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, Apprentice Advocate working 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.