In-house vs. Outsourced Marketing

Most small and mid-sized businesses reach a point where they need real marketing horsepower — but hiring in-house often costs more than it seems. We built this simple calculator to help you see the full picture: salaries, overhead, tools, and how it all compares to outsourcing your marketing to a dedicated team.

The True Cost of Hiring – Charcoal Marketing
The True Cost of Hiring
Built by Charcoal Marketing — compare true annual costs in minutes.

In‑House Team (Annual)

Enter your expected yearly costs. Use the preset button for common NS/Atlantic ranges.

Subtotal (Salaries + Fees)

$0

before overhead

Overhead

$0

25% of eligible roles

Total In‑House Annual

$0

Outsourced / Fractional (Charcoal)

Pick your monthly retainer and add media budget if applicable.

Annual Retainer

$42,000

auto-calculated × 12

Annual Media + Tools

$0

media & tools × 12

Total Outsourced Annual

$42,000

Ready for coffee?
Savings with outsourcing: $0 per year · 0% difference.
*Savings assume overhead applies to employee roles (manager + content). Adjust inputs to match your situation.