Guide · Social media costs
How much does social media management cost in the UK?
Most UK small businesses pay between £250 and £800 a month to have their social media run for them. Freelancers can be cheaper, bigger agencies charge more, and doing it yourself costs time instead of money. Here's what drives the price, and what you should get for it.
- 01
The short answer: typical UK prices
Prices vary a lot, because “social media management” can mean anything from three posts a week to a daily stream of videos, replies and ads. These are the ranges small businesses in the UK are usually quoted in 2026:
Who does it Typical monthly cost What that usually covers You, yourself £0, plus 3–6 hours a week Free tools, your own photos, posting when you can Freelancer £150–£600 One or two platforms, a few posts a week, light replies Small agency £300–£1,500 Planned posts, captions, replies, a monthly report Larger agency £1,500–£5,000+ Several platforms, video, strategy, campaigns Rough ranges for small businesses, not quotes. Ad spend is always extra and goes to the platform.
Many agencies also charge a one-off set-up fee, often £150–£500, to tidy your profiles, agree your look and voice, and plan the first month.
- 02
What changes the price
Two businesses can be quoted £200 and £2,000 for “social media” and both quotes can be fair. The difference is almost always in these six things:
- How many platforms. Facebook and Instagram can share a lot of content. Adding TikTok, LinkedIn or YouTube means different formats and more work.
- How often you post. Two or three posts a week is a common start for a local business. Daily posting roughly doubles the work.
- Who makes the content. Captions on your own photos cost far less than a photographer or videographer visiting. Short videos (Reels, TikToks) take the longest.
- Replies and messages. Answering comments and DMs every day, including weekends, is real work and is often priced separately.
- Ads. Running paid ads is a separate skill. Expect a management fee on top of the ad budget you pay Facebook or Google.
- Reporting and strategy. A short monthly summary is standard. Detailed reports, calls and strategy sessions add to the cost.
Before comparing quotes, ask each one: how many posts a week, on which platforms, who takes the photos, and who answers messages. That's usually where the gap is.
- 03
Doing it yourself: the hidden cost
Running your own accounts is free in money, but not in time. Planning, taking photos, writing captions, posting and replying usually takes a small business owner three to six hours a week to do well.
If your time is worth £25 an hour, that's roughly £300–£600 a month. That's why many owners start doing it themselves, then hand it over once the business is busy and posts start to slip. Doing it yourself works best when you enjoy it, have a good eye for photos and can post regularly. Consistency matters more than polish.
- 04
Examples from Dorset
Here's how the numbers tend to work out for three made-up local businesses:
- A café in Boscombe: Instagram only, three posts a week from the owner's own photos, captions written for them, comments answered on weekdays. Typical cost: £200–£350 a month.
- A hair salon in Ashley Cross, Poole: two platforms, four or five posts a week including short before-and-after videos, daily replies to booking questions. Typical cost: £400–£700 a month.
- A builder in Christchurch: Facebook only, one or two project posts a week, plus a small ads budget in spring to fill the diary. Typical cost: £150–£300 a month for posting, plus ads management and ad spend.
Local businesses rarely need the most expensive option. Regular, honest posts showing your work, your team and your place usually do more than a polished campaign.
- 05
What you should get for your money
Whatever you pay, a good social media manager should give you:
- A simple plan for the month, so you know what's going out before it does.
- Posts that sound like you and show your real business, not generic stock images.
- Replies to comments and messages within an agreed time.
- A short monthly report: what was posted, what people engaged with, and any enquiries it brought.
- Your accounts in your own name. You should always own your pages and be able to leave.
Be careful with promises of a set number of followers, very cheap packages that post the same content for everyone, and contracts that lock you in for a year with no way out.
- 06
Our prices
For Dorset businesses, we keep it simple, no VAT to add:
- Social Starter: £249 a month (£249 set-up). One platform, 2–3 posts a week from your photos, captions in your voice, weekday replies and a monthly report.
- Social Plus: £449 a month (£249 set-up). Two platforms, 4–5 posts a week with short videos, daily replies, a monthly report and a 15-minute call.
If you'd like it taken off your hands, see how our social media management works for local businesses. If you want people beyond your followers to see you, our Facebook and Instagram ads are priced separately, and if your photos are holding you back, a half-day with a local business photographer gives you months of posts.
Want it done for you? Social media from £249 a month.
See social media plansGood questions
Is social media management worth it for a small business?
It's worth it when posting regularly brings you customers but you don't have the time to do it well. For local businesses, the return usually comes from people nearby seeing you're open, busy and good at what you do.
How much should a small business spend on social media ads?
Many local businesses start with £5–£15 a day, paid directly to Facebook or Instagram, on top of any management fee. Start small, measure enquiries, then increase what works.
How long does social media take to work?
Expect two to three months of regular posting before you see a steady rise in enquiries. Ads can bring results within days.
Do I need to be on every platform?
No. Pick the one or two where your customers already are. For most local businesses that's Facebook and Instagram.