THE MARKETING YOU NEED FOR MUCH LESS.
Cost to build an In-House Team
$1,135,000
per year - 12 roles, fully staffed
Standard Notice U Retainer
$2,000/mo
same expert coverage, scaled to what you need
In-House Team. Freelancers. AI Tools.
OR US?
| Option | Monthly Cost | Ramp-Up Time | Coverage | Consistency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-House Team | ~$94,600 ($1.135M/yr) | 3–6 months to hire | Full, if all 12+ roles filled | High — but sick days, turnover, office politics |
| Freelancers | $1,000 – $75,000+ | Days to weeks | Gaps between specialists | Low — juggling multiple contractors |
| AI Tools Alone | $2,500 – $25,000+ | Immediate | Ideas, not execution or judgment | Low — same plan your competitors get |
| Notice U Best Value | As low as $2,000 | Days to first audit | Every service, one team | High — same team, no sick days or politics |
What A Real In-House Team
Actually Costs
| Position | Salary |
|---|---|
| Chief Marketing Officer / Marketing Director | $175,000 |
| Digital Marketing Manager / CRO Director | $90,000 |
| Google Ads / Paid Media Specialist | $85,000 |
| SEO Specialist | $80,000 |
| Content Strategist / Creative Director | $95,000 |
| Social Media Manager | $65,000 |
| Graphic Designer | $65,000 |
| Web Developer | $110,000 |
| Media Director / Advertising Manager | $110,000 |
| CRM / Marketing Automation Specialist | $90,000 |
| Videographer / Photographer / Editor | $85,000 |
| Marketing Data Analyst / Reporting Specialist | $85,000 |
All told, a real marketing department is 12+ experts dedicated to growing your business. Any fewer, and you're already leaning on agencies and freelancers to fill the gaps — the only question is whether that's by accident or by design.
Where We Make Difference
Every Category, Covered
Strategy, Planning & Intelligence
A CMO ($175k), Media Director ($90k) and Creative Director ($110k) give you judgment ChatGPT can’t replace.
Branding & Creative
Creative Directors, videographers, graphic artists and copywriters — a department that makes you look better than your competition.
Website & Content
Search Marketing & SEO
Advertising Strategy & Placement
Social Media Management
Email Marketing & Automation
Analytics & Reporting
When It's Worth It
And When It Isn't
Hire An Agency When You...
- Need expertise you don't have in-house
- Have a team already stretched too thin
- Keep repeating the same marketing mistakes
- Don't know where you're at or where you're going
- Want faster execution and consistent messaging
- Are tired of paying for tools you can't fully use alone
Stay In-House When You...
- Are an early-stage business with a very tight budget
- Already have someone who manages marketing well
- Only need occasional help — a few social posts, basic emails
- Would get better value from tools, training, and a few targeted campaigns
- Can comfortably absorb the salaries and benefits without it being a stretch
If you spend $3,000/mo on an agency and it produces even one or two profitable, lifetime customers, the service may already pay for itself.
How to judge value?
Before signing any agreement, ask what the agency will measure and how often they report results. Get clarity on leads, traffic, calls, conversions, cost per lead, and return on ad spend where applicable. A good agency will explain what they do and why it matters.
Use this checklist before hiring an agency:
- What services exactly are included?
- What results should I expect in 3, 6, and 12 months?
- Who will manage my account?
- How often will I receive updates?
- What does success look like?
- Are there setup fees, minimum spending thresholds, or long-term commitments?
If they give vague answers, the costs they quote may be unjustified.
The pragmatic answer.
For most businesses, the question is not whether agencies are useful. Rather the answer is “Do it when your business is at a point where outside expertise creates more value for you.”
To find out for sure, contact us and see what the hometown firm with world-wide reach could be doing for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
A business owner should hire a marketing agency when they need expertise, stronger strategy, faster execution, or more consistent marketing than they can handle in-house. An agency helps when the business is stretched thin, wasting money on ineffective tactics, or the owner wants more qualified leads and better brand visibility.
Marketing agencies provide strategy and planning, branding and creative, website and content development, SEO and local search, paid advertising, social media management, email marketing, and analytics/reporting. Some agencies are full-service, while others specialize in one area such as PPC, SEO, traditional media, or social media.
Pricing varies based on scope, experience, and market size. Common ranges include hourly consulting at about $75 to $250+ per hour, monthly retainers from $1,000 to $5,000 for smaller businesses and $5,000 to $15,000+ for more robust support. One-time projects run from $2,500 to $25,000+. Paid ad management is $500 to $2,500+ per month or 10% to 20% of placement fees.
A good agency agreement outlines deliverables, timelines, and reporting. It may include market audits, discovery sessions, campaign planning, copywriting, design, landing page development, SEO fixes, social media content, ad account setup, optimization, and monthly reporting and performance reviews.
An agency is worth it when it generates more qualified leads, improves conversion rates, reduces wasted money on ad spending, strengthens the brand, and saves time. If the agency’s work produces enough value to outweigh the monthly cost, the investment pays for itself.
IF YOU'RE STILL READING,
YOU ALREADY KNOW YOU NEED THIS.
Find out for sure — talk to the hometown firm with a world-wide reach.
Clients we’ve worked with
Time To Settle this debate here
Whether it be a call or a meeting we will come to that first consultation with REAL VALUE, real data and real solutions. You have nothing to lose.