In this article
Email marketing for a small business has two costs: the email platform, which is often free or cheap for small lists, and the time to set it up and write campaigns that people actually open. Our managed plans start at £100 a month for one campaign, with a one-off set-up of £300.
The platform
Tools such as Mailchimp, Klaviyo, Brevo and MailerLite all have free or low-cost plans for small lists, and the price rises as your list grows. Shops usually get the most from a platform that connects to their store, so emails can follow what people browse and buy. The platform subscription is paid to the provider and is separate from any agency fee.
Set-up
A good set-up does most of the long-term work. It covers choosing and connecting the platform, a branded email template, a sign-up form on your website, a welcome email for new subscribers, and making sure emails land in the inbox rather than spam. If you already have a list somewhere else, moving it across properly matters too.
Campaigns and automations
Campaigns are the emails you send to everyone: news, offers, seasonal reminders. Automations are emails that send themselves when something happens: someone signs up, books, buys or hasn't been back in a while. For most small businesses, a welcome email and one or two automations earn more than a busy campaign calendar.
- Welcome email: sent the moment someone joins your list.
- Review request: sent a few days after a job or order.
- Reminder: a service, renewal or rebooking prompt at the right time.
- Abandoned basket: for shops, a nudge when someone leaves without buying.
Our email marketing prices
- Email Starter, £100 a month: 1 campaign written, designed and sent a month, list and sign-up form upkeep, and a monthly report.
- Email Growth, £200 a month: 2 campaigns a month, a new automated email each quarter and customer segments.
- Email Pro, £350 a month: 4 campaigns a month, a new automated email each month, shop automations and A/B testing.
Every plan starts with a one-off £300 set-up: the platform, a branded template, a website sign-up form and a welcome email. Moving an existing list is £200. Plans have a 3-month minimum, and combining email with SEO or social media saves 10% on the monthly total.
Get your exact price with our price calculator, or see every price on one page.
Is email marketing worth it?
Email reaches people who already know you, which makes it one of the cheapest ways to win repeat work. It suits businesses with returning customers: salons, nurseries, restaurants, shops and trades with servicing or annual checks. If your customers buy once every ten years, a review request and a referral email may be all you need.
Rules to follow
- Only email people who have agreed to hear from you, and make it easy to unsubscribe.
- Use your own domain to send, so emails land in the inbox.
- Write like a person, keep it short and give one clear next step.
- Measure enquiries and sales, not just opens.
Your website is where most sign-ups come from, so a clear sign-up form matters. If you're planning a new site, our website design projects can include one from day one.
