We won't put a number on this page, because a figure without a scope is misleading, and we'd rather be straight with you than tidy. What you pay depends on the scope, the type of content, the volume, the ads, the reporting and the team, and a written quote should list each one. Agencies usually charge a monthly retainer, a project fee or a mix of both.
How much does it cost to hire a social media agency?
There is no honest single answer. Two agencies can quote different amounts for what sounds like the same service, because what sits inside the service is different. These are the things that usually affect the price:
- Scope: strategy only, or strategy plus production, posting, community replies and ads
- Type of content: designed templates, or real photo and video shoots
- Volume and frequency: how many pieces a month, on how many platforms
- Ads: whether managing paid campaigns is included
- Reporting: how often you get numbers and calls
- Team: who works on your account and how much time they give it
- Contract length and how quickly you need to start
At Be an Art we do not publish a price list. Pricing is shared on request, because a quote only makes sense once we actually understand what you need. <!-- F012 --> Tell us about your business and your goals, and we'll tell you what fits.
Two businesses can both ask for a month of content. One needs a handful of photos and a posting plan. The other needs shoot days, Reels, replies and ads. Those are different amounts of work, and a good quote shows the difference.
How big is the job you are asking for?
These three labels are a way to describe what you want, not something we sell:
| Job | What it usually involves | Who it tends to suit |
|---|---|---|
| Advice only | Advice or a strategy; your own team produces and posts | A business with in-house time and some experience |
| Content and posting | Strategy plus content production and posting | A business that wants steady content and has little time |
| Full handling | Strategy, production, posting, replies, ads and reporting | A business that wants the whole job handled |
The bigger the job, the more hours and skills sit behind the quote. That is why two quotes are hard to compare until you list what each one includes.
What does a social media agency do?
A social media agency plans, produces and publishes content for a brand, manages its community and may run paid ads and reporting. Scope varies, so read each list carefully; how we run it is on our social media management page.
Our services include photo and video content, SMM and visual branding, AI-generated content production, Instagram and Facebook ads management, and website and brand identity work when needed. <!-- F018 F019 F020 F021 F022 --> The home page shows them all.
How do social media agencies charge?
Agencies tend to use a few models, sometimes combined:
- Monthly retainer: a regular fee for ongoing management. It suits businesses that need a steady presence, and it is easy to plan around.
- Fixed-scope project fee: fixed deliverables for a defined job, such as a content day, a campaign or a profile refresh.
- Hourly or consulting rate: useful for audits, advice and training your own team.
- Ads management fee: a fee for running campaigns. The advertising budget itself is usually paid to the platform and kept separate, so ask which is which. For an example of content and paid ads planned together, see our paid ads case study. <!-- F053 -->
To total any quote, use this formula in words: monthly cost = management fee + production + ad budget (paid to the platform) + tools or licences. Ask also about setup or onboarding fees, and what happens if you want to pause or stop. If you are still deciding whether an agency is the right model at all, our guide to agency vs freelancer vs in-house walks through the options.
Agency or in-house social media manager?
If you hire a person instead, count salary, equipment, software and management time. Our guide to agency vs freelancer vs in-house compares the setups side by side. For pay levels, use the Government of Canada's Job Bank wage search rather than guesses; we give no numbers here.
What should you look for in a proposal?
A good proposal is specific. Use this checklist when you compare:
- A list of deliverables with quantities (posts, Reels, shoot days, ad creatives) instead of a vague "content creation"
- Who does the work and who your main contact is
- What is included and what is billed extra: additional shoots, extra rounds of edits, ad budget, music or licences
- How approvals work and how long they take
- What reporting you receive, how often, and which numbers are tied to your goal
- Contract length, notice period, and what happens to files and accounts if you leave
- Ownership: your accounts stay yours and you receive the content files
- A start date and the onboarding steps
Compare proposals line by line, not by the total. A lower total with fewer deliverables is not a lower price for the same work, and a higher total may include things the other one leaves out.
Be careful with promises of guaranteed followers, views or sales. Nobody controls how audiences respond, and a proposal that pretends otherwise is a warning sign.
You may also meet rules of thumb for the content mix, such as 70/20/10, 5-5-5 or 50/30/20. They have nothing to do with price. Our guide to views vs sales explains them.
Can you compare two quotes with a worksheet?
Yes. Copy this table, fill in one column per quote and mark every empty line. An empty line is a question for the agency.
| Item | What to check | Quote A | Quote B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strategy | Included? For which platforms and goals? | ||
| Content production | Photo, video, graphics: what, and how much? | ||
| Posting | Who publishes, and who approves? | ||
| Replies | Who answers comments and messages? | ||
| Ads management | Included? Is the ad budget separate? | ||
| Reporting | Which numbers, how often, with a call? | ||
| Extras | What is billed on top? | ||
| Contract | Length, notice period, ownership of files |
Here is an illustrative example, not real quotes:
| Item | Quote A | Quote B |
|---|---|---|
| Content production | Posts per month listed | Fewer posts listed |
| Replies | Not mentioned | Included |
| Reporting | None | A monthly call |
| Ads management | Not mentioned | Not included; ad budget separate |
Quote A lists posts but no reporting. Quote B lists fewer posts but includes replies and a monthly call. Their totals cannot be compared until every empty line is answered.
If you'd like a quote built around your own goals, message us on Instagram @be_an.art.
What should you ask before you hire?
Come to the first conversation prepared. A short brief saves time for both sides. Think through:
- Your goal: bookings, orders, enquiries or awareness
- Your customers: who they are and where they find you
- What you already have: photos, brand materials, accounts, past results
- Your time: how many hours your team can give to approvals and replies
- Your calendar: seasons, launches and events
- Your budget range: sharing one helps an agency propose something realistic
Then ask the agency a few questions of your own. How will we know it is working? What would you do in the first month? What do you need from us each week? What happens if our priorities change?
Agree on what "working" means before you start. Our guide on views vs sales can help you decide which numbers matter for your business, and our marketing section has more guides like it.
When you're ready, message us on Instagram @be_an.art or use the contact page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to hire a social media agency?
It depends on the scope: strategy, content production, posting, replies, ads and reporting. We share pricing on request, once we understand your goals and what you already have.
How much does it cost to have someone manage social media?
The cost follows the workload: how many platforms, how much content, whether photo and video production is included and whether ads are managed. Ask for a written list of what is included.
What does a social media agency do?
It plans the strategy and content, produces and publishes the posts, photos and videos, answers the community and may run paid ads and reports. Scope varies between agencies.
Is the ad budget part of the agency fee?
Usually the ad budget is paid to the platform and is separate from the agency's fee for managing the ads. Check the proposal to see how each agency handles it.
What is the 5-5-5 rule for social media?
It is a rule of thumb for pacing content, and sources define it differently. It has nothing to do with what an agency charges. Our views-vs-sales guide covers content-mix rules.
What is the 50/30/20 rule for social media?
It is a rule of thumb for splitting content between types, and sources define it differently. It does not set an agency's price. Ask any agency which content mix it proposes and why.
Written by Anna · Nov 12, 2026 · 6 min read.
