So you’re trying to figure out what to charge for social media management in 2025. It’s the wild west out there. One person is charging $300 a month, and another is getting $5,000 for basically the same stuff. It’s enough to make your head spin. You’re not alone in feeling this way. This is probably the number one question that gets asked in every single freelance group online. It is a thing that keeps people stuck. But we’re going to get it sorted.
This isn’t going to be some high-level, fancy guide. It’s the real talk on how to set your social media management pricing so you can actually pay your bills. And not want to throw your laptop out the window. We’ll look at the different ways people charge and what numbers actually make sense for the upcoming year.
What’s the Deal with Social Media Pricing Anyway?
The reason there’s no single answer is because no two jobs are the same. It’s that simple.
A local pizza shop needs something very different from a national B2B software company. Their goals are different. Their audience is different. The amount of work you have to do is completely different.
That’s why you see prices all over the place. Your experience level matters a lot too. If you’re brand new you can’t really charge what someone with a ten-year track record does. That’s just how it is. So let’s get into the actual methods.
The Big Three: How People Actually Charge
Generally, you’ll find that most social media managers fall into one of three buckets when it comes to pricing. Each one has its good and bad sides. You have to pick what works for you and the client you’re talking to. Sometimes you might even mix and match them.
The Hourly Rate: Good for Starters
This is exactly what it sounds like. You charge for every hour you work. It’s straightforward, easy for clients to get. And it’s a safe way to start so you don’t undercharge for a huge project.
But it has problems. You get punished for being fast. If a task takes you one hour instead of three because you’re good, you make less money. Which is kind of backwards, you know?
Beginner Rate (0-1 year): $25 – $50 per hour
Intermediate Rate (2-4 years): $50 – $100 per hour
Expert Rate (5+ years): $100 – $250+ per hour
Normally you use this for small, undefined tasks or consulting calls. It’s not great for ongoing monthly work.
Monthly Retainers: The Gold Standard
This is where you want to be. A monthly retainer is a fixed fee you charge every month for a specific list of jobs. This is amazing for your budget because your income is predictable. The client likes it too because they know exactly what they’re paying each month.
The big danger here is “scope creep”. That’s when the client starts asking for “just one more thing” over and over. You have to be really firm with your contract and what’s included.
Basic Package: $500 – $1,500 / month. This typically covers 1-2 platforms, some content creation, and basic scheduling. Not much else.
Growth Package: $1,500 – $4,000 / month. This usually means more platforms, better content (like video), community replies, and monthly reports.
Premium/Full-Service Package: $4,000 – $10,000+ / month. For this kind of money they expect everything. Multiple platforms, ad management, deep analytics, strategy sessions, the works.
Project-Based or A La Carte: For One-Off Jobs
Sometimes a client doesn’t need you forever. They just need one thing done. This is where project-based pricing comes in handy. It’s a flat fee for a single, defined project.
This is perfect for things like:
Social Media Audit: You review all their accounts and give them a report on what’s wrong and how to fix it. Normally you’d charge $300 – $800 for this.
Strategy Development: You build them a complete social media plan they can follow themselves. This could be $1,000 – $3,500.
Initial Account Setup: You create and optimize their profiles on a few networks. A simple job like this could be $250 – $600.
Don’t Forget These Extra Things That Change Your Price
The package prices above are just a starting point. The final number can move up or down based on a bunch of small details. You have to think about all the little pieces of the job. It is in these details that the real work lies.
Number of Platforms: Managing one platform is way easier than five. Each extra platform should increase the price. Don’t do Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for the price of one.
Content Creation: Are you just writing text posts? Or are you shooting and editing videos? Video is a lot more work and should cost a lot more money. Sourcing stock photos, designing graphics, all that adds time.
Community Management: Just posting is one thing. Replying to every comment and DM, that’s a whole other job. It can be a full-time thing for big brands. You need to charge for it.
Ad Management: If you are managing their ad budget, you should charge a fee for that. This is normally a percentage of the ad spend (like 10-20%) or a flat management fee on top of your retainer.
Reporting: How often do they want a rundown of the numbers? A simple monthly email is one price. A one-hour call with a custom slide deck every week is a much higher price.
Putting It All Together: Creating Your Packages
Okay let’s make this real. Imagine you are making packages for a potential client. They would be structured something like this.
The “Get Started” Package – $950/month
Management of 2 platforms (e.g., Facebook & Instagram)
12 posts per month per platform
Simple graphic creation
Monthly performance email
The “Business Growth” Package – $2,200/month
Management of 3 platforms
20 posts per month per platform
Includes 2 short-form videos (Reels/TikToks)
Community management (replying to comments)
Detailed monthly report and a 30-min call
The “Market Leader” Package – $4,500/month
Management of up to 4 platforms
Daily posting where it makes sense
8 short-form videos and custom graphics
Full community management
Paid ad campaign management (ad spend separate)
Bi-weekly strategy calls
See how the work and the price go up together? This is what you need to show clients. They need to see why one thing costs more than another.
Your Burning Questions About SMM Pricing
Let’s quickly go over some questions that always come up. People are always asking about these specific situations and it can be hard to find a straight answer.
How much should I charge a small business for social media management?
For a typical small local business, a good starting point in 2025 is between $750 and $2,000 a month. This range usually covers the essentials for 1-2 platforms without overwhelming their budget.
Is it a good idea to put my prices on my website?
This is a hot debate. Showing prices can weed out clients who can’t afford you. But it can also scare away big clients who might have paid more than your listed price. A good middle ground is to list a “starting at” price.
How do I tell a current client I’m raising my rates?
Give them plenty of notice, at least 30-60 days. Explain that your rates are changing to reflect your improved skills and the results you’ve been getting for them. Frame it around the good stuff you’ve done.
What’s a fair price for just managing one platform like Instagram?
If you’re only managing Instagram, but doing it really well (Reels, Stories, posts, comments), you could charge anywhere from $600 to $2,500 a month. It all depends on the amount of content and engagement required.
Key Takeaways
There is no magic number for social media pricing. It depends on the client, the work, and your experience.
The three main ways to charge are hourly, monthly retainers, or by the project. Retainers are usually the best for steady income.
Don’t forget to account for all the little things: video creation, ad management, and reporting all add to the price.
Create tiered packages (like Basic, Growth, Premium) to make it easy for clients to understand what they’re getting for their money.
Don’t be afraid to charge what you are worth. Someone out there is charging more than you for less work. Remember that.
