How much does it cost to have reels made for your business?
It depends mostly on whether someone only edits your clips or also films them. Editing-only reels typically cost roughly €30–150 each, while filmed and edited reels usually run €150–600 each in the UK, the Netherlands and Germany, and less in Bulgaria. Packs from one shoot and monthly plans bring the price per reel down. I charge €120 for one filmed and edited reel.
Editing-only or filmed and edited: why the prices are so far apart
The biggest price gap in reels has little to do with quality. It comes down to whether someone turns up with a camera. An editing-only service takes the clips you've shot on your phone and turns them into a finished reel: cutting, pacing, on-screen captions, music and a cover frame. A filmed and edited reel adds planning, travel, setting up light and sound, directing you and your team, and shooting enough footage to edit from.
That second part is where the hours go. Even a short shoot for a single reel takes most of a morning once you count travel and set-up, so nobody can price one filmed reel like an edit of footage you supply.
Editing-only makes sense if you're comfortable filming, have decent light and simply hate the edit. Filmed and edited makes sense when the footage itself is the problem: shaky, dark, badly framed or always the same three angles.
What do reels cost on the market?
These are rounded ranges from what I see across Europe. They vary a lot by city, experience and what's included, so treat them as a guide rather than a rate card. UK prices are usually quoted in pounds, at similar levels.
- Editing-only, your footage: roughly €30–150 per reel. Simple cuts with captions sit at the bottom; motion graphics and heavy sound work sit at the top.
- One filmed and edited reel in the UK, the Netherlands or Germany: typically €150–600, because a call-out for a single reel carries most of the cost of a half-day shoot.
- Packs of four to eight reels from one shoot: often €500–2,000 in Western Europe.
- Monthly retainers that include filming: commonly €600–2,500 a month in the UK, the Netherlands and Germany.
- Bulgaria: noticeably lower across the board, with monthly plans often in the €300–1,000 range.
What should the price include?
Two quotes of €300 can describe very different jobs. Before you compare them, check whether each of these is in the price:
- Filming time: how long they'll be on site, and whether one visit covers several reels.
- Planning: hooks, shot ideas and a rough script, or are you expected to arrive with the ideas?
- The edit: pacing, colour and sound clean-up, not just trimming clips together.
- Captions: burned-in subtitles for people watching on mute, and whether the written post caption is included too. They're two different jobs.
- Music: tracks a business account is actually allowed to use, which rules out most trending songs.
- Changes: how many rounds of edits are included before extra charges start.
- Formats: 9:16 for Instagram, TikTok and YouTube Shorts, plus a cover image, and a square or widescreen version if you'll use the clip in ads or on your website.
Why several reels from one shoot cost less each
The expensive part of a filmed reel is getting the right people in the right place with the kit set up. Once that's done, filming a second, third and fourth idea adds far less time than the first. The editing still scales per reel, but the fixed costs are shared.
That's why my prices step down. One filmed and edited reel up to 60 seconds is €120. A pack of four from one shoot is €380, which works out at €95 each. Each extra reel from the same shoot is €60, so six reels from one visit come to €500, or about €83 a reel.
To make a batch shoot work, bring ideas that don't all look the same: a how-it's-made, a quick tip, a common customer question answered, a behind-the-scenes moment, a before and after. I go through how to plan that in turning one shoot into a month of content.
Monthly content or a one-off pack?
A one-off pack suits you if you're trying reels for the first time, launching something specific or promoting a busy season. You pay once and see what works before committing to anything.
A monthly plan suits businesses that already know reels bring enquiries and want a steady supply without thinking about it. Consistency matters more than volume: four good reels a month, posted weekly, usually do more than a burst of ten followed by silence. If you're unsure how often to post, read how many reels a business should post each week.
My monthly content plan is €480 a month for four reels and ten photos. If you also want someone to post, write captions and look after the accounts, that's social media management, from €350 a month. Both are explained on the reels page.
One honest caveat: a retainer only pays off if you post what you receive. If last month's reels are still sitting in a folder, pause the plan and use a pack instead.
How to get more from every euro
A few habits make a reels budget go noticeably further, whoever you hire:
- Book a pack rather than a single reel unless you genuinely need just one.
- Plan the first two or three seconds of each reel before filming. The hook decides whether anyone sees the rest.
- Mix seasonal ideas with evergreen ones. A Christmas menu reel dates in weeks; a clear explanation of your service works for a year.
- Post the same reel on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube Shorts rather than paying for three versions.
- Collect all your feedback into one message so the included changes cover everything.
Questions people also ask
Can I send my own phone footage to be edited?
Yes, and it's the cheapest route. Film in daylight, hold the phone vertically, record a few seconds before and after each action, and send the original files rather than clips compressed through a messaging app. Clean sound matters more than people expect, so film away from traffic and loud music.
Do I own the reels once I've paid for them?
You should be able to use them on all your own channels, but check the agreement before running them as paid ads. Music cleared for organic posts isn't always cleared for advertising. Raw footage is usually a separate request, so ask upfront if you want it.
Are reels worth paying for with a small following?
Often, yes. Reels are shown to people who don't follow you yet, so a small account can still reach local customers. Give it two or three months of regular posting with clear hooks and a clear offer before judging the results.
Want reels without the hassle?
One reel is €120, four from one shoot €380. Filmed, edited and captioned, ready to post.