On this page
- 01Key takeaways
- 02How do you use the checklist?
- 03Fees: are the costs clear?
- 04Scope: is the work defined?
- 05Extras: are additional costs controlled?
- 06Ownership: do you keep what you pay for?
- 07Exit: can you leave cleanly?
- 08What does this look like in practice?
- 09Next step
- 10Sources and further reading
- 11Frequently asked questions
Key takeaways
This social media agency pricing checklist is 15 yes or no checks in five groups: fees, scope, extras, ownership and exit. Score one point for each yes. Thirteen or more, sign with confidence; 10 to 12, ask questions first; under 10, keep looking.
- 15 yes or no checks across fees, scope, extras, ownership and exit.
- 13 or more: sign with confidence.
- 10 to 12: ask questions before you sign.
- Under 10: keep looking.
Want a quote run through the checklist? Message us on WhatsApp.
Chat on WhatsApp →How do you use the checklist?
Run the checklist on every written quote and contract before signing. Answer each check with yes or no, using only what is in writing. A promise on a call that is not in the contract counts as no. Then add up the score.
Fees: are the costs clear?
The fee section should leave no doubt about what you will pay each month and why.
- 1. Is the monthly fee stated, with VAT shown separately?
- 2. Are the hours or deliverables behind the fee stated?
- 3. Is any set-up fee stated, with what it covers?
Scope: is the work defined?
The scope should let you check each month whether the agreed work was delivered.
- 4. Are channels, posts and formats per month listed?
- 5. Are revision rounds and approval times stated?
- 6. Is community management cover, including hours, stated?
Extras: are additional costs controlled?
Extras are where good-looking quotes become expensive. These checks keep them visible.
- 7. Is ad spend paid from your own account, with no hidden mark-up?
- 8. Are filming, stock, tools and travel either included or priced?
- 9. Are rush work and out-of-hours rates stated?
Want your quote scored? Send it to us on WhatsApp and we will discuss your requirements.
Chat on WhatsApp →Ownership: do you keep what you pay for?
Ownership checks protect you if the relationship ends.
- 10. Are all social and ad accounts owned by your business?
- 11. Does copyright in finished content transfer to you?
- 12. Is there a data processing agreement for customer data?
Exit: can you leave cleanly?
Exit checks decide how expensive it is to change your mind.
- 13. Is the term rolling monthly or short, with notice of 30 days or less?
- 14. Are price increases capped or notified in advance?
- 15. Is a handover of files and access included when you leave?
What does this look like in practice?
A pattern we see when UK businesses run this checklist: the cheapest quote often scores lowest because ownership and exit terms are missing. Global Bridge Labs (GBL) aims to pass all 15, with rolling monthly terms and client-owned accounts as standard.
Next step
Send us any quote, ours or someone else's. We will score it against the 15 checks and explain any gaps.
Message us on WhatsApp for a quote check, or book a 30-minute consultation.
Chat on WhatsApp →Sources and further reading
- Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 · legislation.gov.uk
- How copyright protects your work · GOV.UK
- Contracts and liabilities between controllers and processors · Information Commissioner's Office
Frequently asked questions
What should I check before signing with a social media agency?
Check fees, scope, extras, ownership and exit terms. That means a clear monthly fee with VAT, listed deliverables, controlled extras, accounts and content owned by you, and a short notice period with a clean handover. Only count what is in writing.
How does the 15-point checklist score work?
Answer each of the 15 checks yes or no using only the written quote and contract, and score one point per yes. Thirteen or more means sign with confidence, 10 to 12 means ask questions first, and under 10 means keep looking.
What is the most important check?
Ownership of accounts and content. If your business does not own its social and ad accounts and the finished content, leaving an agency becomes expensive and you can lose years of history. Fix this before anything else.
Should a cheap quote that scores low be accepted?
Usually not. A low score means costs or risks are hidden somewhere, often in extras, ownership or exit terms. Ask the agency to fix the gaps in writing. If they will not, the cheap quote is likely to cost more in the end.
Written by
Global Bridge Labs (GBL) is a UK–Sri Lanka partner for social media, websites and BPO. Everything here comes from client delivery, not theory.
