Honestly, it depends on how much power you can command on the negotiation. Full end-to-end marketing strategy + implementation plan? That can easily cost tens of thousands. Marketing Directors / CMOs are expensive and that would be their remit (or Head of Marketing, Head of Growth, etc...) So, at the very minimum, you can imagine something a little less expensive than hiring a temp strategist. It also depends on your experience and how fast you can produce both, supported by evidence. I wouldn't trust anyone who would say they would only need 3/4 weeks. That's not enough to do proper research. A minimum of two months. Then it's really up to you. Can you command a 20,000 invoice? Because you are doing the whole thing, meaning that you will be the key element in generating revenue. I would love to hear from others though. Strategy is the one thing I wouldn't want to outsource. Answer from grimorg80 on reddit.com
🌐
Reddit
reddit.com › r/marketing › how much to charge a client for a full ground-up marketing strategy and plan?
r/marketing on Reddit: How much to charge a client for a full ground-up marketing strategy and plan?
August 2, 2022 -

I'm working with a new client who has launched their business but has absolutely zero knowledge on marketing / strategy / growth. Their product is good, so I have a chance to freelance here and build on it.

Does anyone have a good launching pad rate for where this kind of work can be billed out at? I'm sorry this is all a bit vague, so just ask me for detail.

Top answer
1 of 16
21
Honestly, it depends on how much power you can command on the negotiation. Full end-to-end marketing strategy + implementation plan? That can easily cost tens of thousands. Marketing Directors / CMOs are expensive and that would be their remit (or Head of Marketing, Head of Growth, etc...) So, at the very minimum, you can imagine something a little less expensive than hiring a temp strategist. It also depends on your experience and how fast you can produce both, supported by evidence. I wouldn't trust anyone who would say they would only need 3/4 weeks. That's not enough to do proper research. A minimum of two months. Then it's really up to you. Can you command a 20,000 invoice? Because you are doing the whole thing, meaning that you will be the key element in generating revenue. I would love to hear from others though. Strategy is the one thing I wouldn't want to outsource.
2 of 16
14
Start by writing out the pieces. For example some pieces might be: Brand Styling Guide, Digital Audit, Seo Strategy and Keyword Research, Persona Mapping, Competitor Analysis, etc. Then assign hours to each section and multiply that by your hourly rate like $100. If these are things you don’t already have templates built out for, charge for time that would include. Then factor in the time for meetings and sit downs. It’s not perfect but it’s a start. Big companies wouldn’t blink at large charge, but if a medium to small company gives the slightest push back you can justify it by explaining I create all these things and my hourly rate is X. If they push back after that decline, you’re not gonna want to work with them lol
🌐
HawkSEM
hawksem.com › home › marketing agency pricing: how much they charge + what to spend
Marketing Agency Pricing: How Much They Charge + What to Spend
April 17, 2025 - Marketing agencies charge $500-$10,000 and up per month, depending on the services included, business goals, channels & your niche.
🌐
Lairedigital
lairedigital.com › blog › how-much-does-a-custom-marketing-plan-cost
How Much Does a Marketing Plan Cost? Marketing Plan Pricing
August 1, 2025 - At LAIRE, the price of a professional marketing plan is between $15,000 and $25,000. This cost hinges on the specific elements in your strategic plan.
🌐
Top Draw Inc.
topdraw.com › home › insights › how much does hiring an seo/digital marketing agency cost?
How Much Does Hiring an SEO/Digital Marketing Agency Cost? | Top Draw Inc.
May 20, 2025 - Services pricing at this level provides excellent value for businesses seeking to establish a strong foundation for their marketing efforts. As we move toward the $30,000 range, our digital marketing strategies become much more in depth and ...
🌐
BDC
bdc.ca › home › articles and tools › marketing, sales and export › marketing › what is the average marketing budget for a small business?
What is an average marketing budget for a small business?
Horvath suggests a good way of narrowing your target budget is to research what’s common for your industry and what your competitors are spending. A 2019 BDC survey of more than 1,400 Canadian businesses found that Canadian small business marketing costs average just over $30,000 a year, while those with 20 to 49 employees spend twice that amount.
🌐
8 SIGNAL
8signal.com › home › the real cost of creating a marketing strategy and five factors that drive up the price
What’s the real cost of creating a marketing strategy?
June 7, 2021 - The average overall sum that a company will spend on a customized strategic marketing plan ranges from $10,000 – $40,000. Typically, the base cost of creating that marketing strategy begins below $10,000.
🌐
WebFX
webfx.com › home › digital marketing › pricing › the cost of marketing — a complex marketing budget breakdown
The Cost of Marketing — A Complex Marketing Budget Breakdown
Your company can pick and choose the strategies that you want to use and then figure out how much you can spend. Below, we’ll take an in-depth look at some of the most popular online marketing options today: ... We’ve provided an estimated cost for each and a breakdown of where those costs come from.
Published   November 5, 2025
🌐
Social Media Examiner
