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Video editing
Video editing can be a practical way to earn by turning clients’ footage into clear, polished videos. Start with simple projects, build examples of your work and agree the scope and price before you begin.
Open the interactive guide (checklist, video, read-aloud) →In plain words
- You edit video clips for people or businesses.
- Start by practising with footage you can use.
- Agree the work, price and deadline before starting.
- Send a draft, make agreed changes, then deliver the video.
- Keep records of your income and costs.
Who it suits
Suits patient, creative people who enjoy shaping a story, working with detail and taking feedback. You can start with personal projects and a computer you already have; a parent or guardian can help younger beginners find clients and handle arrangements.
People pay for help turning their footage into a clear video they can share. A good edit can save them time and make their message easier to follow.
Step by step
- Choose one simple video type to practise. Pick a short interview, product clip or social video. Film something yourself or use footage you have permission to edit. Keep the first project small so you can practise the whole process. About 30 minutes to choose; 1-2 hours to film or gather clips.
- Learn the basic editing steps. Try an editing application and practise importing clips, trimming them, arranging a sequence, adjusting sound and exporting. DaVinci Resolve is described as available free for personal devices, though some free tools may have limitations. University of York About 2-4 hours to learn the basics.
- Make one short sample edit. Choose your clearest clips and make a short finished video. Check that speech is easy to hear and titles are readable; avoid adding effects just to fill space. About 2-5 hours.
- Build a small portfolio. Show your sample with a brief note explaining what you edited. Add a way for prospective clients to contact you, such as an email address. Ask permission before showing anyone else’s footage. About 1-2 hours.
- Decide exactly what each job includes. Write down the video format and length, deadline, number of included changes and how you will hand over the files. This gives you and the client the same expectations before work begins. About 20-30 minutes per project.
- Set a price for the whole job. Allow for sorting footage, editing, exporting and messages with the client. FilmFolk lists a £395 package for a 2.5-minute video with titles, music and one set of revisions; use it as a reference, not a promise of what you can charge. FilmFolk About 30-60 minutes to work out a quote.
- Look for a first suitable project. Show your portfolio to people or organisations that may need video. You can also look at projects on Twine; check the payment route and fees before agreeing to use it. Twine says payments outside Twine have 0% commission; Twine Vault charges 10% on payments up to $10,000 and 5% above that. Twine About 1-2 hours to share your work or review listings.
- Get the footage and confirm the brief. Ask what the video is for, who will watch it and what style the client wants. Before editing, confirm the price, delivery date and revision terms in writing, and check that the footage and other assets are ready. About 20-45 minutes, plus time for file transfers.
- Share a draft, make agreed changes and deliver. Send a review version and ask for specific feedback. Make changes within the agreed scope, export the final file in the requested format and ask whether you may include it in your portfolio. About 1-3 days, depending on the video and feedback.
Your first 15 minutes
Create one short sample edit, ask someone you trust for feedback and use it to begin a small portfolio.
The money
Estimate the time for sorting footage, editing, sound, exporting and client messages, then include your costs and the agreed changes. Set out a fixed project price or an hourly rate and make clear what is included; a UK guide gives junior freelance editor rates of £200-£350 per day, but says these are London-weighted and regional rates are typically 15-25% lower. <a href="https://www.filefeedback.com/freelance-video-editor-rates" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Filefeedback</a>
Example only: one week’s work brings in £120 and has £10 in costs, leaving £110 before tax. In euros, €120 income minus €10 costs leaves €110 before tax. These are example figures, not a suggested rate or an income promise.
The rules
No video-editing-specific licence is identified. This does not confirm that none may apply. Check the tax and data-protection rules for your situation before you take on work.
UK and Northern Ireland
- Tax and registration. The first £1,000 of trading income in a tax year is covered by the trading allowance. This is gross income before expenses. If your trading income is above £1,000, tell HMRC. If you need to register for Self Assessment, do so by 5 October after the end of the tax year in which you started needing to file. GOV.UK Tax Help for Hustles GOV.UK
- Young workers. The rules depend on where you live and how old you are. In Northern Ireland, workers aged 16–17 are usually limited to 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week. They must not work between 10pm and 6am. Check your circumstances with nidirect. nidirect
- Client information and ICO fee. The ICO’s self-assessment tool can help you work out whether you need to pay a fee. The ICO does not give one general rule for every sole trader. Advertising or marketing another person’s business, goods or services is an example of work where a fee is required. If your editing work includes this, use the tool to check your position. ICO
- Project terms. Before you start, agree in writing on the scope, price, delivery date, payment arrangements and how you will handle changes or feedback. Vague briefs, disorganised or delayed footage, multiple rounds of feedback and uncertainty about approval or payment can put a project at risk.
- Insurance and promotion. Consider whether business or equipment insurance suits your work. No requirement to have insurance is stated here. If you publish paid or affiliate promotional content, label it clearly, for example “Ad”. ASA
Ireland
- Tax return. If you work under PAYE, you generally need to register for self-assessment using Form 11 if your taxable non-PAYE income is over €5,000 or your gross non-PAYE income is over €30,000. Below those limits, declare it on Form 12 through myAccount. Check your circumstances with Revenue or a tax adviser. Revenue
- Self-employment tax. If you are self-employed, you pay income tax, PRSI (Class S) and USC under self-assessment. Preliminary tax is due by 31 October. Check with Revenue or a tax adviser to see what applies to you. Citizens Information
- VAT. The VAT registration threshold for services is €42,500. Check with Revenue if your turnover is close to the threshold or you are unsure about your obligations. Revenue
- Young workers. If you are aged 14–15, you can do light work only during school holidays, subject to limits. If you are 15, you may also work up to 8 hours a week during term. Check the rules for your age and work with Citizens Information. Citizens Information
- Project terms, insurance and promotion. Before you start, agree in writing on the scope, price, delivery date, payment arrangements and how you will handle changes or feedback. Consider whether insurance suits your work. No requirement to have insurance is stated here. If you publish paid or affiliate promotional content, label it clearly, for example “Ad”. CCPC
Checked against official sources: 22 October 2026. Not yet reviewed by a qualified tax or legal adviser. General guidance, not legal advice. Check the official link beside each point before you start.
Common mistakes
- Starting without agreeing the video’s purpose, format, deadline and included changes.
- Underestimating time for sorting footage, transfers, exports and client messages.
- Using footage, music or images without checking that you have permission to use them.
- Offering unlimited revisions or accepting vague feedback without agreeing what is included.
- Forgetting to confirm the payment method and timing before starting.
AI-made demonstration: this module has a 20-second street-chat video in the interactive guide. The presenter and the people in it are computer-generated, not real people.