If you’ve ever watched a 30-second spot and wondered how TV commercials are made (and why something so short takes so long and costs what it does), you’re not alone. A polished commercial is the product of weeks, sometimes months, of coordinated work across writers, directors, crews, and editors. Understanding that timeline up front helps you budget realistically, plan around launch dates, and choose the right partner.
Avalanche Studios is a commercial production company in Utah with over 25 years of experience in planning timelines and meeting deadlines. Below, we break down the typical commercial video production process that we follow step by step, and explain exactly what drives the schedule and the price to produce a commercial.
Phase 1: Pre-Production (1–4 Weeks)
Every great commercial is won or lost before a single frame is shot. Pre-production is the planning phase, where the majority of strategic decisions are made.
It starts with concept and scripting. You and your production team define the message, the audience, and the creative hook, then translate that into a script and storyboard. The storyboard maps out each shot so everyone, from the client to the camera operator, shares the same vision.
From there, the logistics stack up: location scouting, casting talent, hiring crew, securing permits, arranging wardrobe and props, and building a shot list. For a straightforward spot, pre-production can wrap in a week. For a national campaign with multiple locations and on-camera talent, it can stretch to a month or more.
This is also where most commercial production companies in Utah will lock in your budget. At Avalanche Studios, you can contact us for a personalized quote before anything takes off the ground so you know exactly what you’re signing up for. The decisions made during an initial consultation or first meetup, such as how many shoot days, how big the crew, what gear and locations are needed, set the financial framework for everything that follows.
Phase 2: Production (1–3 Days, Typically)
This is the part most people picture when they think about how TV commercials are made, but the actual filming is usually the shortest phase of the entire process.
A typical commercial shoot runs one to three days. A single-location product spot might be done in a day. A multi-scene narrative with several setups, talent, and location changes can require three or more. The reason it feels so intense is the sheer number of people and moving parts on set: a director, director of photography, gaffers, grips, sound technicians, makeup, talent, and a producer keeping the whole machine on schedule.
Each shot may be filmed multiple times from multiple angles to give the editor options. A few seconds of finished footage can easily represent an hour of setup and shooting. That’s why experienced commercial video production teams in Utah obsess over the shot list—every minute on set is expensive, and efficiency here directly protects your budget. Strong commercial production crews know how to maximize each shoot day without cutting corners on quality.
Weather, talent availability, and location access are the usual culprits behind production delays, which is exactly why Phase 1 planning matters so much.
Phase 3: Post-Production (2–6 Weeks)
Once filming wraps, the raw footage heads into post-production, and this is often the longest phase of the timeline. It’s also the stage that most defines how TV commercials are made to look so polished.
It begins with editing, where the editor assembles the best takes into a coherent story that hits your exact runtime, whether that’s 15, 30, or 60 seconds. Then come the layers that make a commercial feel premium, including color grading to give the footage a consistent, cinematic look, sound design and mixing, voiceover recording, music licensing, and motion graphics or visual effects.
Most projects move through a few rounds of revisions. You’ll review a first cut, give notes, and the team will refine until it’s right. Each review cycle adds a few days, so the more aligned everyone was during pre-production, the faster this stage tends to go.
Post-production typically takes 2 to 6 weeks, depending on complexity. Heavy VFX, animation, or multiple deliverables (think different cuts for TV, social, and web) push you toward the longer end.
So, How Long Does the Whole Thing Take?
Add it up, and a typical commercial production timeline runs four to ten weeks from kickoff to final delivery. A simple, single-location spot can move faster; a high-production campaign with custom animation and multiple versions takes longer. If you have a hard launch date, the rule of thumb is to start at least two months out, and more if your concept is ambitious.
What Does a Commercial Cost?
Cost is the question everyone asks, and the honest answer is that it ranges widely because it’s tied directly to the choices above. Rather than give you a vague “it depends,” here are the real tiers you’ll see from commercial production companies in Utah:
| Tier | Typical Price | Best For |
| Starter or Social Spot | $3,000–$15,000 | Small businesses, social-first ads, single-location product spots, startups testing video |
| Regional Commercial | $15,000–$75,000 | Established local/regional brands running TV, OTT, or polished web campaigns |
| National Broadcast | $75,000–$500,000+ | Large brands, national broadcast buys, high-end creative with celebrity talent or heavy VFX |
For context, the median U.S. B2B video budget runs $15,000–$20,000 per deliverable, and most mid-size business commercials land in the $15,000–$75,000 range. A simple local spot can come in under $5,000, while a fully produced broadcast campaign with animation and licensed talent climbs into six figures.
The biggest cost drivers are:
- Crew size and shoot days: more people and more days mean higher costs.
- Talent: professional actors and usage rights add up, especially for broadcast.
- Locations and permits: studios, multiple sites, and permits all carry fees.
- Equipment: cameras, lighting, drones, and specialty gear scale with ambition.
- Post-production complexity: animation, VFX, and licensed music are premium line items.
The key is matching the production scope to your actual goals. A good partner helps you land in the right tier rather than overselling you into the next one.
Make a Commercial With a Team You Can Trust
The single biggest factor in your experience of commercial production isn’t the camera or the budget—it’s the team behind the project. The right commercial video production company in Salt Lake City will guide you through each phase, set realistic expectations on timeline and cost, and make sure the final product actually drives results, not just looks good.
Look for a partner with a strong reel, transparent pricing, local knowledge of Utah locations and permitting, and a process that keeps you informed at every milestone. Clear communication during pre-production and post-production review is what separates a smooth project from a stressful one.
If you’re ready to bring your vision to life, Avalanche Studios is an award-winning full-service commercial production company in Utah. We’ve produced commercials and branded content for several brands and individuals, such as America First Credit Union and NBA player Jordan Clarkson. We’ll communicate expectations for the timeline, set a budget before starting, and deliver a commercial that you’re completely satisfied with. Reach out today to start mapping your timeline and budget.