"How much does a digital marketing consultant cost?" is the first question most business owners ask, and the one most consultants avoid answering. I would rather be direct. Below are my actual rates, what each one includes, and how to decide which model fits your business.
My rates at a glance
| Engagement | Price (INR) | Approx. USD | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30-minute strategy session | ₹2,999 | ≈ $32 | A focused call plus a general audit of your business and first-look recommendations |
| 60-minute strategy session | ₹4,999 | ≈ $53 | The same audit and recommendations, with more time to go deep |
| Complete digital audit | From ₹19,999 | ≈ $210 | A fixed-price review of your website, SEO, paid media, analytics and funnel |
| Strategy roadmap | From ₹49,999 | ≈ $526 | A fixed-price, prioritised plan your team or agency can execute |
| SEO consulting | From ₹50,000 / month | ≈ $526 / month | Audit, what is working and what is not, strategy for your SEO team and off-page work; I handle on-page |
| Monthly retainer | ₹75,000 – ₹1,50,000 / month | ≈ $790 – $1,580 / month | 10 to 25 hours of consulting each month |
| Fractional / advisory | ₹1,50,000 / month | ≈ $1,580 / month | 4 dedicated days a month plus daily availability on calls |
USD figures are indicative, converted at ₹95 = $1 and rounded. These are my current rates as of October 2026, and a larger or more complex scope can change the price.
Introductory offer: the 30-minute and 60-minute sessions are currently available at a discounted, one-time introductory price.
What the price depends on
- Hours and availability. A 10-hour monthly retainer and a 25-hour one are different jobs. Daily availability on calls costs more than a weekly check-in.
- Scope. Advising your team is cheaper than owning execution. Covering SEO, paid media and analytics together takes more time than one channel.
- Where you are today. A business with clean tracking and a working website needs less discovery than one starting from scratch.
- Who does the work. If your in-house team or agency executes, a consultant mostly sets direction and checks quality. That is usually the most cost-effective set-up.
Which model should you choose?
One-off session: you want an expert opinion first
A 30 or 60-minute session suits owners who are unsure where to start. I look at your business, run a general audit and give you recommendations on a prima facie basis: what I would fix first, what to stop spending on, and where the obvious gaps are. It is the lowest-risk way to see how I work.
Fixed-price project: you need a clear deliverable
A complete digital audit starting at ₹19,999 gives you a written review of your website, search visibility, ads, analytics and funnel. A strategy roadmap starting at ₹49,999 turns that into a prioritised plan with owners and sequence. Both suit businesses that already have people to execute.
Monthly retainer: you want ongoing guidance
From ₹75,000 to ₹1,50,000 a month for 10 to 25 hours. It works when you have a team or agency and want a senior person reviewing performance, setting priorities and holding everyone accountable.
Fractional or advisory: you need leadership, not just advice
At ₹1,50,000 a month you get four dedicated days of my time plus daily availability on calls. This suits a growing company that needs marketing leadership but is not ready for a full-time hire. See my guide to fractional CMO cost in India.
Questions to ask any consultant before you hire
- What exactly will I receive each month, and how many hours is that?
- Who will do the work, you or someone else?
- How will we measure progress, and by when?
- What happens if we want to stop?
- Do you guarantee rankings or results? (Be wary of anyone who does.)
Consultant or agency?
An agency gives you a team and execution capacity. A consultant gives you senior judgement without the overhead of a large team. Many businesses use both: a consultant sets direction and an agency or in-house team executes. I cover this in digital marketing consultant vs agency and in my guide to hiring a digital marketing consultant in India.
Where to start
If you are not sure which option fits, begin with a session. Book a call and I will tell you honestly whether you need me, an agency or neither. For retainers and advisory work, see how to work with me.