Digital marketing packages and prices (Australia, 2026)
Last updated: September 2026. Prices in AUD, ex GST.
| Option | Typical price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Small business package | $1,500-$5,000+ a month | One or two channels, usually Google Ads or local SEO plus basic tracking, fees and media combined |
| Growth package | $5,000-$25,000+ a month | Paid search and social, SEO and content, CRO, email automation and reporting |
| Established or multi-location | $25,000-$100,000+ a month | Multiple channels and regions, creative production and dedicated team |
| Agency fees only: single channel | $600-$3,000 a month | For example Google Ads management or a local SEO retainer |
| Agency fees only: multi-channel retainer | $4,000-$20,000+ a month | Implementation across several channels, ex media |
| Strategy before you start | $3,000-$12,000 one-off | Audit, priorities and a 90-day roadmap |
How much should you pay for digital marketing?
Work back from revenue rather than forward from a price list. A common planning range is 5-10% of revenue for established businesses and more for a business trying to grow quickly, split between agency fees and media.
- Decide what a new customer is worth and how many you want each month.
- Set the cost per customer you can afford.
- That gives a monthly budget. Then choose the one or two channels most likely to hit it, instead of spreading a small budget across five.
- Expect fees to be a larger share of a small budget. Under about $3,000 a month in media, management often costs as much as the ads.
What each package normally includes
- Small business ($1,500-$5,000 a month): one primary channel, conversion tracking, a landing page or website fixes and a simple monthly report. The goal is a reliable flow of leads.
- Growth ($5,000-$25,000 a month): paid search and paid social, ongoing SEO and content, conversion rate optimisation, email nurture and a dashboard. The goal is scale at a known cost per customer.
- Established ($25,000-$100,000+ a month): multi-region campaigns, regular creative production, marketing automation, analytics engineering and a dedicated account team.
How agency fees are structured
- Monthly retainer: a fixed fee for agreed scope. Most common for SEO, content and multi-channel work.
- Percentage of ad spend: 10-20% with a minimum, used for Google Ads and paid social.
- Project fee: fixed price for a website, tracking setup or strategy.
- Hourly: $125-$250 an hour for agency specialists, used for audits and consulting.
- Performance fees exist but are rare and usually sit on top of a base retainer.
Package prices by channel
- SEO: $1,200-$8,000+ a month.
- Google Ads: $600-$2,500+ a month in fees plus ad spend.
- Social media packages: $1,200-$8,000+ a month plus ad spend.
- Email marketing packages: $1,000-$6,000+ a month.
- Content marketing: $2,000-$12,000 a month.
- Website design: $3,000-$25,000 per site.
The full list of services and prices is in the digital marketing cost guide.
Warning signs in a package quote
- Guaranteed rankings or guaranteed lead numbers.
- No split between agency fees and media spend.
- The agency owns your ad accounts, analytics or website.
- Twelve month lock-in with no performance checkpoints.
- Reporting on impressions and clicks but not leads or sales.
Frequently asked questions
How much do digital marketing packages cost in Australia?
Small business packages usually run $1,500-$5,000 a month, growth packages $5,000-$25,000 and established brand programs $25,000-$100,000+, including both agency fees and media spend.
How much should I pay for digital marketing?
Work back from what a customer is worth. Many established businesses invest 5-10% of revenue, with growth-focused businesses spending more. Concentrate a small budget on one or two channels.
How much do digital marketing agencies charge in Australia?
Single channel management is commonly $600-$3,000 a month. Multi-channel retainers run $4,000-$20,000+ a month before media. Paid media is often charged at 10-20% of ad spend with a minimum fee.
What is included in a digital marketing package?
Typically channel management such as Google Ads, SEO or social, conversion tracking, reporting and a set number of content or creative assets. Media spend, websites and video production are usually separate.
Is it cheaper to hire in-house or use an agency?
A capable in-house marketer costs $80,000-$130,000+ a year with on-costs and still needs specialist support. Agencies are usually cheaper below about $10,000 a month of work, and in-house teams make sense above that.