Clips & editing for creators
Social media management can cost a few hundred dollars a month or tens of thousands. The price depends on who does the work, how many platforms you're on and, above all, whether video is part of it. Here are the usual ranges, what's behind them and what to check before you sign.
Most small businesses in the US pay an agency somewhere between about $1,000 and $2,500 a month, and a sizable share pays under $1,000. Freelancers are cheaper but often cover only part of the work. A full-time hire costs far more once you add salary and overhead. Ad spend almost always comes on top. Check the contract term, the extras and who owns your accounts.
| Who | Market range per month | What's usually included |
|---|---|---|
| Freelance social media manager | roughly $500–2,500 | often one part of the job, such as scheduling, captions or graphics |
| Small agency package | roughly $1,000–2,500 | content, scheduling, strategy and a monthly report on 1–3 platforms |
| Agency package with regular video | roughly $2,500–5,000 | as above, plus short videos every week |
| Larger agencies, full service | $5,000 and up | several platforms, video production, paid social, frequent reporting |
| In-house hire | several thousand dollars | salary plus benefits and tools for one person, without ad spend |
Rough market ranges, as of October 2026, from published agency surveys, price lists and marketplace rates in the US. Most figures come from providers themselves. Individual offers are above or below.
Agency surveys from 2026 show that about half of agencies charge a client between $1,000 and $2,500 a month, and roughly a third charge under $1,000. Experienced US agencies bill about $100–150 an hour for extra work. Freelancers on marketplaces often charge roughly $15–35 an hour.
Two offers at $1,500 can contain completely different things. Ask about every point:
The biggest cost driver is video. Packages without short videos are much cheaper. As soon as regular Reels or TikToks are included, the price climbs fast. A single agency-produced short video often costs about $500–3,000 when filming is part of it.
Some freelancers quote per post, agencies almost always per month. Per post looks cheap until you add planning, revisions and reporting. To compare, divide the monthly price by the number of finished posts or videos you actually get, and check what's missing from the cheaper offer.
The money for ads goes straight to the platform, such as Meta or TikTok, and is almost never included in the management fee. For running ads, agencies often charge a share of the ad budget, commonly 15–20 %, usually with a minimum. So budget three items separately: management, ad management and ad spend. Ads aren't a must. Many small businesses start with regular organic content and test ads once they know what resonates.
Many businesses have more video than they think: talks, webinars, interviews, events, podcasts, explainer videos, or simply what the team films on a phone. As a rule of thumb, an hour of talk or conversation gives 5 to 10 short clips, each with one clear point. That saves the most expensive part, the shoot, and it shows the real people behind your business.
Say a local business wants two to four short videos a week on Instagram and TikTok, from footage the team films itself. At an agency, with the ranges above, that easily lands at $2,500–5,000 a month once video is included. A freelancer may be cheaper but often edits only, without planning or a report.
With our social media management, the Starter package is $529 a month for 8 Reels on one platform with a posting plan and a short monthly report, Growth is $1,390 for 16 Reels on up to 3 platforms. Both cancel monthly. All prices excl. 19 % VAT.
General information, not legal or tax advice.
We turn footage you already have into Reels and short videos, plan when each one goes out and show you once a month what landed. Packages start at $529 a month, cancel monthly, with a personal contact. No ads, no filming on site. All prices excl. 19 % VAT.
Freelancers often charge roughly $500–2,500 a month, small agency packages roughly $1,000–2,500, and packages with regular video $2,500–5,000 and up (market range, as of October 2026). Ad spend comes on top.
Content creation, scheduling and strategy are almost always included, reporting usually, community management often. Paid social and on-site filming are mostly extra. Ask for a list of what's included in every package.
Usually per hour, yes. But a freelancer often covers only one part, such as captions or scheduling, and you depend on one person's availability. Compare the finished output per month, not the hourly rate.
Almost never. Ad spend goes directly to the platform. Managing ads is often billed as a share of the ad budget, commonly 15–20 %, with a minimum.
Start with what you can sustain for at least three months. Consistent posting matters more than a big launch. Many small businesses start with a few short videos a week and grow from there.
Yes, for small businesses: 8 to 30 Reels a month from your own footage, a posting plan and a monthly report, from $529 excl. VAT ($629.51 incl. VAT) a month, cancel monthly.
See also: Video editing prices · Social media management for small business · Video editor for hire · How to start a video podcast · Quick check for businesses · All packages
Share a few videos you already have. You get 3 finished clips for $19 excl. VAT and see how we work before you book anything.
No contract, no sales call. First we check together whether it is a fit.