How much does it cost to make a training video?

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down the video production costs associated with different types of training videos (with an actual price range), explore the factors that influence pricing, and share budget-friendly tips. Plus, you’ll see real examples of training videos with costs from our team at Ninja Tropic.

Types of Training Videos

Different types of training videos come with different production requirements and costs. Here’s a breakdown of some common training video formats, along with actual examples and costs per minute for that specific project. Warning! These projects involved varying levels of our creative expertise (scriptwriting, animation, live-action filming, etc.), but I do not want to waste your time with vague info.

Talking-head videos feature a subject matter expert speaking directly to the camera. These videos are relatively simple to produce and can be cost-effective, but they can also be dry and unengaging if not done well.

The video series incorporates live action and b-roll video and leverages internal subject matter experts for branding. We have the option to leverage actors as well. Pricing ranges from $250 a minute to $500 a minute.

Animated videos use animation to tell a story or explain a concept. They can be highly engaging and effective for explaining complex topics, but they can also be expensive to produce. Please note, there are different styles of animation.

This video showcases an engaging and visually appealing approach to accessibility training using Motion Graphics and an illustrative comic book art style. The pricing of this style of corporate training video production would be around $650 per minute.

Software tutorials demonstrate how to use software or a web application. They often use screen capture footage and voiceover narration to guide the viewer through the steps. This video is about software onboarding tutorials created by Lumere for their customers.

The video showcases how Lumere uses a combination of soft corporate style motion graphics with screencast tutorials to create engaging and informative onboarding courses. Pricing on this type of corporate training video varies.

We have to determine how much animation is included, but generally speaking our software tutorials start at $250 a minute.

Interactive videos allow viewers to interact with the content, such as by clicking on hotspots to learn more about a topic or taking quizzes to test their knowledge. They are highly engaging and effective for knowledge retention. This type of online course has varying levels of pricing (depending on the style of video and the amount of interaction). Our range would be $650 to $700.

Hybrid videos combine elements of different video formats, such as host live action footage, animation, and screen capture footage. They offer a versatile and engaging way to deliver training content. This online course incorporates interactive elements, live-action video and various social media simulations paired with offline activities.

Choosing a Training Video Solution

Once you understand the different types of training videos and the factors that influence cost, the next step is to choose the right solution for your needs and budget. Here are the main options to consider:

Freelancers can be a cost-effective option for simple training videos. However, it can be difficult to find a freelancer with the right experience and expertise for your specific needs. Also, managing the project and ensuring quality control can be challenging.

If you have in-house video production capabilities, you can leverage your existing resources to create training videos. This can be a cost-effective option, but it can also put a strain on your team’s time and resources.

Hiring an agency can be a good option if you need a high-quality training video and don’t have the in-house resources to produce it yourself. Specialized agencies focus on training videos and have a deep understanding of the eLearning landscape. Generalist agencies offer a wider range of services, but they may not have as much experience with training video production.

What Should Your Video Production Budget be?

When it comes to training video production budgets, you’ll find it hard to get specific cost estimates.

And it’s not because the eLearning video production industry is coy. The thing is – there are simply too many factors to account for. In short:

• Script development costs (if you don’t have it ready)
• Pre-production and post-production issues
• Animation styles
• Choice of voice-over talent

And the list can go on.

So, you see, it’s complicated.

However, a professional eLearning solutions team can be of tremendous help if you communicate with them. Instead of spending $3000+ per minute, you can spend as little as $250-$300 per minute.

But to make this work, you need to seriously consider the factors we’ve mentioned already. Going in guns blazing into eLearning video production is going to decimate your company’s financial resources.

Ninja Tropic Pricing

Where to Hire Animators (Our 3 Favorite Platforms)

Upwork gives you a structured platform to find a freelance animator. Simply create an account and list your job. Freelancers will bid on your project on either an hourly or flat rate basis. Use Upwork to grant contracts, send work, and video chat with your freelancer in one place.

The Freelancer platform gives you multiple options to find freelancers. If working with a local freelancer is important to you, post a local job. You can also create a normal project, or even a contest to find your freelancer. If you aren’t sure where to start, check out Freelancer’s Showcase page to find the best talent.

While other platforms allow for flat rate payments, PeoplePerHour allows only hourly work. This is great if you prefer to pay by the hour instead of per project.

Freelancer Cons

When hiring an animator, freelancers are often a good way to get started with training videos and animation but they aren’t without their drawbacks.

Because you’re partnering with a single person, freelancers aren’t the best choice when working on a large or multi-phased project. Typically, if you or your training department are looking to produce more than three training videos, a freelancer isn’t a viable choice. It would take one person several months, or several years, to complete the animation project.

Spreading the work across multiple freelancers means inconsistent quality and added variables when trying to manage the project. Not all freelancers are created equal and their styles, project files, and schedules are just as unique as they are. Using more than one freelancer to speed up development actually just adds a layer of complexity to organizing the effort.

Freelancers are also specialists. That means you might be able to find an excellent animator, but they may not be skilled in scriptwriting or storyboarding and would need you to supply them with a near-complete prototype for them to begin.

Things to Consider

If you still aren’t sure whether or not a freelancer is the right choice for your animated video project, compare the following alternatives to help you decide:

The Bottom Line

A freelance eLearning animator can help add a touch of sophistication to your eLearning course. You just need to know how and where to hire freelance animators. However, they can be expensive and don’t always guarantee a quality outcome. If you’re strapped for time and funds, and need a more elegant solution, give Ninja Tropic a call. We offer all-in-one solutions that free you up to do what you do best: sharing knowledge.

