Social media management prices vary from workload to workload rather than agency to agency: a cafe with two accounts and an e-commerce brand producing Reels across four platforms do not have the same monthly needs. When discussing the monthly social media management price, the first step is determining which tasks will be delegated, followed by how frequently they will be performed. At Onur Freelance, the monthly fee for this service starts at 9,000 TL, and the advertising budget payable to Meta is not included in that amount.
This page addresses pricing: items increasing or decreasing fees, the distinction between advertising budget and management fee, questions to ask about low proposals, contract provisions to look for and tools used to track the value received for the fee. The service workflow, content calendar and community management details are explained on the social media management service page.
Video transcript
What determines the social media management fee? The number of accounts, content types and frequency, and which tasks are delegated; the exact fee is determined through a written proposal. The fee pays for labor rather than an amount payable to the platform: planning, production, publication, comment and message monitoring, and reporting. The business can undertake some of these itself. Account and platform numbers, content types and frequency, Reels production, copywriting and message volume determine the price. Advertising management is not included in this fee and is quoted separately. The process begins with a free introductory conversation, followed by account reviews and an itemized work list. The written proposal states included and excluded work and that the advertising budget is separate. Proposals are read against the same work list: are followers or sales promised, are content quantities written, are messages included, and is password access requested? Pricing information, fee components and contract provisions are on the page. An existing proposal can be shared through WhatsApp and read together item by item. Onur Freelance dot com.
Let us determine the accounts’ monthly workload in an introductory conversation
If Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn or TikTok account addresses and the expected posting schedule are sent through WhatsApp, the accounts receive a free initial assessment. Once the scope is clear, the monthly fee and tasks are sent as a written proposal on the same day.
What does the social media management fee pay for?
The social media management fee pays for the planning, production, publication, monitoring and reporting labor needed to keep accounts operating regularly each month; it is not an amount paid to platforms. Posting on Instagram and Facebook is free, and money is paid to Meta only when advertising.
Tasks that may fall within the monthly fee are generally grouped as follows:
- Planning: A monthly topic list, distribution of formats, and advance scheduling of special days and campaign dates.
- Production: Single-image and carousel design, short-video editing and captions.
- Publication: Scheduling approved posts and adding stories according to current developments.
- Community monitoring: Checking and responding to comments, direct messages and tags during specified hours.
- Reporting: Reading platform statistics at the end of the period and carrying notes into the following month.
Every business does not need to outsource all these groups. A business shooting its own photographs and videos can undertake part of production, while a company whose team member answers messages can exclude community monitoring from scope. Which group to delegate is the first and most decisive decision when discussing social media management prices.
Which items affect the monthly social media management price?
The number of accounts to manage, content types and frequency, who produces Reels and message traffic volume have the greatest effect on the monthly price. Each item is measured through a concrete question in the introductory conversation rather than priced by guesswork.
| Item | Effect on the fee | Clarified during the introductory conversation |
|---|---|---|
| Number of accounts and platforms | Every platform requires separate dimensions, text adaptation and monitoring | Which accounts are active and which has priority |
| Content types and frequency | Carousels and video require more preparation than a single image | Monthly post, story and Reels schedule |
| Design and Reels production | Editing, subtitles and cover preparation increase labor | Who will shoot the raw footage and whether a brand template exists |
| Copywriting | Technical or industry-specific topics increase research time | Caption length, number of languages, approval flow |
| Community management | Daily monitoring time grows as comment and message volume increases | Average message volume, response hours, need for prepared replies |
| Reporting | Report frequency and adding website data take time | Monthly or periodic reporting, and which indicators |
| Advertising management | Not included in this fee; quoted as a separate service | Whether there is an advertising plan |
These items affect one another. An account requesting many Reels on one platform may require more labor than one using simple images across three platforms. Social media account management prices therefore emerge from considering items together rather than a rate multiplied by the number of platforms.
For seasonal businesses, workload may change during the year. Post and story needs can increase during busy months such as holidays, school periods or New Year, while quieter months can have a lighter plan. If such fluctuation is expected, seasonal scope differences are stated as a separate line in the proposal from the outset.