socialmediaexaminer.com › home › how to price your marketing services
How to Price Your Marketing Services : Social Media Examiner
April 17, 2024 - The lower prices helped her enter new markets or businesses because her services were substantially less expensive than her competitors. She used this as a strategy to grow her business. Over time, as your agency's capabilities expand, you should raise your prices accordingly. Note that your pricing should match the value you now provide, not the rates charged by competitors.
Find elsewhere
🌐
Quora
quora.com › How-much-should-I-charge-for-a-marketing-strategy
How much should I charge for a marketing strategy? - Quora
Answer (1 of 5): Whoever is proposing their product typically will provide their plan for you at no charge. HOW TO WRITE YOUR OWN MARKETING PLAN 1 What are you trying to accomplish with your marketing plan?
🌐
FasterCapital
fastercapital.com › content › How-Much-Does-a-Startup-Marketing-Plan-Cost.html
How Much Does a Startup Marketing Plan Cost - FasterCapital
This information is used to develop objectives and strategies. The next step is to create a marketing mix, which is a combination of the four Ps of marketing: product, price, promotion, and place. The product includes the features and benefits of the product or service. The price is the amount of money charged for ...
🌐
Semrush
semrush.com › blog › digital marketing agency pricing: are you charging enough for your services?
Digital Marketing Agency Pricing: Are You Charging Enough for Your Services?
March 24, 2022 - An email marketing campaign can give businesses an ROI of up to 4,300%. The price of email marketing services can vary widely depending on your client’s needs, but most agencies charge anywhere from $300 to $2,000 a month.
🌐
Fingerprintmarketing
fingerprintmarketing.com › how-much-does-a-marketing-plan-for-a-small-business-cost
How Much Does a Marketing Plan for Small Business Cost?
The cost of a marketing plan for your small business will depend on the type of project you’re looking for and who you want to work with.
🌐
Strategic Pete
strategicpete.com › home › services › marketing consulting services › marketing consultant rates & hourly cost: what should i pay?
Marketing Consultant Rates & Hourly Cost: What Should I Pay?
2 weeks ago - Industry benchmarks—what consultants charge based on experience and service type. How to evaluate if a consultant is worth their fee (and avoid overpaying). Red flags to watch for when hiring. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to assess marketing consultant rates and make a smart, ROI-driven decision for your business. Let’s break it all down. ... Slash marketing costs by 75%! Peter Murphy Lewis drives KPI-focused strategies, executes with precision, and delivers measurable growth—hands-on.
🌐
Siege Media
siegemedia.com › home › all › how much does content marketing cost in 2025?
How Much Does Content Marketing Cost in 2025?
June 18, 2025 - Similarly, if we see the total landscape is worth $500,000 more in monthly traffic, and there are fifty of those $6,000 topics, we know that there is a larger argument for a big engagement to make a dent and drive significant returns. It all comes down to the strategy, and what the holistic cost is to create content that converts. Thinking about making the leap, but don’t want to hire a team of eight content marketers to make it happen?
🌐
Joellyn Ferguson
joellynferguson.com › home › how much does marketing cost?
How Much Does Marketing Cost?
May 11, 2019 - Look for a consultant who has executive-level marketing experience that relates to your market or industry. Expect to pay a few thousand dollars ($2,500-$15,000) for a project that will take several weeks or a few months.
🌐
Indeed
indeed.com › career-advice › career-development › how-to-calculate-freelance-marketing-rate
How To Calculate Freelance Marketing Rates in 5 Steps (With Tips) | Indeed.com
Learn what freelance marketers do, how much they make, types of freelance marketing rates and steps you can take to calculate freelance rates effectively.
🌐
Lbmarketingconsulting
lbmarketingconsulting.ca › home › uncategorized › how much should a seasoned marketing consultant cost in ontario, canada?
How Much Should a Seasoned Marketing Consultant Cost in Ontario, Canada? - LB Marketing Consulting
November 22, 2024 - Project-Based Fees: Some businesses prefer project-based pricing. For example, a comprehensive marketing strategy might cost anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000, depending on the complexity of your business and goals.
🌐
Intero Digital
interodigital.com › blog › how-much-does-content-marketing-cost-a-full-breakdown
How Much Does Content Marketing Cost? A Pricing Breakdown
September 23, 2024 - Cost Range: Content marketing costs can range from $2,500 to $75,000 per month depending on strategy scope. Freelancer Costs: Hiring freelancers involves costs for strategy, writing, editing, PR, CRM management, social media, audits, SEO, and ...
🌐
Tenato Strategy Inc.
tenato.com › pricing
Business or Marketing Consultants Fees or Rates
May 15, 2025 - If you have a very tight budget (under $1000) and need strategic advice, you might consider one or more paid consultations where we can give you some “do it yourself” advice with no further obligation. At no charge to you, we’ll create ...
🌐
WebFX
webfx.com › home › digital marketing › pricing
Digital Marketing Pricing: How Much Does It Cost in 2026? [Data]
1 month ago - Digital marketing costs range from $50 to $6,000 per month for most businesses (67%), with specific services like SEO costing $500–$7,500 monthly, PPC advertising $100–$10,000 monthly, and social media marketing $100–$5,000 monthly depending ...