Digital marketing agencies in Switzerland: What costs you can expect in 2025 (and how not to get ripped off!)

Why the collaboration with a digital marketing agency should be precisely defined and how this affects the price

"Do I really need a digital marketing agency - and if so, how much does it actually cost?"
I have heard this question countless times in recent years from entrepreneurs who want to expand their business online.

Whether you need a new website, want to be found better on Google or are planning a social media campaign - digital marketing agencies can help you. But the marketing agency prices are not always easy to see through.

And since digitalisation has opened the doors for many career changers and amateurs to enter the world of digital marketing, companies in Switzerland are flooded with cheap offers. The problem: quality and support suffer greatly as a result. In this article, I will show you which Marketing agency prices in Switzerland are realistic, which cost traps you should avoid and how to find an agency that makes the best use of your budget.

1. what factors will influence marketing agency prices in 2025?

Not every agency costs the same. This is because various factors play a role:

1.1 The type of agency

There are different agency models that vary greatly in price:

• Boutique agenciesSmall, specialised and often more flexible. Ideal for customised campaigns. Marketing agency prices start at CHF 120 per hour.
• Full-service agenciesOffer everything from web design to performance marketing. Ideal for SMEs. Prices from CHF 150 per hour are usual.
• Freelancers or small teams: Often cheaper, but with less capacity. Prices: from CHF 90 per hour.
• International or nearshore agencies: Providers from Germany or Eastern Europe are often cheaper. Prices: from CHF 70 per hour.

1.2 The scope of the desired services

A customer of a smaller, local company once came to us and wanted "everything from a single source": Social MediaSEO, Google Adscontent marketing, a Image video and a new Website. I asked him: "What is your asking price?" The answer was CHF 10,000. Of course, this is not possible in Switzerland if you expect a high standard of quality.

A reputable agency works with clear priorities. Here are typical services and their costs:

• Google Ads & Performance MarketingCHF 500 - 10'000+ per month
• SEO (search engine optimisation)CHF 1'000 - 15'000 per month
• Social media support (incl. content creation)CHF 2'000 - 8'000 per month
• Website creationCHF 4'000 - 30'000 (one-off)
• Email marketing & automationCHF 1'000 - 7'000 per month

2. typical price models and market prices in Switzerland (2025)

Every marketing agency charges differently. The three most common pricing models are

2.1 Hourly rates

If you book an agency on a project basis or for individual services, many charge hourly rates.

• Junior level specialistsCHF 80 - 120 / hour
• Senior level consultantCHF 150 - 250 / hour
• Specialised agencies (e.g. AI marketing, Growth Hacking)CHF 200 - 500 / hour

Important: With this price model, you should request an estimate of the duration and therefore the effort involved in advance. A buffer is usually calculated, which must not be exceeded.

2.2 Project-based billing

Many companies prefer a fixed price for a project, e.g:

• Website redesign: CHF 3'000 - 30'000
• SEO optimisation for 6 months: CHF 5'000 - 45'000
• Complete social media campaign (3 months): CHF 6'000 - 25'000

Important: We no longer offer our services in a fixed-price model, as in 8 out of 10 cases the scope of the project increases during implementation. Digital marketing is very dynamic and requires flexibility. In the fixed model, the customer is tied to the project and has to bear additional costs. The quotation system also delays the project.

2.3 Monthly retainer models (subscriptions)

Companies that work with a marketing agency on a long-term basis often rely on retainers. This means that you pay a fixed monthly amount for defined services.

• Small companies (CHF 2,000 - 5,000 per month)Basic SEO, Google Ads, Social Media
• Medium-sized companies (CHF 5,000 - 20,000 per month): More comprehensive strategy, multichannel marketing
• Large companies (from CHF 20,000 per month)Full-service support with data-driven optimisations

Example: We have specialised in the subscription model and offer all our services in monthly instalments. As we have specialised our offer and can work cost-efficiently, we are able to offer our subscriptions at a lower price without any loss of quality.

To summarise: Marketing agency prices in Switzerland depend heavily on the services selected and the size of the agency. You should be careful with offers that are too favourable, as in our profession a lot of work always goes into support and this usually suffers as a result.

3. price examples for different company sizes

3.1 Small businesses (budget: CHF 2,000 - 5,000/month)

If you have a small budget, it is important to concentrate on the essentials. This is usually the acquisition of new customers and growth:

• Creation of a sales-boosting website
• Small Google Ads campaigns
• Social media campaigns
• SEO basics (on-page optimisation)

3.2 Medium-sized and larger companies (budget: CHF 5,000 - 20,000/month)

You can use a more comprehensive strategy here. It is about expanding strategies that work:

• Multi-channel marketing (Google Ads + social media ads)
• Content production (blog, video, newsletter)
• Automated marketing systems

Conclusion: How do you make the right decision?

• Compare different marketing agency prices & get quotes
• Pay attention to Transparency with the offers
• Note which services are included in the price (e.g. support, hosting, licences, etc.)
• Start with a pilot project to test the collaboration

4 In-house vs. agency: When is which option worthwhile?

Sometimes clients ask me: "Should I build my own marketing team or hire an agency?"

• In-house is worthwhile if you want to build up long-term marketing expertise.
• Agencies are ideal if you want results quickly or have no resources.
• Hybrid models (in-house team + agency) are often the best solution for growing companies.

A comparison:

Factor	In-house team	Agency
Costs	High fixed costs	Scalable costs
Expertise	Must be set up	Available immediately
Flexibility	Long-term commitment	Bookable on a project basis
Resources	Limited capacity	Scalable solutions

5. outlook for the future: How are marketing agency prices developing?

5.1 Influence of AI & automation

AI tools such as ChatGPT and automated ad optimisation will make marketing more efficient. Agencies that adapt these technologies early on can reduce their costs.

5.2 Changes in demand

Companies are increasingly focussing on data-driven strategies. Agencies that specialise in AI, data analysis and personalisation are becoming more in demand - and more expensive.

6 My conclusion

Marketing agency prices in Switzerland vary greatly, but with a good strategy you can optimise your budget.

A good agency is not a cost centre - it should amortise itself through increased sales. The right agency is not the cheapest, but the one with the best results and good support.

If you are interested in a transparent price model and good service, you are welcome to make a non-binding enquiry. Familiarisation meeting book. We will discuss your goals and budget and find out whether it makes sense to work together.