Retainer Services For Marketing Teams Video editing retainers for marketing teams at scale.
A Boston-based post-production team for marketing leaders shipping video weekly. Experienced editors, with predictable hours, defined SLAs, and the operational rigor of an internal department.
<4 Days
average turnaround on standard edits
100%
on time delivery in 2025
U.S.
based editing team
500+
assets delivered annually
TRUSTED BY LEADING BRANDS
Why marketing teams choose gradient Built for marketing teams who ship a lot of video.
We started Gradient in 2017 around a simple idea: marketing teams need a partner they can trust, one that operates like an internal department. Same people, same standards, same SLAs. Not a different freelancer every quarter.
01 • The Team A small, senior bench.
Our team is made up of experienced, US-based video editors. Each plan also includes a dedicated post-producer who manages your calendar, runs reviews, and ensures consistency across projects.
02 • Predictability Run like a department.
Defined SLAs, weekly status updates, and a producer on every project. We treat post-production with the same operational rigor your finance and legal teams expect from internal departments. No surprise invoices, no missed deadlines, no rotating cast of contractors.
03 • Fit Selective.
We work with a small number of clients at a time. That means faster responses, more consistent work, and a producer who actually knows your account. When a brief isn't a fit, we say so up front.
Try us out
The first month, with a
50% money-back
guarantee.
Every Gradient Films retainer starts with a single-month commitment at the full plan rate. If you're not satisfied within the first 30 days, we refund 50% of your first invoice. No negotiations.
After month one, the retainer continues on monthly or annual terms.
HOW IT WORKS
Try us out
Committing is scary. Our guarantee removes the risk so you can decide based on the work, not the contract.
50% money-back guarantee
Applies to your first month, on monthly or annual plans. If you decide we're not the right fit within the first 30 days, we refund 50% of your first invoice. No questions, no negotiation.
Continue on your terms
After month one, stay monthly or switch to annual for a 5% discount. Plan changes take effect at the end of your current billing period.
What’s covered
The guarantee covers your committed plan hours. Hours used beyond your plan are billed at the overage rate and aren't part of the refund.
Plans & Pricing One trusted partner, transparent rates.
Every plan includes a senior video editor, dedicated post-producer, brand & workflow onboarding, and defined SLAs.
Custom plans for agencies & global programs.
Unique hour packages, priority turnaround, and dedicated post-producers across multiple brand teams. Quoted to your scope, billed quarterly.
Video Editing Retainer Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions?
Contact Us
Services
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We edit social cutdowns, brand commercials, customer testimonials, case studies, brand films, product demos, event recaps, and internal training videos. Most retainer clients ship a mix of these formats across YouTube, LinkedIn, paid social, and internal channels.
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Yes. Supplemental motion graphics like lower thirds and animated titles are included in every retainer at no additional cost. For projects requiring more complex motion graphics, infographic animation, fully animated videos, or 3D work, those projects are quoted separately on a project by project basis.
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Our team is made up of experienced, US-based video editors. Each engagement also includes a dedicated post-producer who manages your calendar, runs reviews, and ensures consistency across projects.
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Retainer clients typically provide raw footage captured by their own team, an existing production partner, or a previous shoot. We focus on post-production so you can keep editing consistent even when production sources change. If you need video production as well, we offer it as a separate service estimated on a project to project basis.
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During the onboarding process we compile your brand assets, review your brand guidelines, learn about your workflows and approval process, and set up shared tools like Frame.io for asset transfer and feedback.
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Yes. SRT, VTT files, and burned-in captions are included with every video. We follow accessibility best practices and can deliver in multiple languages on request.
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We work in Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects for video editing and motion graphics, and DaVinci Resolve for color. All assets and feedback are managed through Frame IO.
Pricing
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Our video editing retainer plans range from $7,000 to $12,000 per month. Starter is $7,000/month for 40 editing hours, Scale is $9,600/month for 60 hours, and Enterprise is $12,000/month for 80 hours. Annual contracts receive a 10% discount. Custom plans for larger organizations are quoted separately.
