What does a marketing agency actually cost?

For small businesses, common structures cluster around: monthly retainers (a few hundred to several thousand depending on scope and seniority), percentage-of-ad-spend for media management (commonly 10–20%), and project fees for builds. Wide ranges, because 'agency' spans a freelancer to a floor of juniors.

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For small businesses, common structures cluster around: monthly retainers (a few hundred to several thousand depending on scope and seniority), percentage-of-ad-spend for media management (commonly 10–20%), and project fees for builds. Wide ranges, because 'agency' spans a freelancer to a floor of juniors.

The number that matters more than price is who does the work: senior prices with junior execution is the classic big-agency trade. Ask directly who touches your account and how much of their week you get.

And denominate cost honestly: fees PLUS ad spend PLUS what lock-in would cost you to leave. A cheap retainer inside someone else's accounts is the most expensive option on the menu.

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Marketing You OwnWhat owning your marketing actually means, asset by asset — domain, ads, analytics, lists,…What should a marketing agency give me access to?Everything, as owner — not viewer. Your ad accounts, analytics, tag manager, domain regist…Break-even CPA CalculatorThe most you can pay for a lead or a click before you lose money — from your price, margin…

This is the work. Want it done?

Everything here is free to use yourself — that’s the point. If you’d rather a senior marketer just handle it, in your accounts and your name: 20-minute call, no pitch deck.

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