Quick answer
Social media management for a small business usually costs from about $200 a month for posting and captions on top of content you supply, to $1,000 or more a month for a full service package with reels, graphics and paid ads. The price depends on how many posts you need, who creates the content and whether ads are included.
What are the typical price ranges?
Most quotes you will see fall into three bands. The numbers below are typical ranges, not fixed rules, and they move with the number of platforms, posts and videos you need.
| Option | Typical monthly cost | What you usually get |
|---|---|---|
| Posting and management only | $200 to $500 | Content calendar, captions, scheduling and replies, using photos and videos you provide |
| Content plus management | $600 to $1,500 | Designed posts, stories and a few reels each week, plus posting and community replies |
| Full service with ads | $1,000 to $3,000+ | Everything above, plus Meta ads management and ad creatives. Ad spend is paid separately |
For reference, GetX charges $200 a month for social media management, $500 a month for Meta ads management and $999 a month for the Social Media Package, which includes 3 posts, 3 stories and 1 reel every week, Meta ads management and 5 ad creatives a month. See the full list on our pricing page.
What makes social media management more or less expensive?
- Who makes the content. Posting your own photos is cheap. Scripting, filming and editing reels is where most of the cost sits.
- Volume. Three posts a week costs less than daily posting across four platforms.
- Video. Short form video takes the most time to make, and it is also what most platforms push hardest right now.
- Paid ads. Running Facebook and Instagram ads adds a management fee on top of the money you pay Meta for the ads themselves.
- Community management. Replying to comments and DMs every day is ongoing work and is priced as such.
- Contract length. Long contracts are often discounted, but month to month plans keep the agency honest. GetX works month to month.
Is a freelancer, an agency or an in house hire cheaper?
A freelancer is usually the cheapest monthly cost, but you are relying on one person for strategy, design, video and posting. An agency costs more than a single freelancer but gives you a team, backups and specialists for video and ads. An in house hire gives you the most control, but you also pay a full salary, software and equipment, and you still need to train and manage them.
We compare all three in detail in agency vs freelancer vs in house content.
What should a social media management plan include?
Whatever you pay, a good plan should give you all of these in writing before you start:
- A clear number of posts, stories and reels per week or month.
- A content calendar you can see and approve before anything goes live.
- Captions and hashtags written for your audience, not copied across every client.
- A turnaround time for revisions.
- Who owns the accounts and the content (it should always be you).
- A simple monthly report showing reach, engagement and leads.
How do I choose the right budget?
Start with the goal, not the platform. If you need more people to find you, put most of the budget into reels and short form video. If you already have attention but not enough sales, add Meta ads with strong creatives. If your accounts look inactive, basic management with consistent posting fixes that quickly.
Not sure which applies to you? We offer a free content audit where we review your feed and competitors and tell you where the quickest wins are, whether you work with us or not.
Frequently asked questions
How much should a small business spend on social media per month?
Most small businesses spend between $200 and $1,500 a month on social media management and content, plus any ad spend. Start with consistent content first, then add ads once you know which posts your audience responds to.
Is ad spend included in social media management pricing?
Usually not. Ad spend is paid directly to Meta or TikTok from your own ad account. The agency fee covers strategy, setup, creatives and management.
Do social media managers create the content too?
Some only schedule what you send them. Others, like GetX, script, edit and design the reels, posts and stories as well. Always check which one you are paying for.
How long before social media management shows results?
Most brands see better engagement within the first month of consistent posting. Leads and sales usually build over two to three months as the content and ads are refined.