How is the scope of the fee starting at 9,000 TL clarified?
The starting amount is a lower limit prepared for a simple workload; the platforms, number of posts or number of Reels it covers are not written in advance as a fixed package. After reviewing the accounts and expectations, the work is listed item by item in the proposal. If the workload exceeds the starting level, the reason is also stated explicitly. If a change such as adding a new platform or increasing video numbers occurs during the engagement, the scope is rewritten and the updated fee submitted for approval before implementation.
Why are the advertising budget and management fee kept separate?
The advertising budget is money paid directly to Meta for ad delivery; the management fee pays for the account manager’s labor. The two amounts go to different recipients, are determined through different logic and are not combined on the same invoice; whether a proposal also includes ad spend is the first point to check when comparing social media management prices.
Organic posting and paid campaigns are also separate work. Social media management keeps the account consistent and trustworthy in appearance; campaign setup, audience selection, pixel and conversion tracking fall within Meta ad management . At Onur Freelance, Meta and Instagram ad management is a separate service starting at 7,500 TL per month; the exact amount is determined through a proposal after reviewing campaign numbers, objectives and measurement needs.
How ad spend is formed, which additional invoice items arise and how budgets are planned are covered in detail in the Instagram ad prices guide. How the budget should be divided between Google and Meta is examined in the Google Ads or Meta Ads comparison .
What should the proposal state about invoices and VAT?
The proposal should state in writing whether the fee includes or excludes VAT, which period it covers and when payment is due. Matters such as tax rates and declaration methods are clarified with the business’s accountant; no rate is given on this page.
The advertising invoice comes from Meta and should not be confused with the management fee. According to Meta’s ad placement taxes page , if the registered “Sold To” address is in Turkey and no valid Republic of Turkey tax identification number is assigned to the account, Meta adds VAT at the local rate to advertising purchases. The same page states that Meta does not provide tax advice and questions should be directed to a tax adviser or tax office.
A location fee may also be added to invoices for ads shown to audiences in Turkey, and this item sits outside the campaign budget. Keeping social media management fees, advertising spend payable to Meta and tax items on the ad invoice as three separate lines in the monthly cash plan prevents surprises at month-end.
This section provides general information and is not a legal opinion. The business’s accountant has the final say on invoice and VAT questions.
Let us read your existing proposal together item by item
If you have a social media proposal from another provider, it can be shared through WhatsApp. Which tasks are written, which remain unclear and how the advertising budget is presented are reviewed free of charge.
What should you look for in a cheap social media proposal?
The first point to check in a low proposal is whether the tasks covered by the amount are written down. Social media management prices for the same work may differ markedly between proposals, and a low amount alone is not bad; the problem is an unexplained figure that grows through extra fees in later months.
The following signs should be questioned during the meeting:
- Promises of followers or engagement: Proposals promising a specific follower count or sales should explain the method for producing that result. Purchased accounts or accounts that do not engage distort statistics.
- Unclear content quantity: General phrases such as “regular posting” do not show how many posts or which formats will be prepared during the month.
- Entirely ready-made templates: Giving the same design to different businesses by changing only the logo makes the account harder to distinguish from competitors.
- No written revision limit: If the number of correction rounds included in the fee is unknown, approval takes longer or additional costs arise.
- Messages left outside scope: If responsibility for replying to comments and direct messages is unspecified, the most labor-intensive work may have remained with the business.
- Requesting account access through a password: Requesting the main password indicates that permission-sharing tools are not being used.
When comparing multiple proposals, placing amounts side by side is insufficient; they need to be read against the same itemized work list. If one proposal includes Reels production and another does not, the two figures are not prices for the same service.
