How much does a marketing agency cost per month in Toronto?

It depends on scope: channels, locations, content volume and who does the work. As one published reference point, SET Marketing’s retainers start at CA$5,000 a month plus ad spend, and a fractional CMO starts at CA$12,000 a month.

Is ad spend included in an agency’s fee?

Usually not. Ad spend is normally paid to Google or Meta on top of the management fee. Ask whether the agency adds any markup to it. SET Marketing does not.

Do Toronto marketing agencies charge HST?

Agency services in Ontario are generally subject to 13% HST. Check whether each quote you compare includes it.

What contract length should I expect?

Terms vary from agency to agency. Look at the minimum term, the notice period after it, and what you get handed over if you leave. SET Marketing uses a 90-day first term, then month to month with 30 days notice.

Is a cheaper marketing agency a better deal?

Only if the scope is the same. Compare what each quote includes, who does the work and how results are measured. Missing tracking or landing pages can cost more in wasted ad spend than a higher fee.

How Much Does a Marketing Agency Cost in Toronto?

Key takeaways

Toronto agencies usually charge a monthly retainer, a project fee, an hourly rate, a percentage of ad spend, or a mix.
The fee is only part of the cost. Ad spend, software, content production and 13% HST in Ontario sit on top.
What drives the fee is scope: channels, locations, content volume, tracking and how senior the people doing the work are.
Compare quotes on what is included and on the terms: minimum term, notice period, ad spend markup and who owns the accounts. SET Marketing publishes its prices, starting at CA$5,000 a month plus ad spend.

The short answer

It depends on what you need done, and quotes for similar-sounding work can be far apart. The fastest way to make sense of them is to understand how agencies price, what moves the number, and what is not in the fee. We publish our own prices further down, so you have at least one fixed reference point.

How marketing agencies price their work

Monthly retainer

The most common model for ongoing work such as SEO, ads management and content. You pay a set fee each month for an agreed scope. Retainers suit work that compounds over time. Check exactly what the scope covers and how changes are handled.

Project fee

A fixed price for a defined piece of work, such as a website, a brand refresh or an audit. Good for anything with a clear finish line. Make sure the quote spells out deliverables, revisions and what happens after launch.

Hourly rate

Common for consultants and small jobs. It is flexible, but hard to budget, and it rewards time spent rather than results.

Percentage of ad spend

Some agencies charge their management fee as a share of your ad budget. It is simple, but the fee rises whenever spend rises, which can work against a careful budget. Ask whether any markup is added to the ad spend itself.

Performance-based

A fee tied to leads or sales. It sounds low-risk, but the details matter: how a lead is defined, who controls the website and follow-up, and what happens when tracking disagrees.

What drives the fee

Channels. SEO alone costs less than SEO plus Google Ads plus Meta plus email.
Locations and service lines. Each extra location or service usually needs its own pages, campaigns and tracking.
Content volume. Articles, landing pages and video each take real time to plan and produce.
Tracking and reporting. Following leads from the first click to a closed sale takes setup in GA4 and your CRM.
Who does the work. A senior strategist costs more than a junior account manager. Ask who will actually run your account.
Speed and support. Faster turnaround and more meetings add cost.

The costs on top of the agency fee

Ad spend paid to Google, Meta or LinkedIn. This is almost always separate from the management fee. Our guide to what Google Ads costs explains how ad budgets and billing work.
Software such as a CRM, call tracking, email tools and scheduling.
Content production such as photo and video shoots.
HST. Agency services in Ontario are generally subject to 13% HST, so check whether a quote includes it.
Your team’s time for approvals, interviews and follow-up on the leads that come in.

To size a total budget from your revenue goal, try our free Marketing Budget Calculator.

Contract terms to check before you sign

Minimum term. How long are you committed before you can leave?
Notice period. How much notice do you have to give after that?
Ad spend markup. Is anything added on top of what Google or Meta charge?
Account ownership. Are the ad accounts, analytics, website and CRM data in your name?
Reporting. Do reports show leads and sales, or only clicks and impressions?
Exit. What do you get handed over if you leave?

How to compare agency quotes

Compare quotes by scope before you look at the headline number. A lower fee that leaves out tracking, landing pages or follow-up can cost more in wasted ad spend. Ask each agency what it would do in the first 90 days, who does the work, and how it will show you what the money returned. Our guides on choosing a marketing agency in Toronto and agency, freelancer or in-house go deeper.

What SET Marketing costs

All prices are in Canadian dollars, plus HST.

Growth Audit: CA$4,500, fixed, one time.
Search Foundation: from CA$5,000 a month plus ad spend. SEO and Google Ads for one location or service line.
Multi-Location Search Growth: CA$6,500 to CA$9,500 a month plus ad spend.
Fractional CMO: from CA$12,000 a month plus ad spend. A senior marketing lead plus the full team.
AI search only: AI Search Local is CA$3,500 setup, then CA$2,500 a month. AI Search B2B is CA$7,200 setup, then CA$4,500 a month.

Retainers start with a 90-day first term, then run month to month with 30 days notice. Ad spend goes straight to Google or Meta with no markup. Full details are on our pricing page.