Updated October 2026
Video revision policy template for freelance editors (copy and paste)
A revision policy is five short lines that say how many rounds of changes the client gets, what counts as a revision, how fast you turn them around, what an extra round costs, and that an approved version is final. Copy the template below, fill in the brackets, and put it in your contract and your project brief before you start editing.
Why you need a revision policy
Without one, “just a small tweak” has no limit. The project drags, your hourly rate quietly drops, and you end up deciding on the spot whether to push back or eat the work. A policy fixes this before it happens, because the client agreed to the rules when they said yes to the project.
It also protects the client. They know what they get, what happens if they need more, and when the project is done. Most disputes about revisions are not about money. They are about two people holding different unspoken assumptions.
How many revision rounds should you include?
There is no standard. Two rounds is a common starting point for small projects, and it is a convention, not a rule. What matters more than the number is how you define a round.
Use a simple test: a round is one consolidated list of changes, sent once, on the current version. Ten separate messages over three days is one round only if you agree to treat them as one. Say so in the policy.
If you only offer one round, clients tend to save everything up and send one overloaded list. If you offer unlimited rounds, the project has no end. Two included rounds, plus a clear price for extra ones, works for most solo editors.
The five lines every policy needs
- Included rounds. How many, and what a round is.
- What counts as a revision, and what doesn’t. Changes to the current cut count. New footage, a new concept, a new format or a script rewrite is new scope.
- Turnaround. How fast you deliver a revised version, and how fast the client must send feedback.
- Price of an extra round. A number, so nobody has to negotiate at 11pm.
- Approval is final. Once a version is approved, further changes are a new quote.
Copy-paste template
Revision policy
1. Included rounds. This project includes [2] rounds of revisions. A round is one consolidated list of changes sent in a single review on the current version of the video.
2. What counts as a revision. Changes to the current cut (trims, re-ordering, text, colour, audio levels, music swaps from the agreed library) count as a revision. Fixing my own errors (wrong clip, typo, audio out of sync) does not count as a round.
3. What is not a revision. New footage, a new concept or script, a different structure after the rough cut is approved, extra formats or aspect ratios, and extra versions are new scope and are quoted separately.
4. Turnaround. I deliver each revised version within [3] working days of receiving your consolidated feedback. Please send your feedback within [5] working days of each version; if feedback is later, the delivery date moves by the same number of days.
5. Extra rounds. Each additional round is €[amount] (or €[amount] per hour, billed in 30-minute blocks).
6. Approval is final. When you approve a version, it is final. Changes after approval are treated as a new project and quoted separately. Your approval is recorded with your name, the version and the date.
This is a template, not legal advice. Adapt it to your situation and, for important contracts, have a professional review it.
How to price an extra round
Pick one method and write it down:
- Flat fee per round. Easy for the client to understand. Works well for short-form content where rounds are small and similar.
- Percentage of the project fee. A common range to test is roughly 10 to 20 percent per extra round, going up with project size. Treat this as a starting point to adjust to your market, not a standard.
- Hourly rate in blocks. Best for brand films and anything where rounds vary a lot. Say the block size (30 minutes, for example) so tiny tweaks don’t turn into arguments.
Whichever you choose, state the price in the policy so the client sees it before the project starts, not after round three.
Examples by project type
Short-form (Reels, TikTok, Shorts, 15 to 60 seconds). 2 included rounds, 24 to 48 hours turnaround per round, flat fee per extra round. Rounds are small, so speed matters more than the number.
YouTube video (8 to 15 minutes). 2 included rounds, 3 to 5 working days per round. Specify that thumbnail and title changes, extra cutdowns and shorts are separate. Ask for all notes in one list per round, with timecodes.
Brand film (1 to 3 minutes). Stage the approvals: the rough cut is reviewed for structure and story, the fine cut for details, and then the final. Include 2 rounds on the fine cut and say that structural changes after the rough cut is approved are new scope. Hourly blocks work well here.
How to make the policy stick
A policy that only lives in an email thread gets forgotten. Put it in three places:
- The contract. Add it as a clause or an appendix, so the client signs it. See our video editing contract template.
- The project brief. Restate the rounds and turnaround at the top of the brief, so the client reads it again at the start of the project.
- Every review message. When you send a version, say which round it is: “This is version 2, round 1 of 2 included.”
Then keep a record of what was approved. A policy only works if you can show which version the client approved and when. Revu stores the approval, with the client’s name, the version and the time, so a revision policy can actually be enforced. If you want to see why, read why a thumbs-up emoji is not an approval.
Why I write this down now
I’m Khalil, a video editor in Nice, and I run Naja Studio. The back and forth around the edit has always cost me more than the edit itself, and the fix was never a better tool or a firmer tone. It was agreeing the rules in writing before the first cut.
Frequently asked questions
How many revisions should a video editor include?
Two rounds is a common default for small projects, but it is a convention, not a standard. The important part is defining a round as one consolidated list of changes sent once on the current version.
What is the difference between a revision and a new request?
A revision changes the current cut: trims, text, colour, audio, music swaps. A new request changes the scope: new footage, a new concept, a different structure after rough-cut approval, or extra formats. New scope is quoted separately.
How much should I charge for extra revisions?
Choose a flat fee, a percentage of the project fee, or hourly blocks, and put the number in the policy before the project starts. A percentage in the 10 to 20 percent range per extra round is a reasonable starting point to test and adjust.
What if my client sends feedback in several messages?
Say in the policy that a round is one consolidated list. If feedback arrives in pieces, reply that you will start the round once you have the complete list, or use a tool where all comments live on the timeline in one place.
Do I need a lawyer for a revision policy?
A revision policy is a simple clause, but this page is a template and not legal advice. For larger projects or unusual terms, have a professional review your contract.