How Much Does Social Media Management Cost?

Keeping social media active, on-brand and genuinely useful takes more time than most business owners expect. Planning, writing, designing, scheduling, replying to comments and reporting all add up. That is why many businesses look at outsourcing, and why the first question is usually: how much does social media management cost?

This guide explains how agencies and freelancers price social media management, what drives the cost, what to expect at different price points and our own published packages, so you can compare like for like.

It is worth outsourcing when one or more of these is true:

• Your accounts go quiet for weeks because nobody has time.
• Posts are rushed, inconsistent or off-brand.
• You are not sure which platforms your customers actually use.
• You want to run paid campaigns but do not know where to start.
• You have no idea whether social media is producing enquiries.

If you have someone in-house with the time and skills, you may only need help with strategy, design or ads. If not, a managed service gives you a plan, consistent content and someone accountable for results.

Organic social is the content you publish on your own profiles: posts, carousels, stories, short videos and replies. It builds trust and keeps you visible to people who already follow you.

Paid social is advertising on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, targeting people by location, interests, job role or behaviour. It reaches new audiences quickly but needs its own budget and management. Our guide to organic vs paid social media explains how the two work together.

When comparing quotes, check which one you are being offered. A package of organic posts is not the same as managing an advertising budget.

The most common model. You pay a fixed monthly fee for a set number of posts across a set number of platforms, usually with design and reporting included. This is how we price our social media management.

Common with freelancers and for one-off work such as a strategy session, a profile clean-up or a content shoot. Good for flexibility, but harder to budget for over time.

Extras such as paid post boosting, video production, community management, influencer outreach or extra platforms may be charged on top. Ask what is included before comparing prices.

For paid social campaigns, agencies usually charge a management fee based on a percentage of ad spend, often with a monthly minimum.

• Number of posts: the biggest driver. More posts means more planning, writing and design.
• Number of platforms: each network needs content adapted to its format and audience.
• Content type: custom graphics, photography and short-form video take longer than text posts.
• Community management: replying to comments and messages daily adds ongoing time.
• Approvals: reviewing each post before it goes live is worth having, but it adds a step.
• Strategy and reporting: a proper plan and meaningful monthly reporting take time to do well.
• Contract length: longer commitments usually come with a lower monthly price.

You can see our current social media packages and prices on our social media page.

• Essential: 8 posts a month on 1 network. Includes designed graphics, scheduling, monthly report and setup call. Leaves out community management, video, monthly strategy call and paid boosting.
• Growth (Most Popular): 12 posts a month on 2 networks. Includes content calendar, office-hours comment replies, monthly call and basic reporting. Leaves out Reels production, daily inbox and filming.
• Business: 20 posts a month on 3 networks. Includes short-form edits from supplied footage, community management hours and monthly strategy call. Leaves out a full filming day, influencer outreach and ad management.
• Premium: 30 posts a month on 4 networks. Includes Reels from a content day or supplied clips, campaign planning, detailed reporting and priority support. Leaves out paid ads management (add-on).

All fees exclude VAT. Every package has a 3-month minimum term, and 6 and 12-month agreements cost less per month. Paid boosting and ad management are add-ons. Filming days and extra posts are quoted separately.

For full paid social campaigns rather than boosted posts, our social ads management is priced separately as a fixed monthly fee, never a percentage of your ad spend. Current packages are listed on our social ads page.

As a rough guide to what each level of spend gets you:

• Entry level: a consistent presence on one or two platforms, with a few well-designed posts a month. Enough to look active and professional when customers check you out.
• Mid-range: several posts a week across two or three platforms, more custom design, some community management and a little paid boosting to extend reach.
• Higher budgets: near-daily content across several platforms, video, active community management, a detailed strategy and paid campaigns running alongside organic content.

The jump between levels is mostly about time: more posts, more platforms and more interaction all need more hours from writers, designers and account managers.

• Freelancers can be flexible and good value for a single platform or a short project. Check their availability, back-up cover and how they report.
• Small and mid-sized agencies usually offer monthly packages, a dedicated contact and a team covering design, copy, ads and reporting.
• Larger agencies suit big brands with complex needs, multiple markets and large ad budgets, but may be more than a small business needs.

Size matters less than fit. Ask to see work for businesses like yours and how they measure success.

• Which platforms do you recommend for my business, and why?
• How many posts will I get, and what formats (images, carousels, video)?
• Who writes and designs the content, and how do approvals work?
• Is community management included, and how quickly do you reply?
• Is paid boosting included or extra, and who sets the budget?
• What does the monthly report show, and how do you link activity to enquiries or sales?
• What is the minimum term and notice period?
• Will I keep ownership of my accounts and any content you create?

• Agree two or three clear goals, such as enquiries, website visits or bookings.
• Focus on the platforms your customers actually use rather than being everywhere.
• Give your agency access to real photos, staff and customer stories. Real photos and stories make your content recognisably yours in a way stock imagery cannot (see why authentic content is winning).
• Track clicks and enquiries from social, not just likes and followers.
• Review results every month and adjust the plan.
• Add paid promotion to your best organic posts when you want to reach more people.

Social media management can cost anything from a modest monthly fee for a few posts to a significant investment for daily content across several platforms with paid campaigns. The right budget depends on how many platforms you need, how much content you want and whether paid social is part of the plan.

If you would like help choosing the right package, or a custom plan that combines organic content with content creation and ads, we will put together a clear proposal.

Get your social media management quote