If you are considering a virtual tour for your business, one of the first questions you will probably ask is, “How much does a virtual tour cost?”
The answer depends on several factors, including the size of the property, the type of virtual tour, the technology used, hosting requirements, and the amount of work involved in capturing and processing the space.
For Philadelphia businesses, restaurants, commercial properties, real estate professionals, and other organizations, a professional virtual tour can be a useful way to showcase a physical location online. But before investing, it helps to understand exactly what you are paying for and what is included.
In this guide, we will break down virtual tour pricing, Matterport costs, the production process, and the potential marketing value of a professional 3D tour.
How Much Does a Virtual Tour Cost?
Virtual tour pricing can vary significantly between providers.
Some companies charge a few hundred dollars for a basic tour, while larger or more complex projects can cost considerably more.
At Momentum 360, the pricing structure discussed in the original video starts with:
- $300 for the virtual tour
- $100 for Matterport hosting
- An additional charge based on the property’s square footage
Using the pricing example from the source, a 2,000 square foot property would have a total cost of approximately $600.
That example breaks down as:
$300 virtual tour + $100 hosting + $200 based on square footage = $600
The pricing structure in the source was presented as a one-time fee rather than a recurring monthly production fee.
Because pricing can change over time and projects vary, businesses should always confirm the current quote and hosting terms directly with their virtual tour provider before booking.
What Determines the Price of a Virtual Tour?
Square footage is only one part of the equation.
Several factors can influence the cost of a professional virtual tour.
1. Property Size
A 1,500 square foot restaurant requires considerably less scanning than a 100,000 square foot commercial facility.
Larger properties typically require:
- More scans
- More time on-site
- More processing
- More navigation points
- More post-production work
- More time for quality control
This is why many professional providers factor property size into their pricing.
2. Property Layout
Two properties with the same square footage can require different amounts of work.
A simple open floor plan may be relatively straightforward to capture.
A property with multiple floors, small rooms, stairways, hallways, private areas, and complex layouts may require significantly more scans and planning.
3. Scanning Technology
The equipment and software used to create the tour can also affect the production process.
The transcript discusses the use of Matterport’s professional 3D camera system mounted on a tripod. The approach allows the photographer to capture consistent scans throughout the property.
The goal is consistency.
Each scan needs to connect properly with the others so visitors can move through the finished experience without confusing jumps or inconsistent viewpoints.
4. Hosting and Platform Costs
A virtual tour is not simply photographed and forgotten.
The finished experience needs to be processed, hosted, and made accessible to visitors.
Matterport hosting is one example of an ongoing platform-related cost that may be included separately from the initial photography or production fee.
When comparing providers, always ask whether hosting is included and whether it is a one-time charge or a recurring subscription.
What Is Matterport?
Matterport is a platform used to create immersive 3D property experiences.
A Matterport capture can allow visitors to move through a property digitally, explore different areas, view the space from different angles, and interact with additional information depending on how the tour has been configured.
For businesses, this can make a physical location easier to understand before someone visits.
For example, a restaurant customer might want to see the dining room before making a reservation. A prospective tenant may want to explore an office. A real estate buyer can get a better sense of a property before scheduling an in-person viewing.
What Does a Professional Virtual Tour Include?
The final experience can include much more than a simple 360-degree photograph.
Depending on the project and platform, a virtual tour can include:
- 360-degree views
- Interactive navigation
- Mattertags
- Links
- Photos
- Videos
- Website links
- Property information
- Floor plan information
- Calls to action
- Additional points of interest
Mattertags are particularly useful because they can provide additional information at specific locations inside the tour.
For example, a restaurant could use them to highlight a private dining area, bar, entrance, special room, or other feature.
How Long Does It Take to Create a Virtual Tour?
The time required depends heavily on the size and complexity of the property.
A smaller business may be captured relatively quickly, while a large commercial building can require several hours or more.
The source describes projects involving roughly 50 to 60 scans for certain businesses, with larger or multi-floor spaces requiring additional time.
