Free Social Media Budget Calculator
Calculate the ideal social media marketing budget for your business. Get personalized recommendations based on industry benchmarks and your specific goals.
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Fill in your business details and click "Calculate My Budget" to see your personalized social media budget allocation.
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Learn how to allocate your social media budget effectively for maximum ROI.
Industry Benchmarks
Most businesses allocate 5-25% of their revenue to marketing, with social media representing 20-50% of that total. E-commerce typically spends 12-20% while B2B services average 10-18%.
- •Startups: 15-25% of revenue on marketing
- •Established: 5-12% of revenue on marketing
- •Enterprise: 8-15% of revenue on marketing
Budget Allocation
Split your social media budget across content creation, paid ads, tools, talent, and contingency for optimal results.
- •Content: 25-35% (photos, videos, graphics)
- •Ads: 40-45% (paid social campaigns)
- •Tools: 15% (scheduling, analytics)
- •Talent: 5-10% (freelancers, influencers)
Platform Distribution
Allocate budget based on where your audience is most active. Don't spread too thin across all platforms.
- •1-2 platforms: Go deep, higher ROI
- •3-4 platforms: Requires more resources
- •5+ platforms: Enterprise-level budgets only
Goal-Based Budgeting
Your social media goals should directly influence how you allocate budget across different activities.
- •Brand Awareness: 60% content, 40% ads
- •Lead Generation: 35% content, 65% ads
- •Community Building: 70% content, 30% ads
Common Budget Mistakes
Avoid these pitfalls when planning your social media marketing budget.
- ✗Spreading budget too thin across platforms
- ✗100% on ads, 0% on content creation
- ✗No budget for testing and experimentation
- ✗Ignoring analytics and tracking tools
Scaling Your Budget
As your business grows, adjust your social media budget strategically to maintain momentum.
- •Under $500/mo: Focus on organic growth
- •$500-$2K/mo: Add targeted paid ads
- •$2K-$5K/mo: Hire specialist help
- •$5K+/mo: Build full marketing team
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should a small business spend on social media marketing?
Small businesses typically allocate 5-15% of revenue to marketing, with 20-50% of that going to social media. For a business with $500K annual revenue, this means approximately $500-$3,750/month on social media marketing including content, ads, and tools.
What's the difference between B2B and B2C social media budgets?
B2B companies typically allocate 2-5% of revenue to marketing, while B2C companies often spend 5-10%. B2C usually requires more content production and paid reach, while B2B focuses more on thought leadership and LinkedIn advertising.
Should I spend more on content or paid ads?
It depends on your goals. For brand awareness, allocate 60% to content and 40% to ads. For lead generation, flip to 35% content and 65% ads. For community building, use 70% content and 30% ads.
How many platforms should I budget for?
Focus on 1-2 platforms where your audience is most active for highest ROI. Spreading budget across 5+ platforms typically requires enterprise-level budgets ($10K+/month) to be effective.
Looking for Overall Marketing Budget Planning?
Our Marketing Budget Calculator helps you plan your entire marketing budget across digital, content, ads, and PR — not just social media. Get data-driven allocation based on your revenue, industry, and goals.
After calculating your budget, create a detailed execution plan with our Marketing Campaign Checklist Generator, then track results with our Quarterly Social Media Report Generator.