Pricing
How much does restaurant social media cost?
October 28, 2026 · 6 min read
Most independent restaurants pay between $0 and $4,000 or more a month for social media. Doing it yourself is free, but it costs your time. A freelance videographer is about $500 to $1,500 a month and usually does not post for you. A restaurant agency is about $1,500 a month and up. A full time social media hire is $4,000 or more a month with salary. A video editor for restaurants sits in between: it makes and posts your videos for a few hundred dollars a month. The right pick depends on how much you want handled for you.
The five ways to do it, side by side
These are typical ranges for independent restaurants in Southern California. Big city agencies and multi location groups often pay more.
| Option | Cost a month | What you get | What is often missing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | $0 | Full control | Your time, steady posting, editing skill |
| Content posting software | $100 to $700 | Videos made and posted on a schedule | Some tools need you to film or edit |
| Freelance videographer | $500 to $1,500 | Good looking video | Posting, captions, a plan |
| Restaurant agency | $1,500 and up | Plan, posts, reports | Filming is often extra; long contracts |
| Staff hire | $4,000 and up | Someone on site | Salary, training, cover when they leave |
What makes the price go up or down
- Filming at your restaurant. Someone has to show up with a camera. Ask if it is included or billed per visit.
- How many videos you get. 8 a month is a light plan. 30 a month is about one a day.
- Who posts. Some freelancers and tools hand you files and stop there.
- Captions and music. Writing a good caption for every post takes real time.
- Contract length. Long contracts can lower the monthly price but make it hard to leave.
Costs people forget to ask about
- Setup or onboarding fees.
- Paid ads. Most prices cover posting only. Ad spend is extra.
- Extra shoots when you add a menu item or season.
- Changes. Ask how many times you can ask for a video to be redone.
- Cancelling. Ask how much notice you need and what happens to your videos.
What Chef Social costs
Chef Social is the video editor for restaurant content. It works anywhere. It turns your own photos and clips into short videos, writes the captions, picks the post times and posts to Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube Shorts on its own. Plans are billed monthly, and you can start with 3 free videos.
In Southern California, you can add a pro shoot at your restaurant for $350, one time. Add one whenever you want. One shoot gives you footage for many videos.
| Plan | Per month | Videos a month |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $109 | 8 |
| Essential | $179 | 16 |
| Growth | $239 | 30 |
How to pick for your budget
- $0 a month: do it yourself, and batch your filming once a week so it sticks.
- $100 to $250 a month: a video editor that makes and posts videos for you, like Chef Social.
- $1,500 a month and up: an agency, if you also want paid ads and monthly meetings.
- $4,000 a month and up: a hire, if you have several locations and daily events to cover.
Questions owners ask
Is $1,500 a month normal for a restaurant social media agency?
Yes. About $1,500 a month is a common starting price for a restaurant agency, and many charge more. Ask if filming is included, since some agencies bill each shoot on top.
Does the monthly price include ads?
Usually not. Most social media prices cover making and posting content. Paid ads are a separate budget. Chef Social plans cover the editor, captions and posting, not ad spend. A shoot is a $350 add on in Southern California.
What is the cheapest way to get restaurant videos posted?
Doing it yourself costs nothing but your time. If you want software to make and post your videos, Chef Social starts at $109 a month, and you can get 3 free videos first.
Can I cancel Chef Social?
Yes. You can cancel any time and keep your plan through the end of the month you already paid for.
The short version
Expect $0 to $4,000+ a month. Before you sign, ask who films, who posts, how many videos you get, and how hard it is to cancel. Those four answers matter more than the price.
Get 3 free videos