The short answer
An agency costs the most and does the most: the average social media retainer was US$2,107 a month in 2024. Doing it in-house costs a person’s time, at a BC median of $33.65 an hour. AI tools like StudioOS cost the least, from $29 CAD a month, and make the posts; a person still posts them and answers the messages.
- Agency: US$2,107 a month on average, for three posts a week on three platforms (HeyOrca, 2024).
- In-house: $33.65 an hour, the BC median for a social media coordinator (Job Bank).
- StudioOS: from $29 CAD a month, monthly, cancel any time.
The options, side by side
| Option | What it costs | What you still do | Commitment | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| StudioOS | From $29 CAD a month; $9.50 to $9.67 a 10-second 720p reel | Post, and answer messages | Monthly, cancel any time | Lots that want daily posts without a hire |
| Agency retainer | US$2,107 a month on average (2024 survey) | Send photos and prices, approve posts | A retainer; terms vary | Lots that want strategy, ads and replies handled |
| A coordinator on staff | $33.65 an hour, BC median: about $5,830 a month full time | Manage them | Employment | Groups with enough cars to keep someone busy |
| Doing it yourself | Your time: Phyron estimates 12 hours for one car’s video | Everything | None | Owners who enjoy it and have the hours |
StudioOS
- What it costs
- From $29 CAD a month; $9.50 to $9.67 a 10-second 720p reel
- What you still do
- Post, and answer messages
- Commitment
- Monthly, cancel any time
- Best for
- Lots that want daily posts without a hire
- What it costs
- US$2,107 a month on average (2024 survey)
- What you still do
- Send photos and prices, approve posts
- Commitment
- A retainer; terms vary
- Best for
- Lots that want strategy, ads and replies handled
- What it costs
- $33.65 an hour, BC median: about $5,830 a month full time
- What you still do
- Manage them
- Commitment
- Employment
- Best for
- Groups with enough cars to keep someone busy
Doing it yourself
- What it costs
- Your time: Phyron estimates 12 hours for one car’s video
- What you still do
- Everything
- Commitment
- None
- Best for
- Owners who enjoy it and have the hours
What an agency does that software doesn’t
A good agency plans the month, writes in your voice, runs your paid ads, answers comments and messages, and reports on what worked. StudioOS does none of the answering and none of the ads. It makes the posts and reels, quickly, from your photos.
The mix most small lots end up with
- Step 1
Make the posts with AI
A Just arrived post and a reel for every car, the day it lands.
- Step 2
Post them yourself
Or have someone at the front desk do it. Once the posts exist, posting is the quick part.
- Step 3
Answer every message fast
Software doesn’t sell the car. A person who replies quickly does.
- Step 4
Pay for help where it counts
If you run paid ads, an agency or a freelancer earns their fee there.
3.7 min
Median time from tap to finished reel in StudioOS: 24 reels, September 30 to October 23, 2026. Half took between 2.6 and 6.1 minutes.
StudioOS’s own records. Most were test reels made by StudioOS.
10 s
Median time for a photo post, across 38 made in the same weeks.
StudioOS’s own records, same period.
Sources
- Social media pricing report: how much agencies and freelancers charge, HeyOrca, 2024 survey.
- Social media coordinator in Canada: wages, Job Bank, Government of Canada, updated November 19, 2025.
- Survey reveals US dealers predict AI job replacement by 2030 (Phyron’s survey and estimate), AutoSuccess.
Try it on a car from your lot.
Add a few photos, or paste the listing link.
20 free credits. No card.
