By the Bear & Shark team · Updated October 2026
Short answer
Most small and mid-size businesses pay a digital marketing agency $1,500 to $10,000 per month in fees, plus a separate ad budget. One channel, such as Google Ads or SEO, typically costs $500 to $3,500 per month. A full program with paid ads, SEO and content typically costs $3,000 to $10,000+ per month.
Typical marketing agency prices by service
These are monthly agency fees in USD for small and mid-size businesses in North America. Canadian agencies price in a similar range in CAD. Ad spend is not included.
| Service | Typical monthly fee | How it is usually priced |
|---|---|---|
| Google Ads management | $500 – $2,000 (small/mid), $2,500 – $10,000+ (full-service) | Flat fee or 10–20% of ad spend |
| Meta Ads (Facebook & Instagram) | $1,000 – $4,500 | Flat fee or 12–20% of ad spend, creative often extra |
| SEO | $500 – $5,000 (average about $3,000) | Monthly retainer, 6–12 month programs |
| Social media management | $500 – $5,000 | Retainer by number of posts and videos |
| Full-service growth program | $3,000 – $10,000+ | Retainer plus % of spend or performance bonus |
Sources: Ahrefs survey of 439 SEO providers (most businesses spend $500–$5,000 per month on SEO; agencies average about $3,200); published Google Ads and social media agency price guides. Ranges are for guidance; your quote depends on scope and market.
The 4 pricing models agencies use
- Flat monthly retainer: a fixed fee for an agreed scope. Easy to budget; check exactly what is included.
- Percentage of ad spend: usually 10–20%. Fee grows with your budget, often with a minimum.
- Hybrid: a base fee plus a percentage of spend above a threshold. Common for growing accounts.
- Performance-based: a fee per lead or a share of revenue. Rare, and usually priced higher per result.
What drives the price up or down
- Number of channels: Google, Meta, TikTok, SEO, email.
- Ad budget size and number of campaigns or locations.
- Creative: static ads vs. video production and UGC.
- Competition in your market: Toronto, Miami or Dubai cost more than small towns.
- Regulated niches such as healthcare, legal and finance need compliance work.
- Reporting depth: basic monthly report vs. full CRM and revenue attribution.
What you should get for the money
- A written strategy with targets: cost per lead, cost per acquisition or ROAS.
- Proper tracking: conversions, calls and form leads connected to your CRM.
- Ongoing creative testing, not the same ads for months.
- A named person responsible for your results.
- Monthly reporting in plain language with next steps.
How Bear & Shark prices
Bear & Shark sells each service as a tier with a fixed monthly fee. When your ad spend grows past the tier threshold, a percentage of the spend above it is added. Specific campaigns, such as a launch or a new landing page, are priced as add-ons.
Your ad budget is always paid directly to Google or Meta and is never part of our fee. You get an exact quote after a free strategy call, where we look at your market, budget and goals.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a marketing agency cost per month?
Most small and mid-size businesses in Canada and the USA pay a marketing agency between $1,500 and $10,000 per month in fees, plus their ad budget. A single channel such as Google Ads management usually costs $500 to $2,000 per month; a full program with ads, SEO and content usually costs $3,000 to $10,000 or more.
Is the ad budget included in the agency fee?
Usually not. The agency fee pays for strategy, setup, creative and management. The ad budget is paid separately, directly to Google, Meta or TikTok. At Bear & Shark the ad budget is never part of our fee.
Do marketing agencies charge a percentage of ad spend?
Many do. A common model is 10% to 20% of monthly ad spend, often with a minimum monthly fee. Others charge a flat monthly retainer. Bear & Shark uses a fixed monthly fee per tier and adds a percentage only on spend above the tier threshold.
Is a cheap marketing agency worth it?
A very low fee usually means little time is spent on your account: templates instead of strategy, few creative tests and basic reporting. Judge an agency by cost per lead or cost per sale after three months, not by the monthly fee alone.
How long is a typical agency contract?
Paid ads programs often start with a 3-month commitment, because the first month is setup and testing. SEO programs usually need 6 to 12 months to show full results.
How much does Bear & Shark cost?
Bear & Shark sells each service as a tier with a fixed monthly fee, a percentage of ad spend only above the tier threshold, and add-ons for specific campaigns. The ad budget is paid separately. You get an exact quote after a free strategy call.