Our directory of media buying agencies in the US is evaluated using five core ranking criteria and reviewed by a team of 12 industry experts, backed by more than 480 verified client reviews. This methodology provides a clear, credible way to identify the right media buying partner.
Organic rankings are determined by five factors: top services, reviews, portfolio, awards/press, and team expertise. Sponsored listings pay for a placement that appears above organic positions. Sponsorship does not affect star ratings or review content - read more on our methodology page.
Online Optimism reviews the actual leads a campaign generates, not just click volume, to confirm ads reach the right audience. Campaigns get rebuilt around budget efficiency and bottom-line goals, with strategy adjusted as Google's algorithm and ad costs shift...
Top Services:
- WordPress Website Design
- Web Design
- Web Development
- Social Media Marketing
- Digital Marketing
- Show more
- Location
- New York City, New York
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $95/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $10,000 - $25,000
- Portfolios Count
- 23 Projects Listed
Datawrkz built Vizibl, a self-serve demand-side platform that includes direct access to Amazon's advertising ecosystem. Clients can run programmatic campaigns through the platform themselves or hand media strategy and buying over to Datawrkz's managed service team...
Top Services:
- Digital Marketing
- Advertising
- Digital Strategy
- Media Buying
- Social Media Marketing
- Show more
- Location
- Austin, Texas
- Number of Employees
- 250 - 499
- Average Hourly Rate
- $85/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
- Portfolios Count
- 5 Projects Listed
Reap Commerce runs paid media as one piece of a connected system alongside CRO, SEO, and lifecycle email, with every channel briefed from the same customer evidence. Clients can start with a fixed-fee diagnostic before committing to ongoing paid media management...
Top Services:
- CRO
- eCommerce Development
- PPC
- Email Marketing
- Advertising
- Show more
- Location
- Dallas, Texas
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
- Portfolios Count
- 13 Projects Listed

Outright
Award WinnerRecipient of a Best Design Award for outstanding work.Outright plans and buys media for both consumer brands and nonprofits, working at the intersection of advocacy and commercial marketing. Clients span Marriott, Adidas, McDonald's, and organizations like the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation...
Top Services:
- Branding
- Web Design
- Video Production
- Digital Marketing
- Graphic Design
- Show more
- Location
- Washington DC, Washington DC
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $190/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $10,000 - $25,000
- Portfolios Count
- 15 Projects Listed
Voctos builds paid search campaigns starting with keyword and competitor ad research, then audits landing pages before any ad goes live. Analytics and CRM setup happen alongside campaign creation so conversion data feeds back into ongoing optimization...
Top Services:
- SEO
- Digital Marketing
- PPC
- Social Media Marketing
- Content Marketing
- Show more
- Location
- Middletown, Delaware
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $37/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
- Portfolios Count
- 5 Projects Listed
Marketing Architects bills clients only for media spend, folding strategy, creative production, attribution, and reporting into that single cost. Clients pay for TV inventory without separate line items for the services surrounding it...
Top Services:
- Advertising
- Digital Marketing
- Video Marketing
- Media Buying
- Show more
- Location
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Number of Employees
- 100 - 249
- Portfolios Count
- 5 Projects Listed
Vision Media acts as agency of record for media buys, handling vendor billing, reconciliation, and impression verification directly on a client's behalf. Clients retain full ownership of their ad accounts, and the agency purchases media directly rather than reselling it...
Top Services:
- Media Buying
- Advertising
- Digital Marketing
- PPC
- Digital Strategy
- Show more
- Location
- Mercer Island, Washington
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Portfolios Count
- 5 Projects Listed
Social House delivers monthly, quarterly, and annual wrap reports for each media campaign, tracking performance against the original strategy over time. Landing pages get built specifically for each campaign rather than routing traffic to a general site...
Top Services:
- Content Marketing
- Social Media Marketing
- PPC
- Digital Marketing
- Media Buying
- Show more
- Location
- Los Angeles, California
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $149/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $10,000 - $25,000
- Portfolios Count
- 10 Projects Listed
D2 was founded on the premise that successful branding and marketing requires relevant data. Design + Data = D2...
