Digital marketing in Canada can cost anywhere from a few thousand dollars per month for a focused service to more than $30,000 per month for an integrated, multi-channel marketing program.
At Social Know How®, focused monthly engagements generally start at $3,500. Integrated programs combining strategy, content, social media, digital advertising, SEO, video or senior marketing leadership typically require a larger investment.
All prices below are in Canadian dollars, are subject to applicable taxes and represent general starting points and typical ranges rather than fixed packages. Every engagement is scoped according to the work, expertise and resources required.
Why We Publish Our Pricing
Most agencies hide their pricing behind a form. We think that wastes everyone’s time.
If our pricing is not workable for your business, you should be able to determine that before sitting through several meetings.
Social Know How® has supported more than 250 businesses, organizations and campaigns since 2014. The pricing below reflects the experience of our team and the level of strategy, creative direction, execution and accountability our clients receive.
Social Media Management Pricing
Starting at $3,500 per month
Typical range: $3,500 to $12,500+ per month
Social media management may include strategy, content planning, caption writing, graphic design, short-form video editing, scheduling, publishing, community management and performance reporting.
A focused engagement is generally appropriate for one brand or location using two primary platforms with an agreed monthly content schedule. Pricing increases when the engagement requires:
- More platforms or monthly content
- Original photography or frequent video
- Multiple brands, departments or locations
- Active or high-volume community management
- Multiple languages or audience groups
- More complex approval processes
- Senior strategy and ongoing campaign direction
On-location photography, professional video production, extensive animation and high-volume community management are priced separately unless specifically included in the agreement.
Paid Digital Advertising Management
Starting at $3,000 per month, plus advertising spend
Typical range: $3,000 to $12,500+ per month
Paid advertising management may include Meta, Google, YouTube, LinkedIn, Connected TV and other digital advertising platforms.
Management fees are based on the number of platforms, campaigns, markets, audiences, creative variations, landing pages, reporting requirements and the level of ongoing optimization required. Larger media budgets may require additional testing, oversight, risk management and reporting.
Advertising spend is paid directly by the client to the applicable advertising platform. Social Know How does not mark up media spend.
Advertising Account and Tracking Setup
Starting at $4,000
Typical range: $4,000 to $7,500+ per setup
Initial setup may include:
- Business Manager and advertising account configuration
- Meta Pixel and conversion tracking
- Conversions API configuration
- Domain verification
- Custom and remarketing audiences
- Campaign structure and naming systems
- Analytics and reporting setup
- Account audits and technical troubleshooting
The final cost depends on the number of platforms, required integrations and the condition of the client’s existing accounts, website and tracking.
SEO and AI Search Pricing
Starting at $2,500 per month
Typical range: $2,500 to $7,500+ per month
SEO and AI search services may include technical SEO, keyword and competitor research, local search optimization, website content, structured data, authority development and answer engine optimization.
The goal is to improve visibility across traditional search engines and AI-assisted discovery platforms such as ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews.
SEO is a long-term investment. Most businesses should expect four to six months before seeing meaningful movement, although timing depends on competition, website condition, content authority and the amount of work completed.
No reputable agency can guarantee a specific search engine ranking or placement within an AI-generated answer.
Website Design and Development
Starting at $10,000
Typical range: $10,000 to $75,000+ per project
A professionally planned and developed five-to-eight-page business website generally ranges from $10,000 to $20,000. More involved business websites commonly range from $15,000 to $35,000.
Pricing increases when a website requires:
- Custom strategy, design or functionality
- Extensive copywriting and content development
- Multiple locations, divisions or service areas
- E-commerce
- Booking or payment systems
- CRM and software integrations
- Custom forms and automations
- Advanced search optimization
- Accessibility or regulatory requirements
- Complex content migration
Hosting, maintenance, premium software, ongoing search optimization and post-launch website support are quoted separately unless included in the project agreement.
Strategy Sessions and Marketing Roadmaps
Focused Strategy Sessions
$2,500 to $4,500
A focused strategy session addresses a defined business or marketing challenge and provides clear recommendations and next steps. The price depends on the preparation, research, participants, session length and required follow-up documentation.
