Outsource or keep it in-house? Here's the real number
One of the most common marketing budget debates: should we outsource content or handle it internally? "In-house is cheaper" feels intuitive — but is it? This calculator compares the true cost of both approaches so you can make a decision based on actual numbers, not assumptions.
Outsource cost = pieces per month × rate per piece. In-house cost = pieces × hours per piece × hourly rate. The hourly rate should reflect your true cost of employment: base salary divided by monthly hours, then multiplied by 1.25–1.4× for benefits, payroll taxes, and overhead. Many teams undercount in-house costs by forgetting this multiplier.
Example: 20 pieces/month, $100 outsource rate vs. 2 hours/piece × $30/hr in-house = $2,000 outsource vs. $1,200 in-house. In-house wins on cost here — but add revision cycles, management time, and tool costs and the gap may shrink.
Frequently Asked Questions
US freelance rates: blog posts $50–$300+, social media posts $25–$100 each, video scripts $100–$500, email copy $50–$200. Rates vary significantly by niche, quality, and freelancer experience.
Not always. At very high volumes, outsourcing to specialized agencies can be more cost-effective than scaling an internal team with overhead, management, and HR costs. Run the numbers for your specific situation.