Pricing · 6 min read
How a young marketer should price marketing services in 2026
Real 2026 pricing benchmarks for young UK marketers offering paid ads, SEO, email and content - hourly, project and retainer models.
By Jack Frampton, Marketer at Queen's College, Taunton · Published 10 July 2026
Under-charging is the single biggest mistake I see young UK marketers make. Here are the 2026 benchmarks.
Hourly rates
£40–£80/hour for a young marketer with 1–3 years experience. Use hourly only for scoping calls or small edits.
Project rates
Website audit £500–£1,200. Content sprint £1,500–£4,000. Rebrand £2,500–£8,000. Fix the scope tightly.
Retainers
£600 (very small) to £3,000+ (multi-channel) per month. Retainers work best above 6 months of consistent output.
When to raise rates
Raise 15–25% every 12 months, or when demand exceeds capacity. Existing clients can be grandfathered for one cycle.
Frequently asked questions
- How much should I charge for my first client?
- £400–£800 for a project, or £40–£60/hour. Under-price for reputation, not for survival.
- Should I offer discounts?
- Prefer scope reductions to discounts. Discounts erode positioning permanently.
- Retainer or project fees?
- Retainers scale better and predict cash flow. Projects are easier to sell to first-time buyers.
- How do I raise rates with existing clients?
- 60 days notice, positioned around new capacity or added value. Most say yes if you've delivered.
Explore more on this site
- Apprenticeship Hub →Free mentoring, vacancy help and guides for school leavers, parents and employers.
- Marketing Portfolio →Campaign design, sports graphics, editorial work and photography from Queen's College, Taunton.
- Video →Behind the scenes video and short-form apprenticeship content.
- About Jack Frampton →Marketer, apprenticeship advocate and Taunton keynote speaker.
About the author
Marketer at Queen's College, Taunton · Apprenticeship advocate
Jack Frampton is a marketer at Queen's College, Taunton, working across digital marketing, SEO, design, content and photography. He came through the apprenticeship route himself, founded the Taunton Apprenticeship Evening and speaks in schools across Somerset and the South West about apprenticeships as a route into marketing. He offers free mentoring for school leavers, parents and employers.
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