How do you choose a video production company?
By Nancy Reda
Published 2026-10-04 · Updated 2026-10-04
What should a good video production company do for you?
A video production company plans, films and edits video. The good ones also think about where the video will run and what it must achieve.
In Arabic search, people often look for "شركة انتاج فيديو". The name matters less than the fit. A studio great at TV commercials may be weak at fast TikTok ads, and the reverse.
Start by writing down three things before you call anyone:
- The goal: awareness, sales, app installs, hiring, or investor trust.
- The platforms: TikTok, Reels, YouTube, TV, outdoor screens, website.
- The deliverables: one hero film, plus how many short cutdowns? A cutdown is a shorter edit made from the same footage.
The checklist: how to compare companies
| What to check | Good sign | |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio fit | Work in your format and category | Vertical ads, real brands, similar budget |
| Strategy | Do they ask about goals and audience? | They push back on a weak brief |
| Team | Who directs, shoots and edits | You meet the director, not only sales |
| Process | Steps from script to final delivery | Written timeline with approval points |
| Performance thinking | Hooks, cutdowns, A/B versions | They plan many edits from one shoot |
| Local know how | Permits, casting, dialect, locations | They have shot in your country before |
| Rights and files | Who owns raw footage and music | Stated clearly in the contract |
| Results | Proof beyond views | Sales, leads, cost per result, or brand lift |
A showreel is the best 60 seconds of many projects. It hides the average. Ask for full videos instead.
- Ask for three full projects similar to yours, not the showreel.
- Watch on your phone, sound off, then sound on. That is how your audience will watch.
- Check the first 3 seconds. Would you stop scrolling?
- Look at the people on screen. Do they feel natural, or stiff and scripted?
- Ask what the video achieved and what the brief was.
- Ask which parts were their work. Some studios show work where they only did editing.
Which questions should you ask before you sign?
- What experience do you have in our industry?
- Walk us through your process from brief to delivery.
- Who will be on set, and who is the director?
- How many revision rounds are included?
- How many versions and cutdowns will we get from one shoot?
- Who handles permits, casting and location booking?
- Is the music licensed for paid ads, in which countries, and for how long?
- Do we get the raw footage and project files?
- What happens if the shoot day is cancelled or extended?
Capterra's buyer guide adds two useful ones: who handles distribution, and how involved your team will be in approvals.
What should a video production quote include?
A clear quote protects both sides. According to Rentman, a production software company, a full quote covers pre production, the shoot, post production, deliverables, talent, crew, equipment and locations. We add music, permits and rights.
- Pre production: concept, script, storyboard, casting, location scouting.
- Shoot: number of days, hours per day, crew list, equipment.
- Talent: actors or creators, plus their usage rights.
- Locations and permits.
- Post production: editing, colour, sound, motion graphics, subtitles.
- Music licensing: where and how long it can be used.
- Deliverables: exact list of videos, lengths and sizes (9:16, 1:1, 16:9).
- Revisions, payment terms, and cancellation terms.
Red flags to avoid
- A single price with no breakdown.
- No questions about your audience or goal.
- Only horizontal TV style work, when you need TikTok and Reels ads.
- Vague answers on music rights. Unlicensed music can get ads rejected or muted.
- No mention of permits for public locations.
- They will not share raw footage, even for a fee.
- Unlimited revisions promised. This usually means no clear process.
In house team, freelancer, or agency?
You do not always need an outside company. In Wyzowl's 2026 survey, 59% of video marketers create video in house, 10% use only external vendors, and 32% mix both.
| Best for | Watch out for | |
|---|---|---|
| In house team | Daily social content, fast reactions | Limited gear, ideas can get repetitive |
| Freelancer | Small, clear jobs | Hard to scale; you manage everything |
| Production house | Big brand films and TVCs | May not think about ad performance |
| Agency with production | Ads tied to media buying and results | Check they have real crews, not only outsourcing |
Location rules differ. In Egypt, public space shoots need security clearance from the Ministry of Interior, and historic sites need separate approval (Al Zayat law firm). In Dubai, the Dubai Film and TV Commission issues permits, and ads for TV and online need one (Filming Portal UAE). A good partner handles this for you.
How we approach production at OneKind
We plan every shoot around how the video will be used in media, not only how it looks.
- Start from the business goal and the doubt we must remove.
- Write a shot list that covers the hero film and all cutdowns at once.
- Shoot vertical first when the main use is social ads.
- Edit many hooks and lengths, then test them in paid media.
- Report back on what worked, so the next shoot is smarter.
For a leading Egyptian fintech app, our performance team led the creative. We ran more than 200 creative tests before scaling and produced 25 need based video cutdowns, each speaking to one user need.
Read the fintech app case study
Sources
Wyzowl: Video Marketing Statistics 2026
Rentman: 8 things to include in a video production quote
Capterra: Questions to ask a video production company
Al Zayat law firm: Film shooting permits and public space rules in Egypt
FAQ
What questions should I ask a video production company?
Ask about experience in your industry, their process, who directs, how many revisions and cutdowns are included, music rights, and who owns the raw footage.
How long does a video production project take?
A simple social video can take one to two weeks. A brand film or TVC with casting, permits and locations often takes four to eight weeks from brief to final delivery.
Should I hire a freelancer or a video production company?
A freelancer is fine for small, clear jobs. For campaigns with several deliverables, talent, permits and paid ads, a company or agency with a full crew reduces risk.
Who owns the footage after the shoot?
It depends on the contract. Agree in writing who owns the final videos, the raw footage and the project files before you pay a deposit.
Do I need a filming permit for a commercial in Egypt or Dubai?
Usually yes for public locations. In Egypt, security clearance comes from the Ministry of Interior. In Dubai, the Dubai Film and TV Commission issues permits for ads.
Want a production partner that thinks about results, not just looks? Let us plan your next shoot. Explore content production