What social media management costs
Quotes for social media management vary from a few hundred to many thousands a month, which sounds like a market with no prices. It is not — it is a market where the word covers two very different services.
Publishing and community management is one price. Production is another, and it is the larger one.
Typical monthly ranges#
| What you are buying | Usual range | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Publishing and replies | $500 – $2,000 | Scheduling, community, basic reporting |
| Publishing plus production | $2,000 – $8,000 | Filming days, editing, design, strategy |
| Full agency with paid social | Higher, plus ad budget | Team, campaigns, deeper reporting |
| In-house | A salary plus tools | Everything, if the hours exist |
What moves the number#
- How much original content has to be produced, and whether filming is included.
- Number of platforms and how different the formats are.
- Response times promised for comments and messages.
- Whether paid social is managed, and whether the fee is separate from the ad spend.
- Approval layers — every extra reviewer costs real hours.
The cheap quote is usually publishing only#
A low monthly fee almost always assumes you supply the content. That can be exactly right if you have a camera and a routine; it is a trap if you assumed someone else was making the videos.
Ask one question of every quote: who films? The answer explains the entire price difference.
In-house is not free#
A person costs their salary plus tools plus the management time, and a part-time social role tends to lose to whatever is more urgent. In-house wins when content depends on daily access to the product or the people — which nobody outside your building can film.
Frequently asked questions
Why are quotes so different?
Because some include content production and some assume you provide it. Ask who films.
Is an agency worth it for a small brand?
When you need several skills at once and cannot hire them. For publishing alone, a freelancer is usually better value.
Should ad spend be part of the fee?
No. Keep the management fee and the media budget separate so both stay visible.
social media management costsocial media agency pricingsocial media manager salaryfreelance social media ratessmm pricing