Top Services:
- Design Services
- Graphic Design
- Branding
- Advertising
- Web Design
- Show more
- Location
- Kirkland, Washington
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $125/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
- Portfolios Count
- 8 Projects Listed
As a full-service, progressive digital web agency in India & USA, SEOTonic delivers impeccable services to build brands and help them connect with their own clients digitally. We believe in building dynamic, collaborative partnerships to share knowledge and ideas that will gain the results...
Top Services:
- SEO
- Digital Marketing
- Content Marketing
- Social Media Marketing
- PPC
- Show more
- Location
- Los Angeles, California
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $15/hr
- Portfolios Count
- 12 Projects Listed
McKay takes a serious look at new technologies, how they are currently being consumed, and the ability to attribute revenue through their marketing usage. This fresh approach allows the agency, media, and clients, to experience more positive engagement that leads to ROI. MA+A is known as an authority in the...
Top Services:
- Advertising
- Digital Marketing
- Social Media Marketing
- Video Marketing
- Email Marketing
- Show more
- Location
- Tampa, Florida
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $125/hr
- Portfolios Count
- 2 Projects Listed
Advertising & Marketing agency specializing in traditional media advertising & online marketing strategy...
Top Services:
- Digital Marketing
- Video Marketing
- Social Media Marketing
- Media Buying
- Branding
- Show more
- Location
- Raleigh , North Carolina
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $85/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
- Portfolios Count
- 15 Projects Listed
PH Consulting & Media is a marketing and ad agency specializing in creating video content that elevates brands and gets them noticed by their ideal customers...
Top Services:
- Video Production
- Media Buying
- Creative Services
- Audio Production
- Branding
- Show more
- Location
- New York City, New York
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Minimal Budget
- $10,000 - $25,000
- Portfolios Count
- 3 Projects Listed
The Felice Agency is a full-service branding and marketing company in Phoenix and San Diego known for Madison Avenue quality regardless of your budget...
Top Services:
- Branding
- Digital Marketing
- Video Production
- Web Development
- Public Relations
- Show more
- Location
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $150/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $10,000 - $25,000
- Portfolios Count
- 6 Projects Listed
Nexa PPC Agency helps businesses grow with expert Google Ads strategies tailored to deliver results. We proudly offer a money-back guarantee if measurable outcomes aren't achieved within 90 days. Trusted by clients across diverse industries, we focus on boosting ROI, generating quality leads & sales...
Top Services:
- PPC
- Media Buying
- Digital Marketing
- CRO
- Content Marketing
- Show more
- Location
- Denver, Colorado
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $35/hr
Emizen Tech is an acclaimed IT organization that specializes in delivering top-of-the-line e-commerce solutions to various industry verticals. Our core areas of expertise are hybrid app development, CakePHP, and finance app development. Our team of technically outstanding and highly experienced e-commerce...
Top Services:
- eCommerce Development
- Web Development
- Web Design
- Mobile App Development
- IT Services
- Show more
- Location
- Dallas, Texas
- Number of Employees
- 100 - 249
- Average Hourly Rate
- $25/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
- Portfolios Count
- 7 Projects Listed
Whether marketing memorable brands, or designing alluring interiors, at Desert Society were passionate about generating creativity to help the people and businesses of the SoCal region shine that much brighter...
Top Services:
- Creative Services
- Logo Design
- Branding
- Design Services
- Web Design
- Show more
- Location
- Los Angeles, California
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
- Portfolios Count
- 12 Projects Listed
Centered around the domain of media, CMD's unwavering commitment is to amplify the impact of every client's media presence. We live and breathe media buying, and our relentless pursuit of excellence positions us as leaders in this realm...
Top Services:
- Media Buying
- Market Research
- Location
- Scottsdale, Arizona
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Portfolios Count
- 3 Projects Listed
We help established businesses turn organic social media into a growth channel that actually delivers: scroll-stopping content, daily engagement, and our signature outreach engine that puts you in front of thousands of the right potential customers every month...
Top Services:
- Social Media Marketing
- Content Marketing
- Video Production
- Video Marketing
- Digital Marketing
- Show more
- Location
- Boulder, Colorado
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $100/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
- Portfolios Count
- 2 Projects Listed
Orange Carrot is a marketing and branding agency with offices in the United States and India. We try to provide sophisticated, creative marketing solutions that help brands create and keep their competitive edge. Our professional team of media buyers, strategists, analysts, and digital business consultants...
