Hiring a commercial video production company in Montreal or Toronto: 10 questions to ask

Hiring the right production company saves time, money, and stress. Use this checklist to vet partners in Montreal and Toronto, understand a typical timeline, and spot red flags before you sign.

10 essential questions to ask every production company

These questions reveal experience, process, and potential costs.

• Can you show recent commercial work relevant to our industry or style?
• Have you produced spots for broadcast in Canada, and can you deliver broadcast masters?
• Who will lead our project day to day, and who are the key crew members?
• How do you handle casting, permits and location fees in Montreal or Toronto?
• What is included in your estimate, and what are likely change-order items?
• How do you license music and footage, and who retains usage rights?
• What is your post-production process and revision policy?
• Can you provide references from past clients or agencies?
• Do you carry insurance and appropriate union or guild coverage if needed?
• What is your policy on backups, deliverables, and archiving after project completion?

A practical timeline for a 30 to 60 second commercial

Timelines change by complexity, but this is a typical flow for a professional production.

• Pre-production, 2 to 4 weeks: scripting, budgeting, casting, location scouting, permits and scheduling.
• Production, 1 to 4 days: principal photography depending on scenes and coverage needs.
• Post-production, 2 to 6 weeks: editing, sound design, color grading, VFX and final deliverables.
• Delivery and revisions, 1 to 2 weeks: client review rounds and final master exports.

Plan for longer lead times if you need original music, heavy VFX, or union talent.

Red flags and how to compare quotes

Not all low bids are a deal, and not all high bids mean better quality.

• Red flags: vague scopes, no clear lead producer, absent insurance proof, missing deliverables list.
• Good signs: clear line-item estimates, sample schedules, named crew, portfolio with similar work, and references.
• When comparing quotes, align scope first, then compare crew levels, equipment and included post hours.

How to prepare so bids are accurate

A concise brief yields predictable estimates.

• Provide target length, audience and channels, a creative direction or reference spots, preferred shoot window, and must-have deliverables.

Asking the right questions and sharing a focused brief leads to fair estimates and smoother production. For Montreal and Toronto projects, local experience matters for permits, talent, and logistics. If you want a short call to review your brief, Black Box Productions can walk you through realistic timelines and transparent estimates.