AI Agency Pricing Calculator
Model a realistic AI marketing agency retainer. Factor in strategy hours, content volume, automation work, reporting, and tool pass-throughs to see monthly and annual cost ranges.
Engagement Scope
Rate Assumptions
Estimated monthly retainer
$10,500
Strategy
$3,750
Content
$3,600
Automation
$2,000
Reporting
$750
Typical retainer range (low)
$9,450
Typical retainer range (high)
$13,125
Annual commitment
$126,000
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How to Use This Calculator
Input strategy, content, automation, and reporting scope
Set blended and per-piece rates
Add tool pass-throughs
Review low–high retainer range and annual cost
Frequently Asked Questions
What should an AI marketing agency charge?
Typical retainers run $5,000-$25,000/mo for mid-market engagements. Below that, expect tool-only or light oversight. Above $25K usually includes fractional CMO or heavy automation builds.
Should I hire an AI agency or do it in-house?
Agency is faster to start, more expensive long-term. In-house is slower to build, cheaper at steady state. Most teams start with an agency to build the foundation, then bring key pieces in-house.
What should be included in the retainer?
Strategy, content production, analytics, tool management, prompt library maintenance. Tool pass-throughs (API, Jasper, etc.) usually separate so scale can adjust without renegotiating the retainer.
How do I evaluate an AI agency's real capability?
Ask for their prompt library structure, tool stack with seat counts, automation flow examples, and case studies with measurable outcomes (not "engagement"). Thin agencies have one ChatGPT Team account.
Should the agency own our prompts and workflows?
No — negotiate IP ownership in your contract. Prompts, automations, and custom GPTs should transfer to you if you end the engagement. This is a common gotcha.
Why Use This Calculator
- Estimate monthly retainer for an AI-enabled agency
- See breakdown by work category
- Get a realistic low–high range
- Plan annual commitment from monthly retainer
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"The budget breakdown helped us identify where we were overspending. We reallocated 20% of our budget to higher-performing channels."
Marketing Manager, E-commerce Brand