Restaurant marketing costs typically range from 3% to 6% of gross revenue. A single location doing $1 million a year might budget $30,000 to $60,000 annually. Multi-location groups often spend more per location to stay competitive.
Agency retainers for restaurant marketing run $1,500 to $10,000 per month depending on scope and agency specialization. One-time project fees, like a concentrated local SEO push, can range from $2,500 to $15,000 per location. Generic agencies tend to charge more while delivering less restaurant-specific expertise.
The biggest cost driver is how many locations you need covered. Visibility work that compounds across a portfolio delivers more return per dollar than single-location campaigns.
For multi-location groups, a restaurant marketing agency focused on local search can close visibility gaps without an open-ended retainer.