This guide brings together what we have learned in twenty years at Go Productions, through projects carried out for clients such as the Montreal Heart Institute, Olymel and Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton.

What is a corporate video, exactly?

A corporate video is video content produced by or for an organization, with the aim of communicating a message to an internal or external audience — customers, employees, investors, partners, candidates. Its main characteristic is not duration or style, but the business or communication objective it serves.

A corporate video can be 15 seconds long (digital advertising) or 12 minutes long (training capsule). It can be shot in 4K format with a team of 8 people, or produced in motion design from a computer. What makes it a “corporate” video is that it exists to serve a business strategy.

The 7 main types of corporate videos

The steps of a corporate video production

A corporate video is built in three main phases. Understanding each step avoids unpleasant surprises in terms of budget or deadline.

Pre-production: strategic framing

This is the stage where everything is decided: objective, script, choice of actors, filming locations, schedule. The more careful the pre-production, the fewer costly corrections there will be in post-production. To go further, check out our detailed 12-step guide to corporate video pre-production.

Filming: capturing images and sound

Filming can take place in the field (offices, factory, exterior, event) or in the studio in front of a set, a neutral background or a green screen — the latter option allows an image to be embedded in post-production.

The technical choices depend on the project: 4K format for widescreen broadcasting, 1080p for the web, drone images for spectacular aerial views. The technical team adapts: from the independent videographer-director duo for a simple project, to a complete team (producer, director of photography, sound recordist, lighting designer, make-up artist) for a high-end production.

In addition to the recording time, it is necessary to plan for the installation and dismantling of equipment, travel between locations, the rental of specialized equipment and the management of authorizations. This is where collaboration between your team and the project manager becomes crucial.

Post-production: the stage where the video takes shape

Once the shoot is complete, editing and finishing often takes up as much work time as the shoot itself. The process involves several technical steps:

1. 1Transferring and organizing video dailies
2. 2Pre-editing : assembling the sequences in the chosen narrative order
3. 3Graphic design : transitions, titles, logos, panels, 2D or 3D animations — often presented as mockups for approval
4. 4Customer approval : a rough cut is sent for comments, corrections are made, a new version is presented. This iterative process is normal and budgeted.
5. 5On-line editing : final adjustment of shots, integration of music (rights bank or original composition), addition of sound effects (atmosphere, city noises, industrial noises)
6. 6Narration : if required, voice casting, rights contracts according to the planned broadcast, recording in a professional studio with a specialized technician
7. 7Sound mixing : balancing voice + music + effects for each scene
8. 8Color grading : harmonizing sequences shot in different conditions (daylight, neon, incandescent), creating a look—warmer, darker, more cinematic
9. 9Delivery : the final master is saved in two different locations for security, then the broadcast copies are generated according to the platforms (website, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, intranet)

This is the most invisible phase for the client, but it is where the perceived quality of the video plays out.

How much does a corporate video cost in Quebec?

In Quebec, in 2026, the actual budgets observed are:

For a detailed view of the breakdown of budget items (pre-production, shooting, post-production, margin), visit our page dedicated to corporate video production.

Who does what in a production team

A corporate video project involves several professions. Depending on the size of the project and the budget, some positions can be combined — or the same professional will take on several positions.

To give you an analogy: it’s a bit like in construction. You can call on a good handyman for a simple renovation, or an architect to design a custom home. Both have their place — the important thing is to choose the level of expertise that fits your project.

The ROI of a well-made corporate video

A well-produced corporate video is not an expense, it’s an asset. Some figures observed on our customers:

The wrong calculation is to consider the cost of video for a single year. The right calculation is to divide it by the years during which it will continue to arouse interest for each new visitor to the web page.

The 5 questions to ask yourself before launching a video project

If you can’t answer these 5 questions clearly, it’s too early to talk about filming. A good corporate video pre-production starts by answering these questions upstream.

Ready to launch your corporate video project?

Now that you know what type of video fits your goals, discover our corporate video production services in Montreal. We have been producing corporate videos for over 20 years for institutional clients (Montreal Heart Institute, Commission des Droits de la Personne et de la Jeunesse) and corporate clients (Olymel, Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton).

L’article Corporate Video: Complete Guide 2026 (Types, Costs, ROI) est apparu en premier sur Maison de production vidéos à Montréal.