Hiring a video editor looks like a capacity decision, but for agencies it is usually a delivery decision. Volume, review time, client context, motion support, and backup determine which setup works.
The right choice depends less on company size than on how often work returns, how much client context matters, and how costly a missed delivery would be.
Editing cost is driven by the work hidden behind the final runtime: source footage, selects, story decisions, versions, motion, feedback, exports, and continuity.
Social video is more than a vertical crop. Hooks, pacing, captions, safe zones, brand style, variants, and repeatable review determine whether the content feels native or generic.