Video production proposal template

The six sections that matter

1. The project. Two or three sentences in plain English about what you're making and why it matters to their business. This is the most-read paragraph in the document — write it like a person, not a brochure.

2. What's included. Pre-production, production, post — spelled out. The magic phrase is what's not included, stated kindly: "two rounds of revisions included; additional rounds billed at $X." Every scope dispute you'll ever have is a sentence you didn't write here.

3. Investment. A table, not a paragraph. Line items with quantities beat a single mystery number — clients trust what they can see the shape of. If you offer options (drone, cutdowns, rush delivery), list them as optional add-ons with their own prices; add-ons routinely lift project value 15–20% because saying "yes, add it" is easier than negotiating.

4. Payment schedule. When money moves: typically 50% on signing to hold dates, balance on approval before file delivery. Say whether the upfront payment is refundable. (Many studios prefer calling it a retainer rather than a deposit precisely because "deposit" sounds refundable.)

5. Timeline. Signing → pre-production → shoot → first cut → revisions → delivery, with realistic durations. "First cut within 10 business days of wrap" sets expectations that protect your editor's weekend.

6. Acceptance. A signature line — or better, an e-signature link, because a proposal a client can sign on their phone at 9 PM closes faster than one that needs printing.

Send it fast

Proposals sent within 24 hours of the call close at dramatically higher rates. The template exists so speed doesn't cost you polish — keep your rates and standard sections filled in, and customize only sections 1 and 3 per client.