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Do It Yourself, Us, or a Big Agency?
Each one is the right choice for someone. Here is a fair look at all three, so you can pick what suits your time and budget.
Side by Side
| What | Do It Yourself | SproutWell | A Big Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free, apart from what you pay others for your domain, hosting and email. | £145 to £895, fixed in writing, with no VAT to add. You also pay others for your domain, hosting and email. | Often around £1,000 or more for a bundle (a rough guide only; prices vary widely). |
| Your time | All of it: learning each platform, setting each one up, and checking the settings. | One guided call to make the accounts on your phone, and sending us what we ask for. | Usually some meetings and approvals. The agency does the rest. |
| Who does the work | You. | You make each account; we brand it, set it up and check it. | The agency's team. |
| Who owns the accounts | You. | You, from the start. You make each account and add us as a manager or partner. | It depends on the contract. Ask whether the accounts are made in your name. |
| Passwords | You keep them. | We never ask for them. | Ask how they will get access. Manager access is safer than sharing a password. |
| After the setup | Up to you. | We remove our access and confirm it in writing, or look after your Google profile with Profile Care (£49 a month). | Often an ongoing monthly service. |
| The right choice when | You have the time, you enjoy learning, and you want to spend as little as possible. | You want it done properly and quickly, at a fixed price, with everything in your own name. | You need a bigger campaign, regular content, advertising or a whole marketing team. |
These are general patterns, not a review of any one company. The agency figure is a rough guide only, and every provider works differently, so check their own terms, prices and contract before you choose, ours included. What you pay others: your domain and hosting with IONOS is £14.40 for the first year including VAT, and business email is free with the hosting or about £85 a year for Google Workspace.
A Few Honest Notes
Doing It Yourself
It's free, and it is fine if you have the time. The platforms all let you make accounts at no charge, and Google says you can add your business profile at no charge too. Our guides walk you through the main steps.
Us
We set up your accounts, Google profile, domain and business email with you, at a fixed price, in your own name. We don't do regular social media posting or advertising, and we never promise rankings or followers.
A Big Agency
Worth it when you need more than a setup: a marketing plan, regular content, advertising or a team to call on. Ask who owns the accounts and what happens when the contract ends.
Common Questions
Is doing it yourself a bad idea?
Not at all. Social media accounts and a Google Business Profile cost nothing to make yourself, and our guides explain how. If you have the time and enjoy it, doing it yourself is a good choice.
Why is an agency often more expensive?
Agencies usually offer more: strategy, regular content, advertising and a team behind it. If you need that, it can be worth paying for. If you only need the setup done well, you may not need it.
What should you ask any provider, including us?
Who will own the accounts, whether they need your password, what happens when the work ends, and the exact price in writing before you agree.
See Your Price
Pick a package and see the fixed price straight away.