What a small business should pay for marketing in 2026

June 2026   Pricing

Marketing prices vary wildly, which makes it hard to know if you are paying a fair amount. Here is a simple map.

The three options

• A freelancer, roughly 300 to 1,500 a month, doing what one person can.
• A traditional agency, 1,500 to 5,000 or more, a real team at a price many cannot justify.
• A studio that gives you a small team at close to the freelancer price.

What should be included

Planned social, design, basic search and AI visibility, and a monthly report you can read. Advertising budget is separate.

Questions to ask

• Who works on my account, and what happens when they are away?
• Is there a long contract?
• Will I be found in AI search, not just Google?