If you are looking for how much a community manager costs in Mataró, you have probably found quotes ranging from 80 euros a month to 1,200. That difference is not a coincidence or marketing: it means you are not comparing the same service.
In this article I am not going to sell you my price. I am going to give you the real market range in the Maresme, what each tier includes and how to work out which one you need before asking for a quote. That way, when you talk to someone, you will know whether they are offering what you need or just a nice number.
The short answer
For a shop or small business in the Maresme, the market moves in three tiers:
- Presence (150–250 € per month). Between 8 and 12 posts, stories, replies to comments and messages, and a basic report. It is for businesses that want to keep their profile alive without complicating things.
- Growth (300–550 € per month). Adds monthly planning, more audiovisual content (reels or short videos), active community management and a report with metrics you can actually use to decide.
- Full service (600–1,000 € per month). Includes content production on site, managed advertising campaigns and strategic support. It usually makes sense when social media is already bringing in customers and you want to scale.
These figures are for self-employed professionals in the area. An agency in Barcelona typically charges 30–60 % more for the same scope, and does not always get better results for a neighbourhood shop.
And yes: 80-euro fees exist too. Further down we explain what usually sits behind them.
Why some charge 80 € and others charge 800 €
When a quote is very low, there is almost always one of these four things behind it:
- Who does it. A professional with experience is not the same as someone who is learning and charges little to build a portfolio. The result can be fine, but accountability and consistency usually fall short.
- What it really includes. Eight posts are not the same as eight posts plus daily stories, message replies and a report. Always ask for the detail in writing.
- Whether there is audiovisual production. Going to the shop, taking photos and editing video are hours you do not see in the calendar but you do pay for.
- Whether there is strategy or just execution. Posting what you are handed is execution. Deciding what to post, for whom and why is strategy. The second is what changes results, and it is what makes the service more expensive.
How a real quote is calculated
A serious professional does not invent the number. They add up hours. For a shop account with three posts a week, the split usually looks like this:
- Strategy and monthly planning: 2–4 hours.
- Copywriting: 6–8 hours.
- Design or editing: 4–8 hours.
- Publishing, stories and community: 8–12 hours.
- Report and review with the client: 2 hours.
Total: between 22 and 34 hours a month. At 20 euros an hour, that is 440–680 euros. That is why a 200-euro fee is only sustainable if the scope is small, if content is heavily reused, or if the person doing it is just starting.
When someone charges 80 euros for all of that, they are either giving away hours or doing far less than it looks. Both end badly, but the second is more common.
What a 200 € fee must include to not be a rip-off
A low price is not a problem if the scope is clear. Before you sign, check that it includes:
- An agreed posting schedule, with days and formats.
- Copy written by someone who knows the business, not generic templates.
- Design or editing of the pieces, not just the idea.
- Replies to comments and messages within an agreed time.
- A monthly report, even if it is one page.
- Your access to the accounts. Always. If they tell you the accounts are theirs, walk away.
What no tier usually includes
This prevents most misunderstandings:
- Ad spend. The money spent on Meta or Google is paid by the business, on top of the fee.
- Photo or video shoots on site, unless specified.
- The website, email or online sales.
- Crisis management or hostile comments, which is a separate service.
What happens if you choose on price alone
When the only criterion is the lowest number, three scenarios repeat:
- The accounts end up in someone else's name. A year later you want to change professional and discover you have no access, no history and no followers. Getting it back can cost more than a full year of fees.
- Posting stops without warning. By the second month there are no ideas, by the third there are no posts and by the fourth there are no replies to messages.
- There is no data to decide with. Without a report you do not know what works, and without knowing, you start from scratch every month.
None of these three problems shows up on day one. They show up when you have already paid and already lost the season.
What it costs you to do it yourself
Doing it yourself is always cheaper in euros and more expensive in time. A shop that posts with judgement spends between 4 and 6 hours a week: thinking, taking photos, writing, replying and reviewing.
If you value your hour at 20 euros, that is 320–480 euros a month in opportunity cost, not counting the wear of doing it badly or letting it slide after three weeks. That is why many small businesses end up delegating: not because they cannot do it, but because they cannot keep up.
How to know which tier you need
You do not have to choose by price. You choose by these three questions:
- Do you sell through direct messages or over the phone? If so, you need someone who replies fast and well. That is community management, not just posting.
- Do you have a product or service that changes often? If the menu, catalogue or offers change every week, you need agile, frequent content.
- Are you competing to be found on Google or only on social media? If you depend on local search, social media alone is not enough: you need a website, a Google profile and content that answers questions.
A restaurant with a seasonal menu and bookings by message does not need the same as a clothes shop with changing stock, or a freelancer selling professional services. Sector matters more than budget.
How to ask for a quote without wasting time
A good quote does not start with "how much do you charge?", but with three pieces of information:
- What you want to achieve in the next three months: sell more, fill your diary or launch a product.
- What you have tried so far and what has not worked.
- How much time and budget you can genuinely put in.
With that, any serious professional can tell you whether they can help and with what scope. If someone gives you a price without asking anything, be suspicious: either they do not know what you need or they do not care.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a minimum term? It depends on the professional. The first two or three months are for getting started, but it should not be a chain: if the service is not working, you have to be able to leave.
Who owns the accounts? You do. Always. The professional should have access, not ownership.
Are photos included? Only if it is specified. If it is not there, it is not included.
How long until I see results? With consistency, two to four months to notice movement. Anyone promising results in two weeks is selling smoke.
Can I start with the lowest tier and move up? Yes, and it is the most sensible approach. Start small, check that you work well together and expand when the business asks for it.
One last piece of advice
The most expensive price is not the one that charges the most, but the one that makes you lose months without results. And the cheapest usually ends up costing double, because you have to start again with someone else.
If you want to know what your business actually needs, let's talk, no strings attached. And if you want to see what I do and how I work first, here are the services.