After the property is captured, the scans need to be uploaded and processed.
There can also be additional work involved in:
- Adding Mattertags
- Adding links
- Reviewing the navigation
- Adding photos
- Adding videos
- Optimizing the tour
- Creating the preview
- Making requested revisions
- Publishing the finished experience
That is why the price of a professional virtual tour is about more than simply the time spent holding a camera.
Can a Virtual Tour Help a Business Get More Visibility?
A virtual tour can contribute to a business’s overall online presence, particularly when it is incorporated into platforms and marketing channels where customers already discover the business.
However, it is important to be realistic.
A virtual tour is not a guaranteed ranking or traffic solution.
Search visibility depends on many factors, including your Google Business Profile, website quality, reviews, relevance, competition, content, backlinks, local authority, and other SEO signals.
A virtual tour can complement these efforts by giving potential customers another way to interact with your business.
Virtual Tours and Google Business Profiles
For local businesses, Google Business Profile is an important place where customers discover businesses.
A well-produced visual experience can complement the photos and other content associated with your business.
Imagine someone searching for a restaurant in Philadelphia.
They may compare several businesses based on:
- Reviews
- Photos
- Location
- Hours
- Menu
- Website
- Services
- Overall presentation
An immersive tour can give potential customers additional information about the physical environment.
For businesses where the atmosphere matters, this can be especially useful.
Example: Restaurants in Philadelphia
Restaurants are a great example of where virtual tours can provide context.
A customer may want to know:
What does the dining room look like?
Is there a bar?
Is there a private area?
What is the atmosphere like?
Where would I be sitting?
A virtual tour can help answer those questions before the customer arrives.
The source specifically discusses Philadelphia restaurants and examples such as South Jazz Kitchen and Dock Street Brewery.
For Philadelphia restaurants competing for local searches, a strong combination of reviews, photography, website content, Google Business Profile optimization, and visual experiences can help customers make more informed decisions.
How Does the Virtual Tour Photography Process Work?
Professional virtual tour production generally begins with an on-site capture.
The camera is positioned at selected points throughout the property.
The photographer then captures multiple scans that are connected together during processing.
For a professional Matterport workflow, using a consistent camera height and positioning strategy helps create a smoother experience.
The source describes using a tripod-based professional 3D camera setup rather than relying on inconsistent handheld positioning.
After the scanning process is complete, the files are processed through the appropriate software.
The provider can then review the tour and add additional content.
What Happens After the Tour Is Captured?
The production does not necessarily end when the photographer leaves the property.
The post-production stage can include:
- Processing the scans
- Reviewing the virtual tour
- Checking navigation
- Adding Mattertags
- Adding links and media
- Adding SEO-related information where appropriate
- Sharing a preview
- Making revisions
- Publishing the finished tour
This review process is important because the finished tour represents the business online.
A professional provider should make sure the experience works correctly before it is delivered.
Are Virtual Tours Better Than Google Ads?
It is difficult to make a direct comparison because virtual tours and Google Ads serve different purposes.
Google Ads are paid advertising. You pay to place advertisements in front of a selected audience.
A virtual tour is an asset that showcases your physical location.
A business does not necessarily have to choose one or the other.
In many cases, they can work together.
For example, a restaurant might use Google Ads to attract visitors to its website while using professional photography and a virtual tour to help those visitors understand the restaurant once they arrive.
The important thing is to evaluate each marketing investment based on its specific purpose and measurable results.
What Is the ROI of a Virtual Tour?
Return on investment is one of the most important questions businesses should ask.
The transcript references historical results from a collection of 61 spaces, including more than 250,000 impressions and more than 150,000 visits across those spaces. It also highlights individual project results.
These are historical examples from the source, not a guarantee of future performance.
Your results can vary substantially depending on the business, location, search demand, competition, existing online presence, quality of the tour, and how effectively the tour is promoted.
