Running a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) involves many challenges, and building an effective marketing department often appears to be one of the largest investments. However, before you decide to recruit and build a team of full-time specialists, it is worth looking at an alternative solution gaining popularity—outsourcing marketing services to a specialized agency like LOOK_LIKE.
Market data from 2024/2025 shows that the cost of hiring a marketing employee in Poland is significant and varied. Even a Junior Specialist generates a monthly cost for the employer ranging from approximately 6,000 PLN to 13,000 PLN gross, including salary, mandatory social security contributions (ZUS), Labor Fund, and others. For more experienced specialists, managers, or marketing directors, these amounts skyrocket, reaching up to twenty or thirty thousand zlotys per month.
Based on available reports and research from 2025, estimated earnings are:
| Position | Gross Salary (Range) |
|---|---|
| Marketing Specialist | 6,000 PLN – 13,000 PLN |
| Senior Marketing Specialist | 7,390 PLN – 14,000 PLN |
However, a full-time position is not just about salary and taxes. It also involves additional costs that are often overlooked:
- Recruitment and Onboarding
Time and resources spent on finding the right candidate and training them. - Specialized Tool Subscriptions
Monthly fees for SEO/SEM, social media, and email marketing tools. - Training and Development
Investing in courses and conferences to keep up with the dynamic marketing industry. - Paid Leave and Sick Leave
The cost of employee absence is still a cost to the company. - Workstation Equipment
Computer, software, desk, and office supplies.
1. Tool Subscriptions
Tools are one of the largest regular costs outside of salaries.
| Category | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| SEO/SEM/Content (e.g., Ahrefs, Semrush) |
500 PLN –3,000 PLN+ |
| Analytics & Reporting | 100 PLN – 500 PLN+ |
| Graphics & Video (e.g., Adobe CC, Canva Pro) |
100 PLN – 400 PLN+ |
| Communication (e.g., Slack, Google Workspace) |
50 PLN – 1,000 PLN+ |
| Email Marketing/Automation (e.g., HubSpot) |
50 PLN – 1,000 PLN+ |
2. Training and Development (Estimated Monthly)
| Type of Training | Monthly Cost per Employee |
|---|---|
| Online Courses | 20 PLN – 100 PLN |
| Workshops/On-site Training | 50 PLN – 250 PLN |
| Industry Conferences | 50 PLN – 200 PLN |
| Books/E-book | 10 PLN – 50 PLN |
3. Recruitment and Onboarding (One-time/Irregular)
| Category | Unit Cost |
|---|---|
| Job Ads | od 300 PLN do 1 000 PLN+ |
| Onboarding | Internal Time & Resources |
| Recruitment Agency Support | Several to over 10,000 PLN |
4. Other Operating and Hidden Costs
| Category | Monthly Cost (SME) per Employee |
|---|---|
| Management & Coordination (HR/Accounting) Administrative support, accounting services, and payroll processing (e.g., outsourced payroll services at approx. 20 PLN net per employee file). |
50 PLN – 300 PLN+ (pro-rated share of administrative and HR overhead per department). |
| Workstation Equipment Depreciation of hardware (laptop, monitor, desk, office chair) and licenses for basic software (e.g., MS Office, antivirus). |
100 PLN – 300 PLN (average annual cost of purchase and hardware replacement cycle). |
| Paid Leave & Sick Leave (Employer Costs) Covering a portion of the salary during sick leave and the indirect costs of temporary replacement or lost productivity. |
Hard to estimate. Variable based on attendance; however, it remains a significant inherent cost of employment. |
Summary of Estimated Monthly Costs
For an SME, the total cost of hiring one employee to manage marketing activities can range from 6,900 PLN to even 22,000 PLN per month.
| Monthly Cost per Employee | ||
|---|---|---|
| from | to | |
| Marketing Specialist | 6,000 PLN | 13,000 PLN |
| Senior Marketing Specialist | 7,390 PLN | 14,000 PLN |
| Small Business / Startup (basic toolset, essential software, basic training) |
900 PLN | 3,000 PLN |
| Medium Enterprise (advanced analytics tools, regular professional training, high-end hardware) |
3 000 PLN | 8,000 PLN+ |
| Option A: Specialist + Small Firm/Startup |
6,900 PLN | 16,000 PLN |
| Option B: Senior Specialist + Small Firm/Startup |
81,90 PLN | 17,000 PLN |
| Option C: Specialist + Medium Firm |
9,000 PLN | 21,000 PLN+ |
| Option D: Senior Specialist + Medium Firm |
10,390 PLN | 22,000 PLN+ |
Importantly, these figures refer to hiring one specialist, assuming they possess a very broad range of skills—which is difficult to achieve in practice. In reality, a marketing department usually requires two or more experts. The alternative is outsourcing. Instead of bearing fixed employment costs, a company gains access to a whole team of experts for a specific fee. Furthermore, an agency invoice is a straightforward tax-deductible expense.
Why Outsource Your Marketing?
- Cost Savings: Pay only for specific services and projects.
- Access to Expertise: Get a team (SEO, Social Media, Content) for the price of one employee.
- Flexibility: Easily scale your marketing up or down.
- Efficiency: Faster implementation using the agency's existing processes.
- Measurable Results: Focus on KPIs and clear reporting.
The choice between an in-house team and outsourcing requires careful analysis. However, if you want professional support without the overhead of a full department, the LOOK_LIKE agency is ready to help.
Check out how much our "External Marketing Department" package costs at LOOK_LIKE.
