless you're some trust fund kid then don't worry about this because you already have money lol, but the best alternative and what I personally do is I go to well in Toronto it's called Henry's camera store it's one of the best camera stores in definitely Ontario but even most of Canada the only second to some of the camera shops in Vancouver. And the only reason why Toronto and Vancouver have by far the best camera shops is because we are definitely the two hubs of filmmaking or what people refer to as Hollywood North. I strongly suggest you go into a camera shop like that and go into their used section or maybe they call it refurbished but they're not really refurbished. This is more of a case of rich guy buys a $5,000 camera say last year maybe takes it out of the box once or twice puts it on automatic mode because he doesn't have a clue what he's doing and wants to show off to his friends that he has an expensive camera with an even more expensive lens and then it sits there and next year comes around and he doesn't want to walk around with God forbid a year old camera like anybody who's serious and to film and photography would judge you for that. The one thing we will all we being serious filmmakers videographers photographers will judge you on is using a high priced beautifully made and constructed with all the bells and whistles camera on automatic mode. That is a crime against nature! But what these in all seriousness but what these guys will do is they'll go into Henry's and they'll take their super expensive camera which is kind of like a car for a lot of things especially when you trade them into stores like this once you drive it off the lot or take it out of the store it loses a lot of its value because it's no longer new so they'll go in they'll trade it into the store and put that money as store credit towards the newest you know this year's model of a camera they still don't know how to use. So what I've done and what I've recommended to everyone and this is way before even film school is he going and you say listen I'm going to buy a bunch of stuff lighting yours basic lighting sound camera body couple lenses of lens or two two lenses at least maybe some jobs how about you give me a deal on some of the lightly used stuff you know I need to buy a whole package and I'm going to keep coming back because this is my industry show them business card I'm a director skilled to member so I show them my guild credentials for that and for us as for those of you who are in the Director's Guild of Canada Directors Guild of America make sure these stores know that because you wouldn't believe how many discounts we get just for being in the guild. I'm talking when I got the list it was Pages upon Pages even things like Zipcar cars to go or cheaper I'm talking everything even cell phone plans I'm talking everything okay so and if you work in the makeup section like if you're doing hair and makeup go into Sephora and because you're professional you'll save a bundle on anything and Sephora and frankly not just stuff you need for work I'm talking stuff just. Stuff they don't know whether it's for work or for you it doesn't even matter but anyway back to this you go in introduce yourself you know make yourself credible to them and they will give you a deal and the deals will get better you know with every time you walk in there and actually buy something and pick a store that you like go check it a lot of different stores don't just go to the first one you see though I do recommend Henry's if you're in Toronto Ontario Canada it's at the corner south east corner of Church Street and Queen Street East downtown Toronto and go in and make yourself known to these people and I'm telling you it will pay off. Same thing as if you're in film School bring your credentials with your same for me is Ryerson University film and television film and television production program show them my card boom there's another discount plus you're going to give you a discount if you're buying full package or if you're buying full package but you say listen I can't even if you can't afford to pay for the whole thing at once which a lot of us really can't boom I want to buy this this and that till you buy the camera out right then there and trying to have some extra money left so you can say but listen I want to buy the rest of this stuff but I can't afford to buy it all right now I got to wait for a few paychecks and put some money down towards the rest of the stuff and we'll put it on aside from you you know every week or two you come back in you give them a few hundred bucks and then you have your stuff but you will definitely get a good discount because you have made yourself credible by doing what I laid out for you. And let me tell you something in this industry it's like business but aside from business High Finance and film credibility like your own personal credibility follow through which I see is just an aspect of credibility like keeping your word following through on budget on time you know not wasting people's time going into a store or asking million questions for an hour or two and then why can't with those 20% don't do that because frankly all you have is business is your name and your word and your product you lose any one of those three you're fucked but if you lose all three and generally if you lose one you'll lose all three and basically you're going to need to clean up crew but just one for your career that is anyway best of luck to you all
Can you do one for export settings to social media??? IG, Facebook, etc. Whenever I post it always comes out less than expected and not sharp how it was shot
If you have zero skills at all or knowledge of the industry, I strongly suggest that you go and find another industry to create a company or your own business and because if you don't have any of the skills or knowledge whatsoever it just shows that you're barking up the wrong tree. Clearly you don't have the intuitive natural Drive an interest in love of film videography and photography and everything that goes with it or even anything whatsoever that goes with it because if you did your passion for it would not allow you to go through your life without learning at least the fundamentals if not everything you can get your hands on to teach you about this industry. You need to find an industry that you're that passionate about and then go create a company and go from there.
Great Video & important Info, I Just Started My L.L.C & set up my Business Bank account for my New Video Production Company "New Millions Films Productions". Thank You !
Thank you so much for this! I've a question, I'd love to work for bigger companies but I'm still stuck with little businesses like barber shops and so on, i'm ok with it (for now), but they ALWAYS wanna pay me under the table, how do you deal with it ? thanks in advance !
Interesting. Even when I got paid in cash, I still reported it as income on my tax returns. Once I had a legit company and a formal LLC, more people did things by the book. The best option would be to slowly getting bigger clients and dealing less with smaller business owners if you want to get to the next level. I learned that it’s really hard to change the behavior of a client. They are going to treat you the same throughout the relationship. Best bet is to slowly get other jobs and move away from clients that don’t do things the way you want them to
@@Filmmakingmentor I thought so too but wasn't sure if it was the right move, thanks a lot! 🤗
Should always good deep
Picking a niche is so freaking hard. How do I know what’s going to be profitable?
anything in the health industry is super lucrative
@@ChannelGeekyGaming I'm from a smaller town, so I guess that's just harder in general.