What Does Outsourcing Marketing Really Cost in 2025?

Picture this: you hand over your social media to an intern or low-cost freelancer, hoping to free up time. A month later, you’re still up late reviewing their posts, fixing captions, and basically doing the work plus managing someone else. If that sounds familiar, it’s not just you. Many small business owners start with the cheapest marketing help only to find the “help” needs a lot of hand-holding.

Outsourcing marketing is supposed to lighten your load and amplify your brand. But what does it really cost at different levels of support? In 2025, outsourcing can run anywhere from about $500 per month to $10,000+ per month. Why the huge range? It depends on how much strategy and scope you’re paying for. More channels, higher-quality content, a more experienced team, and deeper strategy/reporting all drive costs up. In short, you get what you pay for.

Let’s compare three common options for outsourcing your marketing – hiring a solo freelancer, working with a boutique agency, or partnering with a large firm – so you can make the best choice for your business.

Option 1: Solo Freelancer ($500–$1,500/month)

Many entrepreneurs first try outsourcing by hiring a solo freelancer to handle basics like social media posting, simple design, or writing a few blog posts. This option typically costs around $500 to $1,500 per month. You get an extra set of hands to keep your accounts active, which is helpful if you’ve been doing everything yourself.

However, a freelancer at this price is usually entry-level and limited in what they can do. They’ll create and post content, but don’t expect a custom strategy or deep analytics. In fact, you might still have to give them direction on what to post and how to capture your brand’s voice. Many business owners find that managing a junior freelancer can feel like more work. You’re still overseeing content and providing constant feedback, instead of truly offloading the marketing tasks.

Bottom line: A solo freelancer is best for early-stage brands that just need to maintain a basic presence : maintenance, not momentum. It’s an affordable way to keep the lights on (so your social feeds aren’t dead), but it won’t generate big growth. If you want momentum or a polished strategy, you’ll likely outgrow the one-person approach quickly.

Option 2: Boutique Agency Support (Like Rozetree) ($1,500–$5,000/month)

The next level up is working with a boutique marketing agency. For about $1,500 to $5,000 per month, you get a small team of creative professionals instead of a single person. That investment comes with a huge leap in value. Experts develop a custom strategy tailored to your goals instead of just filling your feed with posts.

A boutique agency brings together multiple skill sets (strategy, copywriting, design, etc.) all aligned to your brand’s voice. They’ll produce branded, high-quality content across the key platforms for your audience. All of this support is truly done-for-you. The agency handles the content calendar, creates the posts (think custom graphics, captions, even short videos or reels), schedules everything, and then monitors how it’s performing.

Because of their experience, you won’t need to micromanage. They proactively come up with campaign ideas and adjust based on analytics. You’ll get regular updates or reports showing growth, but you won’t need to babysit the process. This kind of partnership gives owners peace of mind – marketing is handled, and you regain time to focus on running your business.

Bottom line: A boutique agency is best for growing brands that are ready to show up consistently and intentionally. It’s ideal if you’re tired of DIY marketing and want a partner to take the reins, so you can step back knowing your marketing is in expert hands. You get the benefits of a full marketing department without the scale and expense of a big firm.

Option 3: Large Corporate Agency ($5,000–$10,000+/month)

At the highest end, you can hire a large marketing agency. These firms often charge $5,000 to $10,000+ per month and deliver almost everything: a comprehensive, multi-platform marketing strategy executed by a big team of specialists. With a large agency, you’re essentially getting an outsourced marketing department. They can run your social media, manage your blog and email, handle SEO and paid ads, produce videos and graphics… all in one package. They also provide in-depth analytics and reports, and have experience running large-scale campaigns.

For most small businesses, though, this level is overkill. The cost is very high, and it typically makes sense only if you have a big marketing budget and need very advanced campaigns. Additionally, when you work with a large agency, you might not get very personal attention, you could be one client among many. Communication often goes through an account manager, and with so many team members involved, things may be less nimble or personal than with a small agency.

Bottom line: A corporate agency is best for established companies that need an all-out, 24/7 marketing machine and have the budget to support it. If you’re a small or midsize business, you likely don’t need the vast scope (or the expense) that comes with a big firm. A boutique team can usually cover your needs more personally and cost-effectively.

Freelancer vs. Agency vs. Corporate: A Quick Comparison

Here’s a snapshot of how the three options stack up:

Choosing the Right Marketing Support for Your Business

Ultimately, the right choice depends on your business’s stage and goals. If you’re just launching or only need to keep social media alive, a freelancer can do the trick. If you’re aiming for serious growth and consistency but aren’t a huge company, a boutique agency is the sweet spot. A corporate agency typically makes sense only if you need full-scale, around-the-clock marketing and have the budget to support it.

Whichever route you choose, the partnership should free you to focus on what you do best. If outsourcing still feels like more work (for example, a freelancer who needs lots of guidance), that’s the wrong fit. The right fit brings relief and your marketing runs smoothly in the background.

Rozetree Marketing was founded to provide that relief for creative entrepreneurs. We take a values-driven, done-for-you approach. Our team handles the strategy, content creation, and execution, while keeping you updated with clear results. There’s no need for you to micromanage.

Ready to outsource your marketing and reclaim your time? Let’s talk about how we can support your brand’s growth so you can get back doing what you do best. Fill out our contact form to connect.