What does video production cost in Switzerland?

Based on real projects at Viven, here is what different budgets buy in the Swiss market:

• CHF 4,000–10,000: a focused single-day shoot — an interview-led corporate video, a testimonial, or an event recap with straightforward post-production.
• CHF 10,000–30,000: a scripted brand or recruiting film with a fuller crew, one or two shoot days, professional lighting, and proper color grading and sound design.
• CHF 30,000–80,000: campaign-level work — multiple shoot days and locations, actors or larger casts, art direction, and advanced post such as motion graphics.
• Social media series: often cheaper per video than these ranges suggest, because several episodes are shot in batched production days.

Four variables account for most of any Swiss production budget:

• Shoot days: the single biggest driver. Every additional day multiplies crew, equipment, and location costs.
• Crew size: a two-person documentary team costs a fraction of a full crew with a DOP, gaffer, sound recordist, and makeup.
• Locations: each location adds travel, setup time, and often permits or rental fees.
• Post-production: a clean interview edit is fast; motion graphics, visual effects, and multiple language versions add days of work.

The most effective lever is planning for reuse. Shooting vertical (9:16) and horizontal (16:9) versions on the same day costs little extra; reshooting later costs a full production. The same applies to languages — Viven delivers in English, German, and Spanish with subtitles, and capturing what you need for all versions in one shoot is far cheaper than retrofitting. Finally, share your real budget early. A good producer will tell you honestly what it buys and where to concentrate it, rather than quoting a number designed to win the job.

Swiss quotes for the same brief can differ by a factor of three, and the cheapest is rarely comparable. Check what each quote actually includes: number of shoot days, crew size, feedback rounds in the edit, music licensing, subtitles, and format versions. A low quote that excludes color grading, delivers only one format, and caps feedback at a single round often ends up more expensive once the extras are invoiced. Ask every provider for the same breakdown — day rates, post-production hours, licensing — and the real differences become obvious within minutes.