Most Firms Underestimate What “In-House Video” Really Costs

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When a firm decides they want consistent video, the first instinct is often: Let’s hire an in-house video person. On paper, it sounds simple. In reality, it’s expensive, complex, and rarely cost-efficient, especially for law firms that don’t need 40 hours of editing every week.

The true cost includes:

• Salary
  
  
• Benefits
  
  
• Taxes
  
  
• Equipment
  
  
• Software subscriptions
  
  
• Training
  
  
• Management time
  
  
• Creative oversight
  
  
• Paid downtime between projects
  
  

Suddenly, a $60–$80k hire becomes a $100k+ annual investment.

Law firms often don’t realize this until after the hire has been made, by then, replacing or restructuring becomes difficult. For context on alternative approaches to scaling content, see “The Biggest Video Marketing Pain Points Law Firms Face, and Why Professionally Edited Video Solves Them.”

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Freelancers Sound Cheaper, But Come with Hidden Risks

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Some firms try freelancers instead. But freelancers vary wildly in:

• Quality
  
  
• Deadlines
  
  
• Availability
  
  
• Reliability
  
  
• Brand consistency
  
  
• Long-term commitment
  
  

You might get a great first project… and then wait 3 weeks for revisions because the freelancer is juggling ten other clients. Or worse, the freelancer vanishes mid-project. This unpredictability doesn’t work for law firms who need consistent, professional output.

In contrast, a dedicated video agency provides stability, predictable delivery, and a multi-person team ensuring your work doesn’t stop when one person is unavailable.

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Partnering with a Video Agency Is More Cost-Effective Than Hiring In-House

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Video agencies give law firms access to:

• A team of editors
  
  
• Creative direction
  
  
• Strategy support
  
  
• Consistent quality
  
  
• Fast turnaround
  
  
• Predictable pricing
  
  

And all without payroll, training, management, or software overhead.

This is why professionally edited video from an agency creates more value per dollar spent, not just better videos, but better workflow and better long-term results. If you want high-quality editing without the financial and logistical burden of hiring in-house, schedule a call with us.