Top Services:
- Media Buying
- Digital Marketing
- Social Media Marketing
- Email Marketing
- Branding
- Show more
- Location
- West Palm Beach, Florida
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $75/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
- Portfolios Count
- 2 Projects Listed
Harmelin Media is a strategic, data-driven media agency dedicated to maximizing measurable business outcomes for clients. With over 40 years of experience, the agency offers in-depth consumer insights, advanced targeting technologies, and a commitment to operational excellence. Its service-driven culture...
Top Services:
- Media Buying
- Location
- Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania
- Number of Employees
- 500 - 999
- Average Hourly Rate
- $199/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $50,000 & Up
As a leading, independent, woman-owned media agency with offices in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Rochester, Hoffmann Murtaugh delivers exceptional media solutions. Our team boasts extensive experience across industries and media channels, enabling us to craft targeted strategies for both national and local...
Top Services:
- Media Buying
- Location
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Minimal Budget
- $50,000 & Up
Float Media House is a dynamic advertising agency specializing in precision media planning and programmatic buying that helps brands and agencies scale their operations with enterprise-level impact, even on startup budgets. By leveraging cutting-edge cloud technologies, real-time data, and advanced analytics...
Top Services:
- Media Buying
- Location
- Downey, California
- Number of Employees
- 100 - 249
- Average Hourly Rate
- $199/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
DCW is media agency with over 50 years of experience that combines digital and traditional, delivering custom campaigns for a nationwide client base, including higher education, healthcare, banking and finance, casino gaming, hospitality, non-profits, and more...
Top Services:
- Media Buying
- Location
- Ronkonkoma, New York
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
SG Cartel is a global creative services coalition headquartered in Los Angeles, specializing in fashion, luxury, beauty and premium lifestyle. We build culturally resonant brands through creative strategy, storytelling and narrative architecture, graphic design, campaign concepting and content production...
Top Services:
- Branding
- Media Buying
- Package Design
- Web Design
- Graphic Design
- Show more
- Location
- Los Angeles, California
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $200/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $50,000 & Up
- Portfolios Count
- 5 Projects Listed
Already running paid media? Feel like your account has become stale or stagnant? We will provide a free audit to uncover areas of inefficiency, opportunity, and new initiatives. Our complimentary audits have saved our clients hundreds of thousands of dollars...
Top Services:
- Email Marketing
- Media Buying
- Digital Marketing
- PPC
- Social Media Marketing
- Show more
- Location
- Caldwell, New Jersey
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $200/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $10,000 - $25,000
- Portfolios Count
- 1 Project Listed
Bullseye Strategy is a boutique digital marketing agency delivering big-agency results. We specialize in SEO, paid media, content, and full-funnel strategies that drive real business growth. With senior-level talent and personalized, data-driven campaigns, we turn traffic into ROI...
Top Services:
- SEO
- Web Design
- PPC
- Digital Marketing
- Social Media Marketing
- Show more
- Location
- Hollywood, Florida
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Portfolios Count
- 6 Projects Listed
Phase 3 Marketing and Communications is an integrated marketing services company providing solutions from ideation to execution. Our mission is to simplify life for marketers by delivering the most-needed marketing services in-house, under one roof...
Top Services:
- Branding
- Public Relations
- Media Buying
- Web Design
- Digital Marketing
- Show more
- Location
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Number of Employees
- 100 - 249
- Average Hourly Rate
- $185/hr
Born in Floridas competitive hospitality scene, J. Oliver Advertising now drives data-first growth for service businesses, e-commerce brands, and professional firms such as law firms, medical clinics, wellness brands, and beyond...
Top Services:
- Advertising
- Digital Marketing
- SEO
- PPC
- Media Buying
- Show more
- Location
- Pompano Beach, Florida
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
- Portfolios Count
- 3 Projects Listed
For agencies & brands who demand high-performance CTV ad campaigns, Strategus is a CTV centric hands-on partner that drives proven results...
