For video production companies
A video production company runs several projects at once. Each has a different mix of freelancers, its own budget and its own delivery date. The thing that keeps going wrong is the check-up. Which crew worked which project days? What is each person owed? Did the project make money? You need to know before the next invoice goes out. bckendIQ links the client project to the crew who worked it. So the cost per project comes from who clocked in, not from a separate sum.
What eats your time
Two projects, the same crew
The same camera operator is on two projects this week. Their days must land on the right project. If they do not, neither project’s numbers mean anything.
Day rates and overtime change per person and per project
You agree a rate with each person, and sometimes per project. Without a record of that rate per project, their pay is a guess.
Nobody knows if the project made money until it is over
Crew cost is the biggest cost that changes. If you learn it weeks after delivery, the project was priced blind. The next quote repeats the mistake.
Editing runs long and nobody sees it
Editors, colourists and sound people work after the shoot, often after the invoice. Their hours are the least tracked of anyone’s.
Booking to payslip, for video production companies
One chain, from the moment the client says yes to the moment everyone is paid.
- 01
The project is confirmed
The client agrees and you set the schedule. That makes the project and its shoot days.
- 02
Crew are booked per shoot day
Each day has roles and a head count. The freelancers who can work them claim them.
- 03
Hours are recorded per session
Real hours next to planned hours, per person, per day.
- 04
Editing is tracked as jobs
Edit, colour and sound each get a deadline and pay. They do not trail off the end.
- 05
The client reviews each cut and approves it
The client watches each cut and leaves notes. A note stays with the cut it was left on.
- 06
The cost per project adds itself up
Crew pay adds up to a project total. So you read whether it made money. You do not rebuild it.
Questions from video production companies
Can one freelancer work on several projects at once?
Yes. Crew claim shoot days on any number of projects. Their hours land on the project the day belongs to. So the cost per project stays right.
Does it handle different rates for the same person on different projects?
Yes. Each person has their own rate. A job can carry its own rate on top, and that one wins.
Is this a replacement for StudioBinder or a call sheet tool?
Not for scripts, shot lists or a film shooting schedule. StudioBinder is stronger there. bckendIQ covers the client side, and the crew, hours and pay side. Many production companies run both.
Most video production companies start on Studio Pro, at $69 a month. 5 team members, 500GB of storage
Try it on your next shoot
Free through October 31, 2026. Paid plans start November 1, 2026. No card needed.