Custom Jingle for Small Business: What You Get and What to Ask

You want a tune people hum, with your name in it. So you look up a custom jingle for small business, and almost every page ends the same way: a quote form, no price, and no clear list of what you get.

That makes offers hard to compare. The good news is that a fair jingle deal comes down to a short list of files, 12 questions and one line in the contract. This guide gives you all three, plus an honest side-by-side of your options.

A good custom jingle for small business comes with every length you will run, a sung and a music-only version, full-quality files, a set number of revisions and your usage rights in writing. Ask who writes the words, who sings, and whether you own it before you pay. What the price includes matters more than the price.

Key takeaways

• Get a written list of files: lengths, a sung version, a music-only version, WAV files and stems.
• Social ads need far fewer files than radio, but they need a vertical video with the words on screen.
• Paying for a jingle does not make you the owner on its own. A signed agreement does.
• Test a short version on social ads before you pay for every length and a full buyout.

What should a custom jingle for small business include?

Violet Recording's 2026 jingle pricing guide asks for WAV masters, every cutdown you will run (30, 15 and 6 seconds), stems, a revision count and a written rights document. Killerspots, a jingle agency, lists 18 to 27 files in its biggest package. Here is what each item means in plain words.

• Main version. The main version is the full jingle sung with your words, usually 30 or 60 seconds long.
• Cutdowns. A cutdown is a shorter edit of the same jingle, such as 15 or 6 seconds, so it fits shorter ads.
• Sting. A sting is a short musical sign-off at the end of an ad.
• Instrumental bed. An instrumental bed is the music with no singing, so a voice can talk over it about a new offer or on your phone line.
• A cappella. An a cappella version is the singing with no music behind it, handy for short radio tags.
• Stems. Stems are the separate tracks (music, lead voice, backing voices), so an editor can change the balance later.
• Master files. WAV is the full-quality file radio and video editors want; MP3 is the small one. Ask for both.
• Lyric sheet. The lyric sheet is the words typed out, which you will need for on-screen captions.
• Revisions. A revision is a round of changes after you hear a draft. Get the number in writing, plus the price of extra rounds.
• Rights in writing. The rights section says where you can use the jingle, for how long, and whether you own it.

One item is missing from these lists. A jingle is audio, but Facebook, Instagram and TikTok ads are video. So social ads also need a vertical video with the words on screen.

Get a musical video ad made for your business for $97 → A catchy song about your business, turned into a 3D animated video ad. Done for you in 72 hours.

Which jingle files does your business need?

The jingle files you need depend on where the jingle will play. A business that only runs social ads needs far fewer files than one that buys radio time. Match the package to your plans instead of paying for everything.

Pro tip: buy the files you will use in the next 12 months, and ask what it costs to add a length later.

What do jingle sellers put in writing, side by side?

Many jingle studios hold back the price until after a call, while flat-price sellers may promise less. The table shows what each seller publishes, checked in October 2026 (the AI-tool row is a general summary).

Few sellers spell out where and for how long you can use the music. That wording matters more than the headline price.

12 questions to ask a jingle writer before you pay

Send these 12 questions by email first, so every seller answers the same list in writing.

The work

• 1. Can I hear three jingles you made for businesses like mine? You learn their style and whether they can write about your trade. Good answer: audio you can play, not a page of logos.
• 2. Who writes the words, can I use my own, and how will you make my business name easy to sing? The words carry your name and your offer. Good answer: "we draft, you approve every line."
• 3. Who sings it: a session singer, the producer or an AI voice? The singer sets the sound and the price. Violet Recording notes that union singers can bring ongoing usage payments. Good answer: the singer type, in writing.
• 4. How many revision rounds do I get, and what counts as one? Sellers range from one round to unlimited. Good answer: a number, plus the price of an extra round.
• 5. When do I hear a first draft, and when are the final files due? Violet says a simple jingle takes a few working days to a week. One with a booked session singer takes one to three weeks. Good answer: two dates.