Top Services:
- Advertising
- Media Buying
- Location
- Englewood, Colorado
- Number of Employees
- 50 - 99
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
- Portfolios Count
- 3 Projects Listed
We believe thoughtfully designed customer experiences informed by well-defined brands create moments worth remembering and sharing and those extraordinary moments get, keep and grow more brand lovers for our clients. And as your marketing partner, we'll keep you informed on how those marketing dollars are...
Top Services:
- Creative Services
- Branding
- Video Production
- Advertising
- Media Buying
- Show more
- Location
- Chandler, Arizona
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $170/hr
We are a leading multicultural strategic branding agency specializing in creating a brands digital footprint, innovative communication engagements, and comprehensive community outreach strategies...
Top Services:
- Digital Services
- Graphic Design
- Branding
- Creative Services
- SEO
- Show more
- Location
- Ewa Beach, Hawaii
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $150/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
- Portfolios Count
- 4 Projects Listed
Orange 142 is a nationwide digital media agency that provides marketing services, digital media buying, and web development to brands and agencies...
Top Services:
- Digital Services
- Digital Strategy
- Web Development
- SEO
- PPC
- Show more
- Location
- Austin, Texas
- Number of Employees
- 50 - 99
- Minimal Budget
- $10,000 - $25,000
- Portfolios Count
- 1 Project Listed
DAE and Company is a marketing agency known for fostering long-term relationships with clients through strategic, creative, and responsive services. Their commitment to becoming an integral part of a client's operations has led to partnerships often exceeding two decades, demonstrating their value and...
Top Services:
- Media Buying
- Advertising
- Public Relations
- Location
- South Lake Tahoe, California
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $149/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $50,000 & Up
OBCIDO Inc. is a global consulting and digital services firm founded in New York in 2021. We help businesses redefine their digital identity and accelerate growth through strategic consulting, AI solutions, GEO, high-performance websites, and results-driven digital marketing...
Top Services:
- Digital Services
- Branding
- Digital Strategy
- Web Design
- Web Development
- Show more
- Location
- New York City, New York
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
- Portfolios Count
- 2 Projects Listed

Ruckus
Award WinnerRecipient of a Best Design Award for outstanding work.Ruckus is a full-service agency that powers game-changing companies and global influencers with services such as: advertising, digital marketing, branding, video editing, and many more to scale up your business...
Top Services:
- Branding
- Web Design
- Video Production
- Digital Marketing
- Advertising
- Show more
- Location
- New York City, New York
- Number of Employees
- 50 - 99
- Average Hourly Rate
- $175/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $50,000 & Up
- Portfolios Count
- 4 Projects Listed
We are a full service video production company specializing in commercials, digital ads, direct response and corporate videos. We help companies connect with their market through video and deliver content on time, on spec and on budget...
Top Services:
- Video Production
- Media Buying
- Location
- Wayne, New Jersey
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $200/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
CreativeMINT is a boutique, full-service branding agency founded in 2003 and based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With a team of 1150 multidisciplinary professionals, the firm collaborates closely with clients to deliver strategic brand development, naming, identity design, and digital marketing solutions for...
Top Services:
- Branding
- Digital Marketing
- Video Production
- Advertising
- SEO
- Show more
- Location
- Walnut Creek, California
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $150/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $10,000 - $25,000
- Portfolios Count
- 6 Projects Listed
inBeat Agency is a creator-led marketing agency that helps brands to achieve critical business goals. Whether its breaking into a new market, increasing conversion rates, or building brand authority, the agencys tried-and-tested formula for creator partnerships leads businesses to leverage social me...
Top Services:
- Social Media Marketing
- Digital Marketing
- Advertising
- PPC
- CRO
- Show more
- Location
- New York City, New York
- Number of Employees
- 100 - 249
- Average Hourly Rate
- $150/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $50,000 & Up
- Portfolios Count
- 5 Projects Listed
Located in Portland, Oregon, Fish Marketing is an advertising and marketing agency that provides comprehensive services, specializing in automotive branding, aimed at driving tangible results for our clients...