Comprehensive Strategy and Consulting Projects
$15,000 to $30,000+
More extensive engagements may include market research, competitor analysis, positioning, customer analysis, channel strategy, campaign planning, measurement and a detailed implementation roadmap.
The client owns the completed strategy and can implement it internally, with Social Know How or with another provider.
Consulting and Training
Starting at $500 per hour
Hourly consulting and training are available for focused advisory work, executive guidance, platform training, campaign reviews and specialized marketing support.
Projects requiring research, preparation, documentation or ongoing access are quoted as defined engagements rather than billed only for meeting time.
Fractional CMO Services
Starting at $7,500 per month
Typical range: $7,500 to $25,000+ per month
Fractional CMO services provide ongoing senior marketing leadership for organizations that need executive-level direction but are not ready to hire a full-time Chief Marketing Officer.
This may include:
- Overall marketing leadership
- Budget planning and resource allocation
- Oversight of internal teams and external vendors
- Campaign and channel direction
- Leadership meetings and reporting
- Performance measurement
- Growth planning
- Executive and stakeholder support
Pricing depends on the level of responsibility, meeting requirements, number of teams and vendors being managed and the time commitment required.
Video and Photography
Social Content Production
Starting at $2,500 per shoot
Typical range: $2,500 to $7,500+ per shoot
Social content shoots are designed to produce photography and short-form videos for platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and YouTube.
Pricing depends on planning, shoot length, crew, locations, equipment and the number and complexity of edited deliverables.
Brand Films and Larger Productions
Starting at $7,500 per project
Typical range: $7,500 to $35,000+ per project
Brand films, testimonial series, recruitment videos and multi-location productions require additional planning, filming, editing and project management.
Pricing may include:
- Creative development
- Scripting and interview planning
- Multiple shoot days or locations
- Professional crew and equipment
- Editing and colour correction
- Motion graphics
- Music licensing
- Captions and platform-specific versions
Travel, talent, studio rentals, specialty equipment and other third-party production expenses are quoted separately.
AI Automation
Starting at $3,500 per build
Typical range: $3,500 to $25,000+ per build
AI automation projects begin with an assessment of the process, the people involved and the systems that need to communicate.
Common projects include:
- Lead routing and follow-up
- Client intake workflows
- Automated reporting
- Content repurposing
- Internal knowledge assistants
- CRM updates
- Email and task automation
- Approval and notification workflows
Pricing includes the agreed process mapping, build, testing and documentation. More complex integrations, security requirements, custom development and multi-department workflows are quoted separately.
Software subscriptions, usage fees, ongoing monitoring, maintenance and future changes are billed separately unless included in an ongoing support agreement.
Email Marketing
Starting at $2,000 per month
Typical range: $2,000 to $5,000+ per month
Email marketing services may include:
- Campaign planning
- Copywriting
- Email design
- List segmentation
- Scheduling and sending
- Testing
- Performance reporting
- Ongoing recommendations
Pricing depends on the number of campaigns, list size, design requirements, automation, segmentation, integrations and approval process.
Email marketing software, contact-based platform fees, database cleanup and advanced automation builds are billed separately unless specifically included.
What Actually Moves the Price
Several factors determine the final investment.
Volume and Complexity of Creative
Four pieces of content per month and twenty pieces of content per month require very different levels of planning, design, writing and management. Original video, animation and custom production require more resources than basic static content.
Number of Platforms and Campaigns
Every additional platform requires its own formatting, publishing, optimization and reporting. Advertising campaigns also require separate audiences, creative variations and ongoing testing.
Number of Locations, Markets or Brands
Multi-location and franchise work may require separate creative, advertising, offers, approvals and reporting for each location or market.
Production and Technical Requirements
Professional video, photography, custom development, software integrations, conversion tracking and automation increase the scope of work.
Strategy, Reporting and Approval Requirements
An organization requiring extensive research, senior strategy, committee approvals, multiple meetings or detailed reporting requires more management time than a business with one decision maker and a clearly defined plan.
