Hire a social media manager or outsource it?
What it really costs to employ someone compared with outsourcing, for UK small businesses. Last updated October 2026.
Is it cheaper to hire a social media manager or outsource?
For most small businesses, outsourcing is far cheaper. Advertised salaries for social media managers in the UK are typically around £25,000 to £40,000 a year, before employer National Insurance, pension, holiday, equipment, software and training. A done-for-you service like Socially Active costs £1,800 to £4,200 + VAT a year (£150 to £350 a month), and an agency starts from around £6,000 + VAT a year. Hiring makes sense when social media is central to your business and you need someone full time.
Side by side
| Employ someone | Done-for-you (Socially Active) | Agency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly cost | Salary plus employer costs | £1,800 to £4,200 + VAT | From around £6,000 + VAT |
| Time to start | Weeks or months to recruit | Usually live within two weeks | A few weeks |
| Management | You manage them | Nothing to manage; you approve posts | An account manager runs it |
| Holiday and sickness | Gaps to cover | Covered by the team | Covered by the team |
| Skills | One person’s skills | Design, writing and scheduling | Strategy, video, design and writing |
| Commitment | An employment contract | 3 months, then monthly | A fixed term, often 6 months |
When each makes sense.
Hire someone if…
- Social media is a main source of sales for you
- You need daily posting, replies and video
- You have the budget and time to manage someone
Outsource if…
- You need to look active and professional, consistently
- You don’t want to recruit or manage anyone
- You want predictable costs you can stop
Socially Active plans. All prices + VAT.
Active
One post a week. The minimum to look open for business.
- 1 branded post a week
- 4 placements a week across 4 platforms
- Written for your business, designed to your brand
- You approve everything first
- Monthly performance summary
Today: £300 + VAT (set-up + first month). Then £150 + VAT a month.
Active Plus
Two posts a week. Enough that people notice you’re busy.
- 2 branded posts a week
- 8 placements a week across 4 platforms
- Written for your business, designed to your brand
- You approve everything first
- Monthly performance summary
Today: £500 + VAT (set-up + first month). Then £250 + VAT a month.
Always On
Three posts a week. Never a quiet week on your feed.
- 3 branded posts a week
- 12 placements a week across 4 platforms
- Written for your business, designed to your brand
- You approve everything first
- Monthly performance summary
Today: £700 + VAT (set-up + first month). Then £350 + VAT a month.
The one-off set-up fee is the same as one month. It covers building your brand kit, tidying your profiles, setting up your upload link and scheduling, and planning your first month. 3-month minimum, then rolling monthly with 30 days’ notice. All prices + VAT.
Hiring or outsourcing: your questions.
How much does a social media manager cost in the UK?
Advertised salaries are typically around £25,000 to £40,000 a year depending on experience and location, plus employer costs such as National Insurance and pension. Check current job adverts in your area for an up-to-date picture.
Can I hire a part-time social media manager?
Yes, but you still recruit, manage and cover them, and part-time hours can make it hard to post consistently. A done-for-you service gives you consistency without employing anyone.
Is Socially Active a replacement for a social media manager?
For posting branded content every week, yes. It does not cover video, replying to comments or bespoke strategy, which is what a dedicated manager or a full agency like Compelite Pro adds.
More guides: all guides · cost guide · by industry · areas we cover
A team for less than a part-timer.
Pick a plan and sign up online in about ten minutes. Your first posts usually go live within two weeks.
Questions first? That’s fine.
Book a 15-minute call, or email [email protected].