Top Services:
- Branding
- Digital Strategy
- Creative Services
- Web Development
- SEO
- Show more
- Location
- Portland, Oregon
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Portfolios Count
- 5 Projects Listed
New Engen is a full-funnel digital marketing agency that built a Creative-Led Growth System around one belief: creative isnt a deliverable, its infrastructure. We pair media strategy excellence with scalable content infrastructure, measure what actually moves the business, and repeat it...
Top Services:
- Digital Marketing
- Media Buying
- Creative Services
- Social Media Marketing
- Advertising
- Show more
- Location
- Seattle, Washington
- Number of Employees
- 250 - 499
We Help Our Clients Get More Customers, Sales, and Leads. We are a full-service digital marketing agency based in Florida...
Top Services:
- Social Media Marketing
- Digital Marketing
- Media Buying
- Creative Services
- Reputation Management
- Show more
- Location
- Weston, Florida
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
MBuy, a division of Mediaocean, combines everychannel media expertise and the best advertising technology in the industry - providing advertisers with superior media buying and planning services that reach and engage the right audience, in the right channels...
Top Services:
- Advertising
- Media Buying
- Location
- Chicago, Illinois
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
We Speak Tourist®. We are a full-service marketing agency working exclusively with growth-oriented tour, attraction, adventure and leisure clients to attract more guests and increase ticket revenue...
Top Services:
- Digital Services
- Digital Strategy
- Web Development
- SEO
- Media Buying
- Show more
- Location
- Miami, Florida
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $200/hr
Booyah Advertising, situated in Denver, CO, stands as a digital marketing agency that forms collaborative partnerships with businesses embracing digital avenues to propel their progress. Our core competency lies in the realm of media buying, where we meticulously navigate the digital landscape to amplify your...
Top Services:
- Advertising
- Digital Marketing
- SEO
- Content Marketing
- Email Marketing
- Show more
- Location
- Denver, Colorado
- Number of Employees
- 100 - 249
- Average Hourly Rate
- $150/hr
- Portfolios Count
- 3 Projects Listed
INDIRAP is a full-service video production and video marketing agency serving growth-focused brands nationwide. Since 2013, INDIRAP has produced 20,000+ videos for 900+ clients across 40+ industries, including LinkedIn, Google, and Hyatt, pairing corporate video production with paid social, organic...
Top Services:
- Video Production
- Social Media Marketing
- Video Marketing
- Creative Services
- Content Marketing
- Show more
- Location
- Chicago, Illinois
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $250/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $10,000 - $25,000
- Portfolios Count
- 1 Project Listed
GreenRubino is an independent, integrated marketing, advertising, and public relations agency based in Seattle. For nearly 50 years, we have helped organizations solve complex marketing challenges and build momentum that produces measurable business results...
Top Services:
- Advertising
- Creative Services
- Graphic Design
- Public Relations
- Branding
- Show more
- Location
- Seattle, Washington
- Number of Employees
- 50 - 99
- Average Hourly Rate
- $195/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
Real FiG Advertising + Marketing is an award-winning marketing agency with two offices in Chicago, IL and Denver, CO. As your one-stop shop for all of your marketing needs, we specialize in a wide variety of digital and traditional forms of marketing including website design, search engine optimization, brand...
Top Services:
- Social Media Marketing
- PPC
- Digital Marketing
- SEO
- Market Research
- Show more
- Location
- Denver, Colorado
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
Hive Digital - Marketing a Better World - is an award-winning digital marketing agency specializing in SEO, AI search optimization, Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), paid media, and digital strategy...
Top Services:
- SEO
- PPC
- Social Media Marketing
- Digital Marketing
- Digital Strategy
- Show more
- Location
- Holly Springs, North Carolina
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $185/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
We help businesses grow through a connected marketing approach built on strategy, creative, and performance. Headquartered in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada and serving clients across North America, Social Know How® has spent over a decade helping ambitious brands cut through the noise with marketing that is...
Top Services:
- Digital Strategy
- Digital Services
- Video Production
- Branding
- WordPress Website Design
- Show more
- Location
- St. Petersburg, Florida
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $395/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $25,000 - $50,000
- Portfolios Count
- 1 Project Listed
Media Buying Agencies by City
Media Buying Agencies by State
Popular Services
Why companies trust DesignRush
Every agency is independently vetted before it can be listed or ranked
Some agencies pay for sponsored placement, clearly labeled and held to the same vetting standards.