Typical Monthly Investment Levels
$3,500 to $7,500 Per Month
A focused engagement centred on one primary service, such as social media management, paid advertising, SEO or strategic support.
This level is generally best for businesses that already have a clear offer, defined market and usable content or creative assets.
$7,500 to $15,000 Per Month
An integrated growth engagement combining services such as strategy, social media, paid advertising, SEO, content development or ongoing video.
This level is appropriate for growing companies that need consistent execution and coordination across several channels.
$15,000 to $30,000+ Per Month
A comprehensive engagement for established, multi-location or higher-growth organizations requiring senior strategy, frequent creative production, multiple campaigns, advanced reporting or Fractional CMO leadership.
$5,000 to $15,000+ Per Month for In-House Team Support
Some organizations already have a marketing coordinator, manager or internal department.
Social Know How can provide senior direction, specialist execution, advertising management, content production and additional capacity without replacing the internal team.
What Is Not Included
Unless specifically stated in the agreement, pricing does not include:
- Advertising spend
- HST or other applicable taxes
- Third-party software and platform fees
- Website hosting and premium plugins
- Stock photography or stock footage
- Influencer and talent fees
- Travel and accommodation
- Studio and location rentals
- Printing and physical materials
- Additional revisions or work outside the approved scope
All outside expenses are disclosed and approved before being incurred.
How We Bill
Monthly retainers are billed in advance.
Smaller projects may be billed in full before work begins. Larger projects generally require an initial payment followed by milestone payments. Final balances must be paid before a website launches or final production files are released.
Advertising spend is paid directly to Meta, Google, LinkedIn or the applicable advertising platform.
Where Social Know How manages an approved production partner or vendor, those costs may be included in the Social Know How project agreement and invoice.
How Much Does Social Media Marketing Cost Per Month in Canada?
Professional agency-led social media management commonly begins around $3,500 per month. Social Know How engagements generally range from $3,500 to $12,500+ per month, depending on the number of platforms, content volume, creative requirements, locations and level of strategy.
Paid digital advertising management begins at $3,000 per month, plus advertising spend. Multi-platform, multi-market and high-volume programs require a larger management investment.
Freelancers and entry-level providers may charge less, while established agencies, multi-location programs and high-volume campaigns may cost considerably more.
How Much Should a Small Business Spend on Social Media Marketing?
A small business working with an established agency should generally plan for at least $3,500 to $7,500 per month in agency fees for a focused service.
A combined social media management and paid advertising program will commonly begin around $6,500 per month in agency fees, plus the actual advertising spend. Original video production, photography and website work are additional unless included in the agreement.
The appropriate investment depends more on the company’s objectives, competition, required creative and ability to convert new business than on revenue alone.
Is an Agency Cheaper Than Hiring In-House?
A full-time social media or digital marketing manager in the GTA can cost approximately $75,000 to $100,000+ annually before benefits, employer payroll costs, software, equipment and additional creative support.
One employee may also require help from a designer, videographer, copywriter, advertising specialist, web developer or senior strategist.
An agency provides access to a broader team within a clearly defined scope. This can give a business strategy, creative production and specialist execution without the cost of building an entire internal marketing department.
Do You Mark Up Advertising Spend?
No.
Advertising spend is billed directly to the client by Meta, Google, LinkedIn or the applicable advertising platform. The client owns the advertising account and can see the actual amount spent.
Social Know How charges a separate management fee for strategy, campaign development, monitoring, optimization and reporting.
How Long Is the Contract?
Ongoing monthly services are typically structured under a six- or twelve-month agreement, depending on the scope, onboarding requirements and level of ongoing production involved.
Specific renewal and cancellation terms are clearly provided in the service agreement before work begins.
Ready to Talk Numbers?
If these ranges are workable for your business, the next step is a complimentary 15-minute Discovery Zoom Chat.
Bring your objectives, current challenges and approximate budget. We will tell you honestly what level of marketing support is realistic, whether Social Know How is the right fit and what we recommend as the next step.
Book a 15-Minute Discovery Zoom Chat