Training Video Script Example (How-to)

The training video example script below follows the outline suggested above. This example script is for a company’s emergency evacuation plan for a fire. Most U.S. states require companies to create and provide training on their emergency evacuation plan.

The narrator will read everything in this script except what is in [brackets]. Remember: this is just an example script and not intended for your company to adopt as its official fire safety plan.

Example Training Script, Green Thumb Office Supply

Intro

In this video, you will learn about Green Thumb Office Supply’s emergency evacuation plan for fires.

Green Thumb Office Supply is required by law to create a detailed, written evacuation plan so all employees and customers can safely evacuate in the event of an emergency.

Because we care about the safety of our employees and our customers as much as we care about the environment, we have created this video to help you understand what to do in a fire emergency. In some parts of the U.S., our office buildings face the possibility of other emergencies related to natural disasters, such as floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes. However, fires are a threat to all offices, regardless of location. This video, therefore, is a corporate-wide training video to help you better understand our evacuation procedures. Because all Green Thumb Office Supply centers have the same layout and design, you will be able to take this understanding and training with you and safely evacuate from any of our more than 150 stores across the U.S.

In this video, you will learn about two evacuation procedures. the first, called Plan1, details the procedures if there is no visible smoke or flames and you can safely evacuate, The second, called Plan 2, details the procedures if a fire or smoke prevents you from exiting through the nearest exit and includes instructions for using a respiratory device.

[Plan 1]

All Green Thumb Office Supply centers are equipped with highly sensitive fire and smoke detectors that are regularly tested to ensure they work properly. When a smoke or fire alarm sounds and you do not see signs of flames or smoke, you should follow Plan 1. Plan 1 requires you to do the following:

Step 1: Stop what you are doing. If you are in the middle of a transaction with a customer, or in the middle of a meeting, stop these activities immediately. Put down anything that is in your hands, such as products you are stocking or items you are ringing up.

Step 2: Immediately walk to the nearest exit. Here you see a floorplan of our store’s layout. Note the front entrances, which will remain open during a fire, and the back entrances, which have doors that are to remain unlocked during normal business hours. When smoke and fire alarms sound, the emergency exit lights installed in all Green Thumb Office Supply stores will activate to help show you the safest way to safety.

If you are helping a customer, please notify them that they must immediately evacuate the building. Ask them to walk with you to the closest exit.

Step 3: Continue walking to the designated safe area, which is the northeastern corner of the Green Thumb Office Supply parking lot. As you can see, this area does not allow parking and remains unobstructed at all times.

You may notice that your two on-duty managers do not evacuate with you. This is because there are other safety procedures that management must follow to ensure that the building has been safely evacuated by all employees and customers.

Step 4: Take a headcount of all of your fellow employees. Is someone missing? You will need to relay this information to your manager when they exit the building and conduct a final headcount.

Step 5: Remain outside until the local fire or police department determines the store is safe.

[Plan 2]

If a fire or smoke prevents you from exiting through the nearest exit, then you should follow Plan 2. Plan 2 requires you to do the following:

Step 1: Stop what you are doing. If you are in the middle of a transaction with a customer, or in the middle of a meeting, stop these activities immediately. Put down anything that is in your hands, such as products you are stocking or items you are ringing up.

Step 2: Identify the areas of smoke or fire. If you can safely exit through the nearest exit, then do so. Follow all evacuation procedures from Plan 1.

If you cannot safely exit due to fire or smoke, then continue with Plan 2.

Step 3: Green Thumb Office Supply has respirators located in the front and the back of the store. Here is a map of their locations. If smoke has filled the room, then grab one of these respirators and place it over your nose and mouth as shown. Be sure to tighten the straps.

After this video, you will practice putting on a respirator so that you feel comfortable doing so in an emergency situation.

Step 4: Once you are equipped with a respirator, give them to any customers or other employees who need one. After this video, you will practice helping others put on a respirator so that you feel comfortable doing so in an emergency situation.

Step 5: If you can now safely walk through the store and to a safe exit, do so. If you cannot safely walk through the store to a safe exit because it is blocked by fire, which is a rare occurrence, then use one of Green Thumb Office Supply’s fire safety blankets. These blankets are located next to the respirators in each of the locations indicated on the map.

Step 6: Remain on the floor and under this blanket until the local fire department can locate you. Your blanket will have a light and reflector on it to help first responders locate you. Your managers will notify authorities that you are missing, and will also let them know the area of the store where you were last seen.

After this video, you will practice putting on and taking off respirators. You will also practice helping others put on a respirator. If you have any questions, you will be able to ask a manager at this time. Please make sure that you sign your training form, which states that you have received fire safety training. And remember: you can watch this video as many times as necessary. A link will be sent to your Green Thumb Office Supply email (or, if you are a GTOS vendor, a link will be sent to your email on file).

You should now know how to safely evacuate from your building. Green Thumb Office Supply thanks you for taking the safety of others seriously. A fire is a rare occurrence, but one we must all plan for.

The Bottom Line

Since video training comes in many forms (including thought leadership/advanced concepts videos, subject matter expert videos, scenario-based videos, storytelling videos, and how-tos), they provide the flexibility organizations need to create engaging content.

Yet these training videos are not just visually appealing: they are an excellent way to improve content retention and are the preferred method of instruction for audiences.

The right script makes all the difference when creating your content: make sure yours is comprehensive and well-written by hiring a professional writer or using Ninja Tropic’s resources for scriptwriting.