How Much Does PR Cost? 2026 Agency Pricing for Startups and Mid-Sized Companies

Short answer: it depends on the model. Retainers are billed monthly for the agency team's time, usually with a 6 to 12 month minimum, and coverage isn't guaranteed; few agencies publish their rates, but Crackle PR, for example, lists a $12,000 per month minimum. Pay-per-placement and guaranteed packages are priced per article, depending on the publication. One-off launches and funding announcements are priced by scope. Jamco PR projects start at $5,000.

The three ways PR agencies charge

What mid-sized and enterprise companies pay

Mid-sized and enterprise tech companies usually work with larger agencies on monthly retainers, and costs rise with multi-country programs, analyst relations or crisis support. Contracts often run 6 to 12 months.

Many bigger companies also buy fixed-scope work on top: a guaranteed push for a product launch, an executive profile, or an announcement, so a key moment isn't left to chance.

What drives the price

• The publications. An article on Business Insider or USA Today costs far more than a niche blog, because it takes a stronger story and real journalist relationships.
• Guarantees. Agencies that guarantee results take on the risk, so the price per result is higher than a retainer's hourly math suggests.
• Scope. Thought leadership, crisis work, events and analyst relations all add to a retainer.
• Contract length. A $5,000 retainer with a six-month minimum is a $30,000 commitment before you see results.

Hidden costs to ask about

• Press release wire distribution, which is often billed separately.
• Minimum contract terms and notice periods.
• Extra fees for writing, media training or reporting.
• Whether a "placement" means an editorial article, a contributor post or a sponsored post.

Is a cheaper option enough?

For a pre-seed or seed startup, a monthly retainer with no guaranteed coverage is a lot of runway to risk. Many founders do better with a fixed-scope option tied to published results, then move to a retainer once they have steady news and budget.

PR cost by company stage

What you should spend depends less on the agency than on the moment: a funding announcement, an enterprise sales push or an ongoing presence. The guides below cover the plan and the options for each.

What Jamco PR charges

Jamco PR works three ways: a fixed package with guaranteed placements, a monthly program with guaranteed placements every month (6-month minimum), or a one-off push timed around a launch or a quick visibility boost. Projects start at $5,000.

Every placement is guaranteed: if one doesn't go live within 60 days, we replace it with another top-tier outlet at no extra cost. First placements can go live in as little as 24 hours, and most clients see their first article within 14 days.