The files

• 6. Which lengths and versions do I get? You do not want to pay again for a 15 second cut. Good answer: a written list, such as 30, 15 and 6 seconds plus an instrumental bed.
• 7. Do I get WAV files and stems, or MP3 only? You need them to re-edit the jingle or add a new voice later. Good answer: WAV, MP3 and stems.
• 8. Does it come as a video for my ads, or audio only? Social ads run as video, so audio alone leaves you a job to do. Good answer: a plain list of what you still need to make.

The rights and fees

• 9. Is this a licence, or do I own it, and will I owe any fees later? Paying alone does not make you the owner, and renewals or usage fees can show up after launch. Good answer: a signed agreement, with any later fees listed.
• 10. Where, and for how long, can I use it? Social, website, radio, TV and on-hold can each be priced differently. Good answer: a list of places and a clear end date, or none.
• 11. Can you sell the same tune to another business? A rival with your tune undoes the whole point. Good answer: exclusive to you, at least in your trade and area.
• 12. Do you hold written rights from the singer and composer you hire? You can only get rights the seller holds. Good answer: yes, in writing, passed on to you.

Here is a short email you can copy and send to every seller on your list:

Hi, I'm looking for a jingle for [Your Name], a [your trade] in [your town]. Before we talk, could you answer these in writing: the price, the lengths and versions, who writes and who sings it, the number of revisions, the first-draft and final dates, the file types, and the exact rights (where, how long, licence or ownership, exclusive or not, and any later fees)? Thank you.

Who should write the words to your jingle?

For most owners, the best setup is that the writer drafts the words and you approve every line. The words carry your name and your offer. You know better than anyone what your customers need to hear.

A strong jingle line follows a few simple rules:

• Say your name plus one promise.
• Keep the hook under ten words.
• Use words people say out loud, not words from a brochure.
• Leave out prices and dates that will change, so the jingle lasts.

Here are four original lines to show the idea:

• Roofer: "Shingles flapping in the wind? Give [Your Name] Roofing a ring."
• Med spa: "Want to look fresh for the big day? [Your Name] Med Spa, book a visit today."
• Accountant: "Tax time knocking? Breathe out slow. [Your Name] Accounting keeps your numbers in a row."
• Chiropractor: "Stiff in the morning, sore by noon? [Your Name] Chiropractic can see you soon."

If you want to draft your own, use this fill-in line: "[Problem your customer has]? [One short promise]. [Your Name] [your trade], [what to do next]."

Never ask a writer to copy a famous jingle or reuse its words. Describe the feel you like instead, such as "bright country" or "warm acoustic", and let the tune be new. TikTok's Creative Center cites 2021 MediaScience research where custom, unrecognizable music saw 34% higher brand recognition than recognizable music.

Which contract line makes the jingle yours?

The line that makes a jingle yours is one where the writer assigns the copyright to you, in a written agreement you both sign. Paying the invoice does not do that on its own.

A work made for hire is a work the law treats as owned by the person who paid for it from the start. The U.S. Copyright Office's Circular 30 explains that a commissioned work counts only if two things are true. It must fit one of nine set categories. Both sides must also agree to it in a written document they both sign.

If any one of those is missing, it is not a work made for hire. So get a line where the writer assigns the copyright to you. A jingle made as part of a video ad may fit the audiovisual category. Audio sold on its own usually fits none of the nine, so the assignment line matters most there.

Look for these lines in the agreement:

• "Work made for hire" plus "assigns all copyright" to you, in a document you both sign
• The tune is exclusive to your business
• What happens to the rights if the job stops early

Watch for these red flags:

• "You'll own it" said on a call, with nothing in writing
• "Royalty-free" with no end date, places or ownership stated
• Revisions mentioned but never counted
• A right for the seller to sell the same tune to someone else

This is general information, not legal advice. If you are paying for a full buyout you plan to use for years, have a lawyer read the agreement first.

Hear the song ads we have made → Click any video to watch with sound.

How much should you budget for the music?

A sung custom jingle from a studio usually costs $800 to $2,500, according to Violet Recording. Violet puts named-brand agency work at $10,000 and up. Online services such as JVF list prices from $89. Practitioners quoted by Foxi Music put local jingle packages at $2,000 to $3,500.

For each price, what it buys and what pushes it up, see our guide to what a jingle costs, from AI tools to agencies.

Those prices buy sound only. A social ad also needs pictures, captions and an ending with your offer.

