Marketing Cost Guides for Small Businesses | Clear Cost Marketing
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Marketing Cost Guides for Small Businesses

These guides break down what marketing should really cost—websites, SEO, social media, ads, email, CRMs, and agency work—so you can make decisions with clear numbers instead of guesswork.

Updated for 2025 • Built for owners, not agencies.

Foundations: Your Website & Online Presence

Start here if you’re getting your first website built, redesigning an old one, or trying to understand quotes you’re getting from agencies.

Guide

What a Small Business Website Really Costs

DIY vs freelancer vs agency. Real ranges and what affects price.

Typical range: $0 – $10k+ 5–7 min read
Guide

Social Media Management Costs

Monthly pricing, deliverables, and what’s worth paying for.

Typical range: $300 – $2k/mo 5 min read
Guide

Branding & Logo Design Costs

From budget logos to full identity systems.

Typical range: $50 – $8k 4–6 min read

Traffic & Visibility: SEO, Ads, and Email

Once you have somewhere to send people, the next question is how to get them there—and what that realistically costs per month.

Guide

SEO & Local Ranking Costs

What monthly retainers should be, and what results to expect.

Typical range: $300 – $3k/mo 6–8 min read
Guide

Paid Ads: What to Actually Budget

Ad spend + management fees, explained in plain language.

Typical range: $10/day – $15k/mo 5–7 min read
Guide

Email Marketing Costs

Tools, list sizes, send volume, and done-for-you campaigns.

Typical range: $29 – $1k+/mo 4–6 min read

Systems & Tools: CRMs and “All-in-One” Platforms

Software adds up fast. These guides explain what different tools cost, and where something like Go High Level can replace a stack of subscriptions.

Guide

CRM Costs

What you’ll actually pay for CRMs at different stages.

Typical range: $0 – $800+/mo 4–6 min read
Guide

What Marketing Agencies Really Cost

Monthly retainers, setups, and how to read a proposal.

Typical range: $500 – $10k+/mo 6–8 min read
Guide

Tools Overview: Subscriptions to Watch

How to avoid death-by-subscription in your tech stack.

Typical range: $49 – $500+/mo 4–5 min read