How Much Does a Paid Social Agency Cost in the UK? (2026)
Paid social pricing confuses people because there are two bills: what you pay the platform and what you pay the agency. This guide separates them, explains the common pricing models, and shows what a sensible budget looks like.
The short answer
As a rough guide, most small and mid-sized UK businesses pay a paid social agency somewhere between £750 and £3,000 a month in management fees, with ad spend on top. Freelancers usually sit below that range, and agencies managing large budgets across several platforms sit above it. Treat these as ballpark figures: scope moves the price more than anything else.
Two costs, not one
Ad spend goes to Meta, TikTok or LinkedIn and buys the impressions and clicks. The management fee goes to the agency and pays for strategy, creative, set-up, daily optimisation and reporting. When you compare quotes, check which of the two each number refers to, and whether creative production is included.
The three pricing models
Percentage of ad spend. The agency charges a share of what you spend, commonly somewhere around 10–20%, often with a minimum fee. It scales neatly but rewards the agency for spending more.
Flat monthly retainer. A fixed fee agreed up front for a defined scope. It is predictable and removes the incentive to inflate spend. This is how we price.
Hybrid or performance-based. A lower retainer plus a bonus tied to results. It sounds attractive, but it only works when tracking is reliable and both sides agree how a result is counted.
What changes the price
The main drivers are the number of platforms, how much creative is produced each month (video costs more than static images), whether tracking and landing pages need building, the size of the budget being managed, and how senior the people running the account are.
How much ad spend do you need?
Enough for the platform to learn. On Meta that generally means enough budget to generate a steady flow of conversions each week; if the budget is too thin, the campaign never leaves the learning phase and results stay erratic. As a practical test, if the management fee would be larger than the ad spend, you are usually better off starting with a freelancer or a one-off account set-up.
Costs people forget
Set-up fees in the first month, creative production (shoots, editing, user-generated content), landing pages, and tools for tracking or reporting. Ask for these to be itemised before you sign.
Red flags in a quote
Guaranteed returns before anyone has seen your account. Long contracts with no break clause. An ad account the agency owns instead of you. Reports full of impressions and reach but no revenue or lead figures. No mention of who actually does the work.
What we charge
At 6social Digital, paid advertising management starts from £1,800 per month as a fixed fee agreed up front. Ad spend and third-party tools are billed separately, and retainers have a three-month minimum. For a specific number, book a free strategy call and we will send a proposal within 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Is ad spend included in a paid social agency fee?
No. The agency fee pays for strategy, creative, management and reporting. Ad spend is paid to the platform and billed separately.
Is a percentage of ad spend or a flat retainer better?
A flat retainer is more predictable and does not reward the agency for spending more of your money. A percentage model can suit large budgets that change month to month.
How much does 6social Digital charge for paid social?
Paid advertising management starts from £1,800 per month, agreed as a fixed fee, with ad spend billed separately.
Related
See our paid advertising service, or read what a paid social agency does, Meta ads vs Google Ads and how much a social media agency costs.