The short answer: expect $1,500 to $4,000 per month for ongoing marketing depending on services and competition, $800 to $1,500 plus ad spend for Google Ads management, and $4,500 to $15,000 for a proper website. Established providers budget 3 to 8% of revenue. The full table, what moves the price, and how the numbers pay back are below.
These are real 2026 market ranges for NDIS-specific marketing in Australia, including our own pricing where we offer the service. Cheaper exists; so does much more expensive. The ranges are where quality work reliably lives.
| Service | Typical monthly | Time to results |
|---|---|---|
| SEO (local, single region) | $1,500 to $2,000 | 3 to 6 months, compounds |
| SEO (multi-region or competitive metro) | $2,500 to $4,000 | 4 to 8 months, compounds |
| Google Ads management | $800 to $1,500 + your ad spend ($1,000 to $2,500) | Days |
| Social media management | $800 to $2,000 | Months (trust channel) |
| Full growth retainer (SEO + ads + outreach) | $2,500 to $5,000 | Mixed: ads fast, SEO compounds |
| Website (one-off) | $4,500 to $15,000 project | 4 to 8 weeks to launch |
Established providers typically invest 3 to 8% of revenue in marketing. Providers in growth mode, or with empty SIL beds, justifiably spend more for a period because the cost of an empty bed dwarfs the cost of the campaign.
The arithmetic that matters is the value of a single participant, and the NDIA’s own data makes the point better than we can. For the 12 months to 30 September 2025, the average annualised committed support for a participant living in Supported Independent Living was about $421,100, against roughly $47,500 for participants not in SIL, according to the NDIS quarterly reports. Even at the lower, non-SIL figure, one extra participant funds a year of serious marketing several times over. A SIL vacancy filled a few months sooner can be worth more than an entire annual retainer.
That is also why we treat marketing spend as a function of capacity, not a flat percentage. If you have two empty SIL rooms, the question is not “what is 5% of revenue”, it is “what does it cost to keep those rooms empty for another quarter”. Run your own numbers in our ROI calculator; in our experience running campaigns for providers, a campaign that lands a handful of participants a year typically returns several times its cost.
Averages hide a lot, so here is how the main channels actually behave on cost and payback for NDIS providers.
If a budget only stretches to one thing, fix the website first, then add the channel that matches your urgency: ads if you need enquiries this month, SEO if you are building for the year.
The dollar figures above are the agency path. The other two options trade money for time and risk.
| Option | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | Mostly time (10 to 15 hours a week done properly), plus tools and ad spend | New or tiny providers with more time than money |
| Hire in-house | $70,000 to $100,000+ a year for one marketer, plus tools and ad spend | Larger providers with enough work to keep a specialist busy |
| Use an agency | $1,500 to $4,000 a month, no employment overheads | Most providers wanting senior skills across several channels without hiring |
The honest trade-off: DIY is cheapest in dollars and most expensive in your time, in-house only pays off at scale, and an agency buys breadth without a salary. Many providers start DIY using free guides and templates, then move to an agency once an hour of their own time is worth more than an hour of the agency’s.
NDIS marketing is regulated in a way that general small-business marketing is not, and getting it wrong is expensive in a way no price table captures. A generalist agency that copies tactics from a plumber or a dentist can quietly create a liability you only discover later.
In November 2024 the ACCC put providers on notice over false or misleading advertising, singling out claims like labelling goods or services “NDIS approved” (the scheme does not approve specific products that way) and implying funding covers things it does not. The regulator said it was already investigating multiple providers and expected to take enforcement action, with maximum Australian Consumer Law penalties reaching the greater of $50 million, three times the benefit, or 30% of turnover, per the ACCC. The NDIA has separately moved to crack down on misleading “NDIS-approved” promotion, and newer integrity laws give the NDIS Commission power to issue anti-promotion orders restricting how a person can advertise.
In practice this shapes what good NDIS marketing can and cannot say. You cannot imply NDIA endorsement, you cannot promise funding outcomes, and you should not use the NDIS logo or “registered” language unless it genuinely applies to you. None of this stops you marketing well, but it does mean the cheapest quote is sometimes the one writing claims that will not survive a complaint. When you compare prices, ask whether the agency knows these rules or is about to learn them on your account.
An agency that answers all five plainly is worth shortlisting. Our answers are on the pricing page.
A free growth plan shows you what to do, in what order, for your provider type and region. You keep it either way.
Most providers invest between $1,500 and $4,000 per month depending on services, regions and competition. Local SEO in a single region sits at the lower end; competitive metro or multi-region work sits at the top. Google Ads adds $1,000 to $2,500 in ad spend on top of management, and one-off websites run $4,500 to $15,000 as a separate project.
Usually, because participant values are high relative to campaign costs. NDIA data for the 12 months to September 2025 puts average annualised committed support at around $421,100 for a SIL participant and about $47,500 for participants not in SIL. Even at the lower figure, a campaign that adds a few participants a year pays for itself several times over, and a SIL vacancy filled sooner can be worth more than a year’s retainer.
The free foundations: a complete Google Business Profile, consistent directory listings, and direct coordinator outreach. Do those before paying anyone, including us.
Yes. The ACCC and NDIS Commission have warned against false or misleading claims such as labelling things “NDIS approved” or implying NDIA endorsement, and integrity laws let the Commission restrict non-compliant promotion. You can still market strongly; you just cannot promise funding outcomes or imply endorsement you do not have. Check that any agency you hire understands these rules.
No, and we would be cautious about any agency that insists on one. A 12-month lock-in removes the agency’s incentive to keep earning the work month to month. Our plans are month-to-month for that reason, and you should expect any agency to put projected month-three and month-six results in writing before you commit.
Sources & further reading: Our packages & pricing · Marketing ROI calculator · How to get more NDIS clients
A specialist reviews your visibility against the providers competing in your catchment, and sends a written growth plan within two business days. You keep it either way.