Comparing an agency, freelance specialist and in-house employee
The difference between the three models concerns who carries the workload, communication speed and whether account knowledge remains with the business more than cost. The decision is made according to the number of brands and accounts, production intensity and the business’s internal resources.
| Criterion | Social media agency | Freelance specialist | In-house employee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost structure | Monthly service fee includes a team and production share | Monthly service fee directly tied to scope | Salary, benefits, software and equipment carried by the business |
| Suitable situation | Organizations with multiple brands, intensive shoots and campaign calendars | Small and medium-sized businesses with one or a few accounts | Businesses needing daily on-site content flow |
| Communication | Through a customer representative | Directly with the person doing the work | Immediate, in the same office |
| Continuity risk | Brand knowledge must transfer when the representative changes | Dependent on one person; ask about the backup plan | Account knowledge may leave when the employee departs |
| Breadth of expertise | Separate people for design, video and advertising | Limited to the individual’s areas of knowledge | Versatility expected from one person |
When comparing social media management prices across these three models, software, equipment and training expenses for an in-house employee should also be included. Account ownership should remain with the business regardless of the selected model. If deciding how to prioritize social media alongside the website, SEO and advertising is difficult, channel selection can first be clarified through digital marketing consulting .
Which provisions should you check in a social media management agreement?
The most important contract provisions are the work list, account ownership, approval and revision flow, content usage rights and termination conditions. When these are written at the outset, pricing discussions happen before signing rather than after work begins.
- Itemized work list: Platforms, monthly content types, Reels production, copy, message monitoring and reporting frequency are listed individually.
- Account ownership and access: The Instagram account, Facebook Page and ad account remain in the business’s business portfolio. Meta’s guide to adding people to a business portfoliorecommends granting access at the level needed for people to complete their work and enabling two-factor authentication.
- Approval and revisions: The number of days before publication that content will be submitted for approval, the included correction rounds and what happens if approval does not arrive are stated.
- Content and image rights: The licensing status of prepared designs, videos, and music or stock images used is written down.
- Fees and payment: The monthly amount, payment day and pricing of work outside scope are clarified.
- Termination and handover: The notice period, removal of access when work ends and delivery of prepared files to the business are defined.
It is normal for the agreement to contain no commitment tied to follower, engagement or sales numbers; these results depend on the industry, content quality and advertising support. Onur Freelance does not provide such a guarantee and instead offers an itemized written work list and regular measurement.
Common mistakes that waste social media budgets
The most expensive mistake is starting to pay monthly fees before defining the objective; without knowing what to measure, the value of the work cannot be seen. Other common mistakes and appropriate approaches include:
- Choosing solely by price: Selecting the lowest figure without comparing work lists can lead to missing tasks being charged separately later.
- Starting on every platform at once: Opening five accounts together increases the fee; expanding after establishing a routine on one or two main channels is more manageable.
- Delaying approval: When the content calendar waits for days on the business’s side, publication is disrupted and the paid month becomes inefficient.
- Taking the advertising budget out of the management fee: When the two items are not planned separately, neither the organic account nor the campaign receives adequate resources.
- Neglecting the profile link: If the page reached by social media visitors is weak, some of the effort invested in the account is lost on the website.
The problem in the final item is usually resolved on the website side. How website maintenance, SEO and advertising work are planned alongside social media is explained on the website management page.
How is the value received for the fee measured?
The value of the monthly fee is measured through reach, engagement, profile activity and messaging data visible in Meta Business Suite and Instagram insights. The report should show how these data change month by month and which content works; social media management prices gain meaning only when read alongside this data.
According to Meta’s explanation of Meta Business Suite Insights , this section shows results for organic and paid activity together for a Facebook Page and Instagram profile. The overview focuses on the last 28 days; tabs such as Results, Audience, Messaging and Content track views, content interactions, link clicks, follower trends, and the business’s message response rate and response time. Content performance can be broken down into organic and advertising, and followers and non-followers.
On Instagram, the insights page in the Instagram Help Centerstates that data can be viewed on public personal or professional accounts and that a period within the last 90 days can be selected. The same page also notes that some metrics are estimated. Tracking the following indicators is a sufficient starting point for measurement:
- Views and accounts reached: How many people saw the content and how many times.