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Our rates reflect two things most retainers don't include: senior U.S. based video editors with years of experience, and a dedicated post-producer on every engagement. For some projects, a freelancer or smaller studio is the right call. For brand-critical work at scale, we're built for it.
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Every Gradient Films retainer starts with a 30-day satisfaction window. If you're not satisfied with our work in the first 30 days, our 50% money-back guarantee applies, and we refund 50% of your first month's invoice with no negotiation. The guarantee applies to your committed plan hours; overage hours are not refundable.
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Monthly billing is full plan rate, invoiced each month, with a 1-month commitment. Annual billing is 10% off the monthly rate, invoiced quarterly or upfront, with a 12-month commitment. Both options include the 50% money-back guarantee on the first month. Annual contracts are not refundable after month one. They allow us to dedicate staffing capacity to your work accordingly.
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We don't offer free trials. Instead, we offer the 50% money-back guarantee on every retainer: if you're not happy in the first 30 days, we refund half your first invoice.
Hours, Revisions & Flexibility
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Overage hours are billed at 10% above your plan rate. We'll keep you updated as you close in on your monthly threshold, so there are no surprise invoices. You can either continue at the overage rate, hold remaining work until the next month, or upgrade to a higher tier. Our producer will walk you through the options.
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Rollover hours work like this: unused hours from your monthly plan roll over to the following month at no extra cost, up to 10% of your plan. That's 4 hours for Starter, 6 hours for Scale, and 8 hours for Enterprise. Rollover hours expire if unused the next month. They don't accumulate quarter over quarter.
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Standard turnaround is 4-5 business days for Starter, 3-4 business days for Scale, and 2-3 business days for Enterprise. More complex projects with large amounts of raw footage may take longer. Your producer will confirm a delivery date for v1 when each project kicks off, so you always know what to expect.
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There is no limit to the number of revisions to a single project. Each revision cycle is billed in 30-minute editing increments, despite how small the change. We use Frame.io for time-code based video notes. You can even add sketches to areas of the frame to ensure feedback is clear and intentional. It's best to consolidate feedback among your team before adding it to the project to ensure all parties are on the same page. This avoids any conflicting feedback and helps streamline the revision process and stay on schedule.
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Yes. 24-48 hour rush delivery is available for time-sensitive projects at a 50% premium over your plan rate. Rush requests should be flagged when the project is briefed, not after work has started.
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Overage hours are billed at 10% above your plan rate. We'll keep you updated as you close in on your monthly threshold, so there are no surprise invoices. You can either continue at the overage rate, hold remaining work until the next month, or upgrade to a higher tier. Our producer will walk you through the options.
Contracts, SLAs & Billing
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We invoice on the first day of each billing period with net-30 payment terms by default. We accept ACH, wire transfer, and checks. Credit card payment can be arranged upon request. Annual contracts can be invoiced upfront or in quarterly installments.
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Yes. Every retainer is governed by a defined SLA covering turnaround times, revision, communication response times, IP transfer, and asset retention. Your SLA is included in the master services agreement signed before kickoff.
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Yes, you can upgrade plans at the end of any month between Starter, Scale, and Enterprise tiers, or move from monthly to annual billing. Upgrades take effect at the start of the next billing period. Downgrades on annual contracts will apply at renewal of the year end.
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Yes. We are happy to sign NDAs.
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You do. All final delivered work, including masters, project files, and any motion graphics created for your brand, transfers to you on delivery with full commercial rights. We retain copies in encrypted US-based archive for three years for revision support.
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The first 30 days work differently than the rest of your contract. If you're not satisfied within the first month, our 50% money-back guarantee applies, and no notice is required. After day 30, monthly retainers can be canceled at the end of any month with 30 days written notice. Annual contracts run their full 12-month term, with no refunds after the first month.
Start the conversation Let's see if we're the right fit.
Hop on a 30-minute discovery call with one of our producers. Tell us about your current workflow, what's on the calendar, and what's prompting the conversation. If it feels like a good match, we'll send a tailored proposal within three business days. If not, we'll point you toward some alternative options.