How to start a video-editing business ?

mitteg wrote on 12/27/2002, 9:57 AM

I'm about to undertake a business in Spain: mostly video editing services, media conversion, photo montages, post-production work and so on. I think that I have the right tools and enough knowledge to do it, but I'm not sure how to begin. It will be very helpful if someone who has a similiar business can give me a piece of advice.

I have a few questions, would you mind answering them please ?

--> First of all, how did you set up the business ? Did you begin doing the web page? What else did you do, what steps did you follow ?

--> I imagine that publicity is essencial, how do you advertise ? How do the people know what you can do for them ? What kind of clients mostly request your services ?

--> And what about the legal side ? What kind of paperwork did you have to do ?

--> And finally, what kind of advice can you give me ? Any tips, tricks...? What do I have to be aware of ?

I'm looking forward to hearing from you soon !

Hope you have a happy new year.

Best regards,

Robert.
robertmoix@terra.es

Comments

Randy Brown wrote on 12/27/2002, 10:50 AM
Hi Robert,
Great post I hope the gurus here reply...I'll throw in my .02 to get it started:

--> First of all, how did you set up the business ? Did you begin doing the web page? What else did you do, what steps did you follow ?

I was lucky and took over several clients that a former company turned me onto. Reminds me though, I need to get back to work on my "under construction" web pages.

--> I imagine that publicity is essencial, how do you advertise ?

Yellow pages and considering flyers at wedding places.

How do the people know what you can do for them ? Get them to your website.

What kind of clients mostly request your services ? corporate

--> And what about the legal side ? What kind of paperwork did you have to do ?

I live in New Mexico, USA and had to open a separate dba business checking account in order to purchase a business license and get a tax ID. I'd call your local Chamber of Commerce (joining the Chamber also got me a free ribbon cutting ceremony picture in the paper)or tax office.

--> And finally, what kind of advice can you give me ? Any tips, tricks...? What do I have to be aware of ?

I'll especially be looking forward to the guru's answer to this one

Thanks for posting such a great topic and good luck,
Randy

Hammer wrote on 12/27/2002, 10:52 AM
Unfortunately a lot of the legal questions are going to be specific to the country/state you plan to do business in. Is this going to be your primary source of income? If so, you need to take the planning stage very seriously. You need to put together a business plan that gives you a decent idea of the market you are targeting, the competition, and why you can do it better. This should also include projected revenue and expenses and start up funds required. You should write this plan as though you are going to march down to the local bank and attempt to secure a loan to start your business. I would suggest you start by reading some books on starting your own business. My guess is there are a number of them that are specific to starting a small business in Spain. Again, take the planning stage seriously. You don't want to bet the farm on this business and discover that the market you can serve/capture isn't big enough to feed the family. If it's more of a paying hobby, then word of mouth is a great way to start. Perhaps a local photographer that doesn't do video or video post processing would be a good source. I don't do this for a living so i'll be quiet now and let some others chime in that do.
snicholshms wrote on 12/27/2002, 1:31 PM
Congratulations..Entrpreneur! What is your situation? Are you "putting your toe in the water" or "betting the farm"?
If this is a "side business" and the revenue is not crucial to paying rent, feeding & clothing your family then you can informally grow it until it becomes self-funding. First, ask other small business owners in your community how they started, what paperwork is required and join a business association to meet other businesspeople. Invest wisely in equipment and training that will allow you to produce professional results. After all, if your results are schlock...no one will buy it.
This Forum is best utilized to help you become more proficient with VV3.0c.
Find a Forum for your camera and videotaping techniques.
Meet another local small business owner that is willing to be your "mentor".
You're going to use all the "people skills" you have to grow this kind of business. Referrals and good "word of mouth" are crucial. Sales/service experience is important.
Have fun...you'll be working long hours so you might as well enjoy what you do.
Good luck and much success to you!
Steve
mitteg wrote on 12/27/2002, 2:20 PM
Well, I must say that I'm very impressed on how quickly you answered my post. First of all I

would like to thank you for your help and advices. Thanks randybrown, Hammer and snicholshms.

My situation:

I'm a 19 year-old Spanish student. I'm studying telecomunications, especifically Image and

Sound. Video editing is a hobby, a serious hobby actually. I have filmed several weddings

without charging anything. People is always telling me that my videos look like the

professional ones, that maybe is because I like shotting and editing a lot. I spend a lot of

hours in front of the computer always trying to do something new in every video.

I'm about to purchase a new 3CCD cam and I would like to start a small business about video

editing. It will not be my primary source of income because I'm still at university. My

intention is to work at the weekends, and some days in the morning if necessary.

I'm about to go to the local Chamber of Commerce in order to know what kind of paperwork I

need. I just wanted to know how did you start your business because I need as much

information as possible.

Here in Spain, the people is beginning to have a lot more DVD players than before and that

enables me to produce high quality DVD for customers. I think that the competition is

absolutely oldfashioned: shotting with Betacams (the better ones) and even S-VHS (the worst

ones) and editing linearly, they do not offer DVD yet and I reckon that is a good moment to

start my business.

Can I do my work (editing, and so on) at home ? Where can I attend the customers ?

Do you know www.weva.com ? Can I join it if I live in Spain ?
How can I get a domain, any tips ?

Please, tell me more things to be borne in mind, I really appreciate your comments.

Best regards,

Robert.

BTW, Vegas Video rocks !
Zulqar-Cheema wrote on 12/27/2002, 4:05 PM
You will need licences for the music (dubbing), copyright, also for filming services as this is also copyright, business insurance, puplic liabity, product liabilty. SOme form of contract, know exacatly what your client wants before you pick up a camera. Backup equipment on site if all goes pear shap. see my site fore terms & condtions, licences, equipment, etc...
www.svsweddings.co.uk.
sonicboom wrote on 12/27/2002, 5:17 PM
the fastest and easiest way to make money editing is to learn how to shoot and edit private parties--weddings, bar mitzvahs, scholl sporting events and school plays
some people charge in the thousands for weddings etc
but, you have to know how to shoot these properly
i have seen the work of some very hoghly proced videographers and i can say one thing -- they are worth it
they move the camera around constantly, they rarely leave it on a tripod
if you use vegas 3.0 you will be fine
in fact, i like vegas best--and i have seen many nle systems in the past year
finally, you should offer dvd and vhs tape options to your clints
**with vegas you can stream it to their website---
also, there is a business for converting old vhs tapes to dvd---but i don't know how much money is in that
anyway, in the usa--you could charge $800 - $1,000 for a party and be on your way
good luck
btw, i am NOT a videographer but i have seen many tapes
good luck
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