- Content interactions: The distribution of actions such as saves, shares and comments by content type.
- Profile activity: Profile visits, link clicks and use of contact buttons.
- Messaging: Incoming message count, response time and inquiries generated from messages.
How is a social media proposal prepared at Onur Freelance?
After reviewing the accounts, the proposal is prepared in writing together with an itemized work list and shared on the day scope is clarified. The process follows these steps:
- Introductory conversation: The business’s services, target audience, active accounts and shooting capabilities are discussed; the initial assessment is free.
- Account review: Profile settings, recent posts, insights and message volume are reviewed.
- Scope recommendation: An itemized work list is prepared for platforms, content types and frequency, Reels production, copy and community monitoring.
- Written proposal: The monthly fee, included and excluded work, the separate advertising budget and payment conditions are written down.
- Start: After approval, access is granted through the business portfolio and the first month’s content calendar is submitted for approval.
Onur Freelance is an independent service provider based in Gülsuyu, Maltepe and is not Meta’s official support channel. Meetings take place in person in Istanbul or by video, while work with businesses outside the city and abroad is entirely remote; WhatsApp messages are answered every day between 09.00–21.00. This page explains social media management prices; how the content calendar, production and community management operate appears on the social media management page.
Let us determine the exact monthly fee by reviewing your accounts
The first step is the same for those seeking only information, comparing an existing proposal or wanting to start immediately: a short WhatsApp message with account addresses. Accounts are reviewed, then the itemized work list and monthly fee are communicated in writing.
How social media is budgeted alongside SEO and advertising management is explained on the digital marketing prices page.
For differences in content and rules by industry, see the real estate, beauty center, hotel and restaurant pages; for provisions that should appear in an agreement, see the social media management agreement guide.
How VAT and withholding apply to invoices for monthly fees is addressed in the social media management VAT and withholding article.
The service scope and how it is performed step by step are explained in the what is social media management guide.
Content planning and working methods that vary by city are explained on the Istanbul, Ankara, İzmir, Antalya, Bursa, Sakarya, Kocaeli and Tekirdağ social media management pages.
Frequently asked questions
How much does social media management cost in 2026?
At Onur Freelance, the monthly fee starts at 9,000 TL; the advertising budget payable to Meta falls outside that amount. The exact amount is stated in the written proposal after reviewing account numbers, content types and frequency, Reels production and message monitoring.
What changes the monthly social media management price?
The number of platforms and accounts, content types and frequency, who handles design and Reels production, copywriting, comment and message volume, and reporting frequency determine the price most. Advertising management is not included in these items and is quoted separately.
Is the advertising budget included in the social media management fee?
No, the advertising budget is paid directly to Meta for ad delivery and is not included in the management fee. In the cash plan, management fees, ad spend and tax items on the ad invoice should be kept on separate lines.
Is a separate fee charged for Instagram ad management?
Yes, campaign setup, audience selection and conversion tracking are separate from social media management. At Onur Freelance, this is a separate service starting at 7,500 TL per month; the exact amount is determined through a proposal after reviewing the ad account’s condition and campaigns to be created.
How many posts are included in the 9,000 TL starting fee?
The starting amount is not a package defined by a fixed number of posts or Reels. Accounts and expectations are reviewed in the introductory conversation, and included tasks are listed individually in the proposal.
Do you need to share a password for social media account management?
The healthiest arrangement is to avoid needing to do so; accounts remain in the business’s business portfolio, and the manager receives permissions through Meta Business Suite. Meta recommends keeping access at the level required by the work and enabling two-factor authentication.
Are followers or sales guaranteed?
No, Onur Freelance makes no promises about follower counts, engagement rates or sales numbers. These outcomes are jointly affected by the business’s industry, shared content and advertising use; the proposal instead states tasks to perform and reporting arrangements.
Where can social media management results be tracked?
Results are tracked in the Insights section of Meta Business Suite and Instagram’s own insights. Views, content interactions, profile activity and messaging data are compared across periods and reported.
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