Motion Picture and Video Production Revenue Benchmarks
The average motion picture and video production business in the United States generates $2.0M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 16,737 motion picture and video production businesses in the U.S., employing 125,134 workers with an average profit margin of 18.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $115K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Motion Picture and Video Production Business Actually Do?
Video production companies — from small commercial shops (weddings, real estate, corporate) to major studios producing feature films and TV.
Who buys: Consumers (weddings), local businesses (marketing videos), agencies, networks and streamers.
Average Revenue
$2.0M
per year
Profit Margin
18.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$265K
per year
Total Businesses
16,737
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$356K
small business avg
Labor Cost
40.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$115K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
5.0
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Motion Picture and Video Production Charge?
Video production companies price per project, per day, or hourly.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Corporate video (3-min piece) | $3,500–25,000 |
Commercial TV spot (30-sec) | $15,000–500,000+ |
Documentary short (10 min) | $25,000–150,000 |
Day rate (crew + gear) | $3,000–15,000/day |
Wedding video | $1,500–6,000 |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete motion picture and video production business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a motion picture and video production business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the motion picture and video production industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Hosting & third-party services | $6 | $125K | Cloud infrastructure (AWS/Azure/GCP), APIs, content licensing, payment processing. |
Wages & benefits | $40 | $792K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $6 | $125K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $8 | $166K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $21 | $416K | R&D, software licenses, sales commissions, customer support tools. |
Net profit | $18 | $356K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
15.65%
openings/year
Closure Rate
14.68%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+0.97%
annual
Businesses Closed
2,110
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Motion Picture and Video Production Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
5 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a motion picture and video production business do?
- Video production companies — from small commercial shops (weddings, real estate, corporate) to major studios producing feature films and TV. Consumers (weddings), local businesses (marketing videos), agencies, networks and streamers.
- How much do motion picture and video production charge?
- Video production companies price per project, per day, or hourly. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average motion picture and video production make per year?
- The average motion picture and video production business generates $2.0M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $356K per year at a 18.0% profit margin.
- How many motion picture and video production businesses are there in the US?
- There are 16,737 motion picture and video production businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 125,134 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a motion picture and video production business?
- Startup costs for a motion picture and video production business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the motion picture and video production industry?
- The average employee in the motion picture and video production industry earns $115K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The motion picture and video production industry is relatively stable — with a net job growth rate of 1.0%. Entry and exit rates are balanced at 15.7% and 14.7% respectively.
Approximately 45% of motion picture and video production businesses survive their first 5 years. This is near the national average (~50%), with typical business risk. In 2023, 2,110 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the motion picture and video production industry earns $114,869/year. This is significantly above the national average of ~$65K, reflecting the skilled nature of this work. With 25,215 establishments employing 205,865 people, the typical business has about 8 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The motion picture and video production industry has grown 41% since 2000 (from 11,942 to 16,844 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Motion Picture and Video Production revenue with other industries: