Description
Unit
Quantity
Unit Price
Total
A. Pre-production & Wrap(5)
$12,750
Treatment / creative alignment
1
$450
$450
Producer prep
2
$850
$1,700
Location scouting
3
$1,200
$3,600
Agency / client meetings
1
$1,800
$1,800
Wrap & equipment return
2
$2,600
$5,200
B. Shooting Crew(7)
$16,350
Director of Photography
1
$3,200
$3,200
Camera Operator
2
$700
$1,400
1st Assistant Director
3
$1,400
$4,200
Gaffer
1
$450
$450
Key Grip
2
$850
$1,700
Sound Mixer
3
$1,200
$3,600
Script Supervisor
1
$1,800
$1,800
C. Pre-production & Wrap Expenses(2)
$9,000
Messenger / shipping
1
$2,600
$2,600
Phones / internet on set
2
$3,200
$6,400
D. Location & Travel(5)
$8,100
Location rental
1
$700
$700
Permits
2
$1,400
$2,800
Catering / craft services
3
$450
$1,350
Crew transportation
1
$850
$850
Lodging
2
$1,200
$2,400
E. Props, Wardrobe & Animals(3)
$16,600
Props purchase / rental
1
$1,800
$1,800
Wardrobe
2
$2,600
$5,200
Hair & Makeup
3
$3,200
$9,600
F. Studio & Set Construction(3)
$4,850
Studio rental
1
$700
$700
Set construction
2
$1,400
$2,800
Paint & materials
3
$450
$1,350
G. Equipment(6)
$19,750
Camera package
1
$850
$850
Lenses
2
$1,200
$2,400
Lighting
3
$1,800
$5,400
Grip
1
$2,600
$2,600
Sound
2
$3,200
$6,400
Generator / power
3
$700
$2,100
H. Digital Media / Stock(2)
$2,300
Cards / storage drives
1
$1,400
$1,400
Backup / DIT
2
$450
$900
I. Miscellaneous(2)
$3,250
Emergency kit / supplies
1
$850
$850
Contingency
2
$1,200
$2,400
J. Director / Creative Fees(2)
$7,000
Director fee
1
$1,800
$1,800
Treatment / creative development fee
2
$2,600
$5,200
K. Insurance(2)
$4,600
Production insurance
1
$3,200
$3,200
Equipment insurance
2
$700
$1,400
L. Talent(5)
$9,650
Casting
1
$1,400
$1,400
Principal talent
2
$450
$900
Extras
3
$850
$2,550
Fitting / rehearsal
1
$1,200
$1,200
Usage / buyout
2
$1,800
$3,600
M. Post-Production(6)
$15,950
Editor
1
$2,600
$2,600
Conform / online
2
$3,200
$6,400
VFX / motion graphics
3
$700
$2,100
Color grading
1
$1,400
$1,400
Audio mix
2
$450
$900
Deliverables / masters
3
$850
$2,550
N. Music(2)
$4,800
Composer / original music
1
$1,200
$1,200
Music license / stock
2
$1,800
$3,600

About this template

The AICP (Association of Independent Commercial Producers) budget format is the industry standard for commercial production in the United States and increasingly worldwide. This template follows the AICP bid form structure, organizing costs into clearly defined categories that agencies, brands, and production companies all understand. Whether you're bidding on a national TV spot, a digital campaign, or a branded content piece through an agency, this format ensures your budget speaks the same language as your client.

Perfect for

Production companies bidding on agency-led commercial projects, executive producers preparing AICP bid forms, and line producers breaking down commercial budgets for brands and agencies.

How to customize it

  • Add specific crew roles under Shooting Crew based on your production scale
  • Break down Post-Production into more granular items if you have complex VFX or animation needs
  • Add a Contingency line item (typically 10-15% of total) under Miscellaneous
  • Customize Talent categories based on SAG-AFTRA vs non-union talent

What's inside this template

These are the line items the template comes with, organized by stage. Adjust amounts, quantities, and rates to your project.

A. Pre-production & Wrap

  • Treatment / creative alignment
  • Producer prep
  • Location scouting
  • Agency / client meetings
  • Wrap & equipment return

B. Shooting Crew

  • Director of Photography
  • Camera Operator
  • 1st Assistant Director
  • Gaffer
  • Key Grip
  • Sound Mixer
  • Script Supervisor
  • Production Assistants

C. Pre-production & Wrap Expenses

  • Messenger / shipping
  • Phones / internet on set

D. Location & Travel

  • Location rental
  • Permits
  • Catering / craft services
  • Crew transportation
  • Lodging

E. Props, Wardrobe & Animals

  • Props purchase / rental
  • Wardrobe
  • Hair & Makeup

F. Studio & Set Construction

  • Studio rental
  • Set construction
  • Paint & materials

G. Equipment

  • Camera package
  • Lenses
  • Lighting
  • Grip
  • Sound
  • Generator / power

H. Digital Media / Stock

  • Cards / storage drives
  • Backup / DIT

I. Miscellaneous

  • Emergency kit / supplies
  • Contingency

J. Director / Creative Fees

  • Director fee
  • Treatment / creative development fee

K. Insurance

  • Production insurance
  • Equipment insurance

L. Talent

  • Casting
  • Principal talent
  • Extras
  • Fitting / rehearsal
  • Usage / buyout

M. Post-Production

  • Editor
  • Conform / online
  • VFX / motion graphics
  • Color grading
  • Audio mix
  • Deliverables / masters

N. Music

  • Composer / original music
  • Music license / stock

FAQ

What is the AICP budget format?

AICP stands for the Association of Independent Commercial Producers. Their bid form is the standard format used by production companies when bidding on commercial projects through advertising agencies. It organizes costs into standardized categories that the entire industry recognizes.

Do I need to use all 14 budget groups?

No. The template is comprehensive by design. Remove any groups that don't apply to your project. A simple studio shoot might not need Location & Travel or Props, Wardrobe & Animals.

Should I include a markup or production fee?

Most production companies add a production fee (mark-up) as a percentage of the total budget, typically ranging from 20-35%. You can add this as a separate line item at the bottom of the budget.

How do I handle talent costs for union vs non-union?

The Talent section accommodates both. For SAG-AFTRA talent, you'll need to account for session fees, usage fees, pension and health contributions, and agency commission. For non-union, you typically negotiate a flat day rate plus usage.

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AICP Commercial — Free Budget Template | Get