Ask five agencies for a social media quote and you may get five very different numbers. That is usually because they are quoting for different things. Here is what goes into the cost, so you can compare properly.
1. Management and strategy
This is the agency's time: planning your content, writing captions, scheduling posts, replying to comments and messages, and reporting. More platforms and more posts mean more work.
2. Content production
Designed posts, reels, stories and copywriting. Professional photo or video shoots cost more than designs made from your existing material — but they often make the biggest difference to how premium your brand looks.
3. Advertising budget
This is money paid to Meta, TikTok or Google to show your ads. It should be separate from the agency fee and ideally paid from your own ad account, so you can see exactly where it goes.
How to compare quotes
- How many posts, reels and stories are included each month?
- Are shoots included, or extra?
- Is the ad budget included or separate?
- Who owns the pages, ad accounts and content?
- What is reported every month — likes, or enquiries and sales?
Cheap is not always cheaper
A low monthly fee with generic templates and no strategy can cost more in the long run, because the ad budget is wasted on the wrong audience. Look for clear deliverables and reporting tied to real business results.
See our transparent packages, or request a free social media audit and we will recommend the right level for your business.