What does a
Hourly rates, retainers and setup fees in one place.
Most agencies put no price on their site. You only hear it after an intake call, often with a contract attached. Here is what agencies in the Netherlands usually charge, and what to ask before you sign.
What does a marketing agency cost per month?
A small business usually pays a retainer of €1,000 to €2,500 a month, for 10 to 25 hours of work. By the hour it is €75 to €175. Setup fees and your ad budget come on top, and most contracts run for at least 3 to 12 months.
Worked example: a month with 24 hours of agency work
- 24 hours at €100
- ± €2,400
- Setup fee
- often extra
- Ad budget
- on top
Contract usually at least 3 to 12 months.
- Work an agency takes 24 hours for
- €149
- Setup fee
- €0
- Ad budget
- on top
First month free, then cancel monthly.
In both cases the ad budget comes on top, and it goes straight to Google or Meta. The agency and we only charge for the work.
Four ways agencies charge
The price on the quote depends less on the agency than on how it charges. These four are the most common.
Most agencies sit between €80 and €160. A junior at a small agency is at the low end, a specialist at a large one at the top.
The usual for a small business, for 10 to 25 hours of work a month. Full service, with content and ads, runs to €2,000 to €5,000.
For a single audit, a campaign set-up or a strategy. After that the work stops, unless you buy the next project.
Common for ads management. Mind the incentive: the agency earns more as soon as you spend more, even when the results do not grow.
Agencies without fixed costs, that only charge on results, exist but are rare. They usually set a high minimum, or take their margin from your ad budget.
Ask this before you sign
Two agencies with the same monthly fee can differ by thousands of euros a year. The difference is in the small print.
At Growthdesk: no setup fee, cancel monthly, and your site and ad account stay yours.
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Are there setup costs?
Many agencies charge a one-off fee for onboarding or a strategy. Ask for the amount before the first meeting.
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How long is the contract?
Retainers often run for at least 3 to 12 months. A year at €1,500 a month is €18,000, even when it does not work.
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How many hours are in it?
Ask how many hours a month someone actually works on your site and campaigns, and what happens to the hours you do not use.
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Is the ad budget included?
Almost never. Ask whether the agency also takes a percentage of it.
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What is mine when I stop?
The site, the ad account and the data. Without them you start again from zero at the next agency.
Advertising agency or marketing agency?
An advertising agency comes up with campaigns and makes them: a commercial, a poster, a brand. You usually pay per project.
A marketing agency works on your growth continuously: being found, ads and turning visitors into enquiries. That is why it usually charges a monthly fee. In practice the names get mixed up, so look at what you are buying, not at what the agency calls itself.
What it costs at Growthdesk
One monthly fee per plan, no setup fee. Next to it: what an agency charges for the same work, at €100 an hour.
| Plan | Per month | Agency hours | At an agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present | €19 | 2 | €200 |
| Grow | €49 | 6 | €600 |
| Scale | €149 | 24 | €2,400 |
| Maximize | €249 | 48 | €4,800 |
The first month is free. After that you cancel monthly, with one month notice.
About what a marketing agency costs.
What does a marketing agency cost per month?
For a small business usually €1,000 to €2,500 a month, for 10 to 25 hours of work. Full service with content and ads runs to €2,000 to €5,000. Setup fees and your ad budget come on top.
What hourly rate does a marketing agency charge?
Usually €75 to €175 an hour, with most agencies between €80 and €160. A junior at a small agency is at the low end, a specialist at the top.
Does a marketing agency without fixed costs exist?
Rarely. Agencies that only charge on results usually set a high minimum or take a percentage of your ad budget. Growthdesk does have a monthly fee, but no contract term: you cancel monthly.
Are there setup costs?
At many agencies there are, for onboarding or a strategy, so ask before you sign. At Growthdesk there are none.
How long am I tied to an agency?
Retainers often run for at least 3 to 12 months. At Growthdesk you cancel monthly, with one month notice.
What is the difference between an advertising agency and a marketing agency?
An advertising agency comes up with campaigns and makes them, usually per project. A marketing agency works on your growth continuously, usually for a monthly fee. In practice the names get mixed up.
What does Growthdesk cost?
From €19 to €249 a month, depending on how much work you want each month. Site, SEO, content and ads are all in it. The first month is free.
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