Is It Worth Hiring a Social Media Manager? A Simple Cost Comparison for Small Businesses

Running a small business means wearing more hats than you ever planned for. Social media often ends up being the hat you grab at the end of a long day… or the one that gathers dust until you suddenly realise it’s been three weeks since your last post.

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s worth handing it over to someone else, here’s the clearest way to look at it - the cost.

1. The hidden hours you’re giving away

Social media isn’t just posting a picture and hoping for the best. There’s a lot more going on behind the scenes:

• Planning what to post

• Writing captions

• Designing graphics

• Creating reels

• Posting consistently

• Engaging with your audience

• Checking analytics and tweaking what isn’t working

Most small business owners spend 5–6 hours a week doing all this. Some spend more.It doesn’t feel like that much, but it adds up fast.

2. The real cost of doing it yourself

Let’s say your time is worth £40 an hour (for many business owners, it’s more).

If you spend 6 hours a week on social media:

• £40 x 6 = £240 per week

• £240 x 4 = £960 per month

• £960 x 12 = £11,520 per year

That’s over £11k of your time - and that’s before you factor in stress or inconsistency.

3. The cost of hiring someone in-house

A social media assistant in the UK typically costs:

• £26k - £35k salary

• Employer NI

• Pension

• Software

• Training

• Equipment

By the time everything is added up, you’re looking at £35k–£45k a year.

Great for larger companies, but not realistic for most small businesses.

4. The cost of outsourcing

This is where a freelance social media manager or partner makes sense.

You get everything you need - without the payroll costs, the HR admin or the commitment of hiring someone full time.

Our packages include:

• Content planning

• Post creation

• Captions

• Reels

• Engagement

• Scheduling

• Monthly reviews

• Support when you need it

And we have different packages available depending on your needs, but all at a fraction of the cost.

5. The value you get back

When you hand your social media to someone who lives and breathes it, you get:

• Time back to focus on clients and growth

• A consistent and professional online presence

• Someone who keeps up with trends and updates

• Strategy, not guesswork

• A calmer headspace

• Better results without the overwhelm

It’s not just about saving money - it’s about freeing yourself up to run the business you actually want.

6. So… is it worth it?

If social media is taking hours out of your week, frustrating you or simply not working the way it should, then yes - it’s worth it.

Outsourcing costs a fraction of the true price of doing it yourself, and it gives you back something priceless: your time.

If you’re curious about what working together could look like, get in touch and we can share our packages with you.

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