Media Buying Agency FAQs
What services do media buying agencies in the United States provide?
These types of agencies help brands with:
- Performance-focused digital campaigns: High-demand campaigns across Meta, TikTok, YouTube, Search, and CTV, prioritizing short-form video and measurable, creative-led performance.
- Full-funnel paid media tied to creative-led campaigns: Roughly 60% to 70% of clients bundle creative and media for faster cycles, fewer handoffs, and performance-built creative.
- Programmatic and CTV packages: Growing rapidly, with challenger brands investing $15K to $150K per month for scalable reach, automated targeting, and measurable lift.
- Paid social advertising: Cross-platform campaigns delivering 1% to 2% average conversion rates, with top performers exceeding 3% on Meta and TikTok.
- Audience & competitive analysis: Audience research and competitor benchmarking to guide budget allocation and identify the highest-ROI channels.
- Analytics & performance reporting: Real-time KPI tracking, A/B testing, and optimization across impressions, CPM, CTR, conversions, ROAS, and attribution paths.
How much do media buying services in the US cost?
Most media buying agencies charge between $100 and $150 per hour. They rely on a mix of retainers, spend-based fees, and setup costs, depending on scope and complexity.
These numbers are based on industry research and expert insights from Colormatics:
| Fee Type | Typical Cost Range | Notes |
| Monthly retainer | $1,500 to $10,000 | Based on complexity and channel mix |
| % of media spend | 10% to 20% | Scales with spend and performance scope |
| One-time setup fee | $1,500 to $3,000 | Tracking, pixels, dashboards, QA |
| Hourly rate | $100 to $150+ | Specialized strategy or audits |
Beyond agency fees, overall campaign budgets vary significantly based on scale, channels, and timelines. The table below outlines common budget ranges for different types of media buying engagements.
| Campaign Type | Budget Range | Typical Scope |
| Pilot campaigns | ~$25,000 | 1 to 2 platforms, short run |
| Integrated campaigns | $50,000 to $300,000 | Multi-channel, performance tracking |
| Large/national campaigns | Up to $500,000 | 12 to 24 weeks, heavy media mix |
When can clients expect ROI from paid media campaigns?
ROI timelines vary by channel based on learning cycles, inventory dynamics, and optimization requirements. This table outlines when early performance signals usually appear and when results tend to stabilize.
| Channel | Early Signals | Stable Performance |
| Paid social | 7 to 21 days | 30 to 45 days |
| Google Search | 3 to 10 days (with volume) | 8 to 12 weeks |
| YouTube | 5 to 10 days | 3 to 4 weeks |
| CTV/Programmatic | 4 to 8 weeks | 10 to 12 weeks |
What are the typical timelines for media buying projects from planning to launch?
Project timelines depend on campaign scale, creative complexity, and channel mix. These are typical expectations from strategy and setup through launch and ongoing optimization.
| Campaign Size | Planning & Setup | Build & QA | Optimization Cadence | Total Timeline |
| Small-scale | 1 to 2 weeks | 3 to 5 days | Weekly | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Mid-size | 2 to 3 weeks | 1 week | 2-3× weekly | 8 to 12 weeks |
| Large/Multi-channel | 3 to 5 weeks | 1 to 2 weeks | Daily | 12 weeks to 6 months |
What KPIs should your business track when working with these agencies?
When working with a media buying agency in the US, KPIs should be selected to reflect both media efficiency and business impact, ensuring performance is measured beyond surface-level engagement.
Key KPIs to monitor include:
- Impressions, reach, frequency, and CPM to assess delivery efficiency and audience exposure
- Click-through rate (CTR), cost per click (CPC), engagement rate, and video completion rate to evaluate creative and audience relevance
- Conversion rate, cost per acquisition (CPA), return on ad spend (ROAS), and customer acquisition cost (CAC) to measure profitability and scalability
- Attribution coverage, assisted conversions, and incrementality to understand paid media’s true contribution across channels
- Budget pacing, spend utilization, and testing velocity to gauge operational discipline and optimization effectiveness















































