When it comes to getting the most out of the HubSpot platform, many businesses face one critical decision: should they hire a freelancer or partner with an agency for support?
The point is that each of these two choices has its own benefits and setbacks, particularly when it is about prices, quality, and long-term outcomes. You must be aware of trade-offs between freelance HubSpot support and agency HubSpot to make a more intelligent investment that perfectly fits your business objectives.
HubSpot is an effective marketing, sales, and customer service tool, yet it needs to be configured correctly, along with strategy and continuous optimization, to reach its potential. Being a ‘newbie’ to HubSpot, or scaling up your efforts, an appropriate support partner can make or break your success.
In this article, we will break down the differences between freelancers and agencies. Let us look into it together.
It is always important to know why freelancers and agencies are needed in the first place, especially in HubSpot support. Unless carefully guided, businesses run the risk of doing too little with HubSpot and most definitely fail to realise ROI, or fail to use it properly. This is why it is important to invest in professional support, be it freelance or the agency.
HubSpot is supposed to be user-friendly, but to achieve the full potential, a person has to be qualified in various fields, including:
CRM setup and data migration
Marketing automation and workflows
Sales enablement and pipeline management
Content strategy and campaign execution
Reporting, dashboards, and performance tracking
Freelancers are independent professionals who provide expert HubSpot services on a contract basis. Many companies turn to freelancers because of their affordability and flexibility. It offers the following benefits:
Lower costs: Freelancers generally charge less than agencies because they have lower overhead expenses.
Flexibility: You can hire freelancers for one-off projects, hourly tasks, or ongoing support without long-term contracts.
Specialized expertise: Some freelancers focus on specific HubSpot functions, such as email automation or CRM customization.
Limited availability: A single person can only handle so much work at once. If they are busy or unavailable, your projects may stall.
Lack of scalability: Freelancers might not be equipped to manage larger, more complex HubSpot implementations.
Inconsistent quality: Skill levels vary widely among freelancers, so finding the right fit can take time and trial.
Freelancers may be the right choice if:
You are a startup or small business with a very limited budget.
You only need help with small, specific HubSpot tasks.
You prefer short-term or project-based support without long contracts.
You have in-house team members who can manage other HubSpot functions.
Agencies, in turn, are constituted groups of professionals certified in HubSpot and provide a full set of services. A working relationship with an agency can be more structured and predictable in the long run. This is what you can expect:
Full-service expertise: Agencies have specialists across marketing, sales, design, content, and analytics.
Scalability: They can handle larger projects and ongoing campaigns without capacity issues.
Proven processes: Established agencies often have workflows and best practices that ensure consistent results.
Long-term strategy: Agencies are more likely to help you build and execute a holistic HubSpot strategy, not just complete tasks.
Higher costs: Agencies typically charge more than freelancers due to overhead, team size, and the breadth of services.
Contracts and commitments: Some agencies lock clients into lengthy contracts, which may not suit budget-conscious businesses.
Less flexibility: Agencies may not take on very small or short-term projects.
Agencies may be the better fit if:
You need a HubSpot partner that does it all, from strategy through execution.
You are engaged in struggling with marketing, sales, or service tasks.
You appreciate long-term consistency, scalability, and reliability.
You prefer structured processes and accountability.
When deciding between a freelancer and an agency, budget is often the deciding factor. Below is a breakdown of typical costs and what you can expect at each level.
Freelancers are ideal if you need short-term help, have a smaller budget, or only require niche services.
| Hourly rates | $30 - $100 per hour, depending on expertise and location. |
| Project-based rates | $500 - $3,000 for specific tasks like onboarding, campaign setup, or CRM migration. |
| Retainers | $1,000 - $3,000 per month for ongoing support. |
Agencies are better suited for businesses that want an end-to-end solution and are ready to invest more for higher consistency and scalability.
| Hourly rates | $100 - $250 per hour for specialized work. |
| Project-based rates | $3,000 - $15,000 depending on complexity and scope. |
| Retainers | $3,000 - $10,000 per month for comprehensive HubSpot support and management. |
When evaluating freelancers vs agencies, many businesses overlook hidden costs that can impact overall value.
Time investment: Training a freelancer or managing multiple contractors can consume your internal resources.
Quality risks: A poorly executed HubSpot setup may require expensive fixes later.
Scaling issues: As your business grows, you may outgrow a freelancer and need to start fresh with an agency.
Opportunity cost: Delays or mistakes can slow down campaigns, costing potential leads and revenue.
At this point, you may be wondering, if agencies cost more, how can budget-conscious businesses still benefit from agency-level support? That is where 3 & Four stands apart.
3 & Four does not sell expensive add-ons or long-term contracts like most of the traditional agencies. Instead, we aim to provide customized HubSpot solutions that are both cost-effective and suited to teams who are watching their bottom line.
Tailored packages: You only pay for the services you actually need. No hidden extras, no wasted budget.
Budget-friendly retainers: Flexible pricing that works for small and mid-sized businesses without sacrificing quality.
Certified expertise: A team of HubSpot-certified specialists ready to handle everything from onboarding to advanced automation.
Focus on ROI: Every strategy and campaign is designed to generate measurable results, not just activity.
Transparent communication: No surprises, just clear updates, consistent reporting, and collaborative planning.
Startups value how cheap and flexible they are.
Expanding companies appreciate the flexibility they get by scaling services.
Mature groups know what works and stick to it without stretching the budget.
Your finances, ambitions, and scaling strategies are deciding factors when considering freelance and agency HubSpot support. Freelancers are cost-friendly and flexible, satisfying specific short or niche requirements, whereas agencies offer structure, scalability, and long-term stability. But for those companies that are not quite ready to pay premium prices to an agency, 3 & Four Technologies is the solution. Offering flexible packages, certified experience, and ROI focus, 3 & Four has struck the balance between reasonable cost and quality. With the proper support option, it is possible to get the most out of HubSpot and lead your business to sustainable growth.