Introduction
Social media is no longer optional for small businesses in the UK. Whether you’re a salon owner, food shop, phone repair store, or entrepreneur, your customers expect to find you on Instagram, TikTok, and Google Maps.
But how much should you actually spend on social media management in 2025? The answer depends on whether you go DIY, hire a freelancer, partner with an agency, or choose a subscription package like Dream Delegate’s.
Typical Social Media Costs in the UK (2025)
Based on current market data, here’s what small businesses can expect:
DIY (free to £100/month): Tools like Canva Pro or scheduling apps; time-intensive, no expert strategy.
Freelancers (£250–£600/month): Can handle posting, captions, and engagement; quality varies.
Agencies (£600–£1,200+/month): More strategy-driven, includes content creation, analytics, and ads; higher cost.
Subscription Packages (from £199/month at Dream Delegate): Affordable, consistent posting, growth-focused, and bundled with web/SEO options.
💡 On average, UK small businesses spend between £250 and £1,200 per month for professional social media management.
What’s Included in a Social Media Package?
A good subscription plan should cover:
Content creation (images, graphics, reels)
Captions & hashtags
Scheduling & posting
Audience engagement
Monthly performance reports
Add-ons like ads or influencer outreach
Why Social Media Spend Matters
Visibility: 70%+ of consumers check social media before buying.
Trust: Regular, professional posts build credibility.
Growth: Optimised content drives website traffic, bookings, and sales.
Local SEO boost: Google values brand activity across social channels.
How to Decide Your Budget
Ask yourself:
Do I have the time? (Most owners don’t.)
Do I need a growth strategy or just presence?
Can I afford to waste time on trial-and-error?
Am I better off outsourcing and focusing on my business?
If you answered “yes” to outsourcing, a subscription plan usually saves money compared to hiring a full-time marketer or big agency.
Dream Delegate’s Subscription Advantage
We built our plans to give UK small businesses professional social media at predictable costs.
Starter: Essential posting & design
Growth: Social + website updates + Google Business Profile
Pro: Social + website + automation (booking bots, review reminders)
No huge agency retainers. No freelancer flakiness. Just a reliable team that grows your brand while you run your business.
Conclusion
In 2025, most UK small businesses should budget £250–£600/month for effective social media management. Agencies charge more, freelancers vary in quality, and DIY costs you time you could spend serving customers.
A subscription package strikes the perfect balance—affordable, professional, and growth-focused.
👉 Ready to grow your brand without overspending?
Explore Social Media Plans
FAQ
Q: Can I cancel anytime?
Our plans have a simple 3-month minimum to prove results, then flexible monthly rolling terms.
Q: Do you include ads?
Ads are optional add-ons. Most clients start with organic growth, then add paid ads when they’re ready to scale.
Q: Do you also manage Google Business Profile?
Yes—GBP optimisation and posting are included in our Growth and Pro plans.
