Scope drives rate
A simple social cut, a long-form YouTube episode, a brand launch edit, and a paid social variant package are different jobs. Budget should follow the actual deliverables.
Clarify ownership
Rates rise when the editor owns story structure, sound design, motion graphics, captions, color, music selection, versioning, and client review management.
Make revision load explicit
Project rates should include a defined number of revision rounds. Hourly work should include an expected weekly range and clear approval process.