A better approach is to treat these examples as evidence that virtual tours can generate meaningful engagement in certain circumstances, rather than assuming every business will achieve the same numbers.
Who Can Benefit From a Virtual Tour?
Virtual tours can be useful for many different types of businesses.
Restaurants and Bars
Show customers your dining room, bar, private rooms, and overall atmosphere.
Hotels
Help potential guests explore rooms, lobbies, amenities, and common areas.
Real Estate
Give buyers or tenants an interactive way to explore properties before arranging an in-person visit.
Commercial Properties
Show offices, warehouses, medical facilities, educational buildings, and other large spaces.
Retail Stores
Give potential customers a better understanding of the store layout and shopping environment.
Event Venues
Help prospective clients explore spaces before booking weddings, meetings, parties, or corporate events.
Gyms and Fitness Facilities
Show equipment, workout areas, classes, and the overall facility.
Is a Virtual Tour Worth the Cost?
Whether a virtual tour is worth the investment depends on your business and how you plan to use it.
Before booking, consider:
- How important is your physical location to the buying decision?
- Does atmosphere influence customer decisions?
- Do customers regularly visit your website or Google Business Profile?
- Can the tour be incorporated into your marketing?
- How long will you use the tour?
- What additional content can you add?
- What does your provider include in the package?
- Are hosting fees recurring?
If your business relies heavily on customers understanding the physical space before visiting, a virtual tour may provide meaningful value.
How to Choose a Virtual Tour Provider
Price should not be the only factor you consider.
Ask potential providers:
What camera and software do you use?
How many scans will you capture?
Is hosting included?
How long will the tour remain available?
Can you add Mattertags, links, videos, or other content?
Do I receive a preview before publication?
What happens if something needs to be corrected?
Can the tour be embedded on my website?
Where will the finished tour be published?
You should also look at examples of previous work.
A professional portfolio can tell you a lot about the quality, consistency, and attention to detail you can expect.
Final Thoughts
So, how much does a virtual tour cost?
There is no universal price because every property and project is different.
The pricing example discussed in the source starts at $300 for the virtual tour, plus $100 for Matterport hosting and an additional amount based on square footage. A 2,000 square foot property, for example, would come to approximately $600 under that pricing structure.
The most important thing is to understand exactly what is included in your quote.
For Philadelphia businesses, a professional virtual tour can be a valuable addition to a broader digital marketing strategy. It can give potential customers a better understanding of your location and provide another piece of visual content for your website and online presence.
Rather than looking only at the upfront cost, consider the long-term value of having a professional digital representation of your physical space.
If you are considering a virtual tour for your business, you can learn more about Momentum 360’s custom 360 virtual tour services and explore how a professional tour could fit into your marketing strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Matterport virtual tour cost?
Matterport virtual tour pricing varies based on the provider, property size, hosting requirements, and scope of the project. The pricing example discussed in this article starts at $300 for the tour, plus $100 for hosting and a square-footage-based charge.
Are virtual tours expensive?
They do not necessarily have to be. Smaller properties may cost a few hundred dollars, while larger or more complicated properties can cost more. The best way to determine the cost is to request a quote based on the actual property.
How long does a virtual tour take to create?
The capture time depends on the size and layout of the property. Larger buildings with multiple floors and many rooms can require several hours, followed by processing and post-production.
Can I put a virtual tour on my website?
Yes. Depending on the platform used, a virtual tour can generally be embedded into a website so visitors can explore the property without leaving the page.
Can a virtual tour improve local SEO?
A virtual tour can support your overall online presence, but it should not be treated as a guaranteed SEO ranking factor or replacement for a complete local SEO strategy. Your Google Business Profile, website, reviews, content, relevance, and other factors also matter.
Are virtual tours useful for Philadelphia businesses?
They can be particularly useful for Philadelphia businesses where the physical environment influences the customer’s decision. Restaurants, hotels, event venues, commercial properties, retail stores, gyms, and other location-based businesses can all potentially benefit.
