Group Benefits for Independent Production Companies
If you employ your own crew as an S-corp or LLC production company - line producers, staff camera operators, or a small in-house crew - offering health benefits can help you compete for talent against larger studios. Scene One Health helps production companies and crewing agencies with 2 to 200 employees build group benefits packages without adding a full-time HR department.
Group Insurance Plans Available for Production Companies
Group Health Insurance
The cornerstone of any employee benefits package. Group health insurance covers employees and their families under a single policy, with the employer contributing a share of the employee premium. Scene One Health compares fully-insured, self-funded, and level-funded group health options from leading carriers to find a plan that fits a production company's size and budget.
Group Dental Insurance
A group dental plan is one of the most requested employee benefits after health insurance. Group dental plans typically offer lower premiums than individual dental plans due to risk pooling. Coverage includes preventive, basic restorative, and major dental work, with optional orthodontic coverage for a more competitive benefits package.
Group Vision Insurance
Group vision plans are one of the lowest-cost employee benefits you can offer. A group vision plan covering annual exams, glasses, and contacts adds value to your compensation package at a modest monthly cost per employee.
Group Life Insurance
Employer-provided group life insurance is a standard component of competitive benefits packages, typically offered as a multiple of the employee's annual salary, and is a benefit that demonstrates the company cares about employees' families.
Group Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
Disability insurance replaces employee income when illness or injury prevents them from working. Short-term disability covers the initial recovery period; long-term disability takes over from there. This matters for physically demanding set and stage roles where an injury can mean extended time off.
Section 125 Cafeteria Plan
A Section 125 Cafeteria Plan allows employees to pay their share of health insurance premiums with pre-tax dollars, reducing their taxable income and the company's payroll tax liability. Scene One Health sets up Section 125 plans as part of your group benefits package at no additional charge.
How Much Does Group Health Insurance Cost for a Production Company?
Costs vary based on plan level, carrier, employee ages, state regulations, and how many employees participate. Here are general benchmark ranges (employer cost per employee per month):
The Business Case for Offering Employee Benefits
Reduced turnover cost
Replacing an employee carries real recruiting and onboarding cost. Benefits are consistently cited as a strong retention driver, which matters for production companies trying to keep a reliable crew across multiple projects.
Tax advantages
Employer health insurance premiums are generally deductible as a business expense. Employee premium contributions through a Section 125 plan can reduce payroll tax burden. Talk with your accountant about how this applies to your production company's structure.
Healthier, more productive employees
Employees with health coverage are better positioned to address health issues early and return to full productivity faster, which matters when a production schedule doesn't leave much slack for absences.
Competitive differentiation
In a competitive crew hiring market, a benefits package can be a deciding factor for experienced crew choosing between production companies. Scene One Health helps small production companies offer packages that compete with larger studios.
How Does the Setup Process Work for Production Companies?
- Consultation - Your dedicated Scene One Health business specialist gathers information about your crew, budget, and goals.
- Proposal - We present a custom comparison of group plan options across multiple carriers, with cost breakdowns.
- Employee Enrollment - We handle employee enrollment communication, paperwork, and onboarding at no cost to you.
- Ongoing Administration - Scene One Health provides year-round support for employee questions, plan changes, life events, and annual renewals.
Ready to see your options?
Answer a few quick questions and a licensed advisor will email your personalized plan options within one business hour. 100% free, no obligation.