Start by defining the unit you sell, such as one finished video, a monthly content package, or a set number of editing hours. Build your forecast around that unit, then map each production stage to its cost: scripting, generation, review, editing, and delivery. Separate fixed overhead, including software subscriptions, from per-project costs, such as generation credits and contractor time.
List each AI video tool and its billing basis in a cost schedule. For YB Video from YB.Digital, record the subscription or usage expense that applies to your account, alongside the period covered and any usage limits. Add the YB.Digital editor as a separate workflow line if it carries a distinct cost. Use current vendor terms rather than assuming a price, and distinguish recurring charges from usage-based fees.
Track editing labor by task, not just by project. Estimate hours for assembly, captions, audio cleanup, revisions, and final quality control, then multiply each task’s hours by your loaded hourly cost, including payroll taxes or contractor fees where applicable. A revision allowance belongs in the model as a visible assumption, so a client requesting another cut does not disappear into the original labor estimate.
| Model line | What to record | Cost behavior |
|---|---|---|
| AI video subscription | Plan, billing period, usage limits | Recurring |
| Generation usage | Credits or other metered charges | Variable |
| Editing labor | Hours by task and labor rate | Variable |
| Client delivery | Storage, hosting, or transfer expense | Fixed or variable |
Set client pricing from the full cost per deliverable, not from software fees alone. Add labor, tool usage, allocated overhead, and a planned margin; then check whether the quoted package still covers the work when revisions or complex outputs increase. Keep assumptions editable so you can model separate prices for a short social clip, a branded explainer, and a recurring batch of product videos.
Build recurring revenue into a monthly forecast by listing each retainer, its included deliverables, and its renewal period. Match those commitments against monthly subscription charges and expected production capacity. For YB Video and its editor, allocate the relevant subscription expense across the client work that uses them, rather than charging the entire tool cost to one video.
Use the model to test specific operating changes before committing to them:
- Separate one-time onboarding fees from monthly retainers.
- Flag client work that exceeds its included revision limit.
- Track unused generation credits separately from purchased usage.
- Show contractor labor apart from owner editing time.
Review actuals against the forecast after each billing cycle. Update unit costs when tool usage, edit hours, or delivery requirements change, and record the reason for each adjustment. A monthly variance note such as “extra caption revisions on the product launch batch” connects the financial result to a specific production decision.