Where does a song ad fit?

A song ad fits an owner who mainly runs social ads and wants a sung video ad without studio prices. It is the wrong buy if you need a human singer, radio or TV versions, or one tune you will own outright for a decade.

Song ads are what we make at 30 Second Productions, so weigh this with that in mind. We write a catchy song about your business (or use your words), and a pro-sounding AI singer sings it in the style you pick. To be plain, the voice is AI. It becomes a 3D cartoon vertical video with every word on screen and your logo, offer and button at the end.

Our song ads cost $97 for one ad, or $297 a month for 5 new ads (cancel any time). Each is ready 72 hours after a 5-minute form, or in 24 hours with a $47 fast-track. You get 1 round of remakes, and if you are not happy within 30 days, you can email us for a full refund.

The Song Ads page says you own the ad and can use it in any ad, on your website, anywhere. It is not a buyout, and there are no radio or TV versions. We make the ad; you run it.

How do you test a jingle on social ads before you commit?

You test a jingle by running a short version as a vertical video ad with every word on screen, comparing two hooks, and keeping the one that works better. Only then is it worth paying for more lengths and wider rights.

Step 1: Pick one offer to sing about

Choose one offer your customers already ask about, such as a free roof check or a first-visit deal. One offer per ad keeps the song short and the test clear.

Step 2: Write two different hook lines

Write two openings that grab attention in the first 3 seconds, one built on a problem and one on a promise. Keep the rest of the song the same, so you know which hook made the difference. For more opening ideas, see these video ad scripts with hook examples.

Step 3: Put every word on screen

Show every sung word as text, because many people scroll with the sound off. TikTok's Creative Center cites a 2021 Lumen study where captions alone lifted ad recall by 58%.

Step 4: Run both as vertical video ads

Run both versions as 9:16 vertical video in Facebook and Instagram Reels or on TikTok, with the same budget over the same days. Meta's Reels ads page (2026) says Reels play with sound on by default.

Step 5: Keep the winner, then buy the extras

Keep the version that brings in more calls, bookings or messages, and pause the other. If the tune keeps earning its place over a few months, that is the time to pay for extra lengths, radio rights or a full buyout.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a small business jingle be?

Most small business jingles run 15 to 60 seconds, with 30 seconds the usual main version. Social ads often use a 15 to 30 second cut, and a sting can be a few seconds. Put every length you plan to run in the first contract.

Can I use my jingle in Facebook, Instagram and TikTok ads?

You can use a jingle in Facebook, Instagram and TikTok ads if your licence or contract lists social media ads as an allowed use. The audio alone is not enough, though. Each of those apps needs a video file, ideally vertical, with the words shown as text.

What if I do not like the first draft of my jingle?

If you do not like the first draft of a jingle, ask for a new direction before small changes, since tweaks rarely fix the wrong feel. Before you sign, check whether the seller offers a refund, a fresh start or a kill fee. A kill fee is a set amount you pay to end the job early.

What is the difference between a jingle and a song ad?

A custom jingle for small business is audio: a short song you can play on radio, on hold or under any ad. A song ad is a finished music video ad, where the story of your business is sung, with the words on screen and your offer at the end.

The short version

If you buy radio and want one tune for years, a studio with a signed work-for-hire or assignment clause is the safe route. If you mainly run social ads, test a short sung video first. Spend more once a line proves itself.

Either way, the goal is the same: a line your customers remember, in a deal you understand.

Ready for an ad people remember? Get your song ad for $97, written, sung and animated for you in 72 hours, with a money-back guarantee.

---

Related Reading

• How Much Does a Jingle Cost in 2026? Real Studio Prices: How much does a jingle cost? Real 2026 prices from AI tools, freelancers,…
• Christmas Jingle for Your Business: 12 Ideas and Lyric Starters: Christmas jingle for business ideas for 12 trades, with original lyric…
• Custom Christmas Song for Business: Costs and Options (2026): What a custom Christmas song for business costs in 2026: AI tools,…
• How Much Does a UGC Video Cost in 2026?: UGC video pricing ranges from $50 to $500+ per video. Here's what affects…
• Song Ads from $97 →: A catchy song about your business, turned into a 3D animated video ad in 72 hours.