The four steps
Start with long-form content
Podcasts, streams, interviews, webinars, launches — anything with moments worth resurfacing becomes the source material.
An agency cuts the clips
A clipping agency finds the strongest moments and edits short vertical clips built for TikTok, Reels, Shorts and X.
Clips get distributed
They publish from their own accounts, your accounts, or a network of clippers — depending on the service you buy.
You pay for output or reach
Most agencies charge a monthly retainer, a per-clip rate, or a managed budget tied to the views delivered.
Pricing terms, decoded
- Retainer
- A fixed monthly fee for an agreed volume of clips, distribution and reporting.
- Per clip
- A fixed price per delivered clip. Good for testing an agency before committing.
- CPM
- Cost per 1,000 views. Used when you're buying reach rather than production hours.
- Managed budget
- You fund distribution and the agency takes a management fee on top.
- Clipper network
- A pool of independent editors an agency mobilises to post at volume.
- Owned vs. network posting
- Whether clips go out on your accounts, the agency's, or third-party accounts.
Common questions
What does a clipping agency actually do?
They handle the whole short-form loop: selecting moments, editing vertical clips, writing hooks and captions, publishing on a schedule, and reporting on what performed.
What should I expect to pay?
Most agencies in this directory start between $1,000 and $5,000 a month. Per-clip pricing is common for smaller tests, and managed distribution budgets sit on top of the fee.
How do I choose between agencies?
Match on content type and platform first, then compare pricing model, team size and reported results. Shortlist two or three and ask each for recent work in your niche.
Do I keep the accounts and the clips?
Agree it upfront. Ask whether clips are posted on your owned accounts, who holds the assets, and what happens to the accounts if you stop working together.