If you run a therapy, psychiatry, ABA, or TMS clinic, you’ve probably asked this question: should we outsource or hire in-house marketing?
It sounds simple. But it affects your budget, growth, and even your stress level.
We’ve helped mental health practices across Texas and beyond build marketing systems from scratch. Some hired an internal team. Some chose a mental health marketing agency. Others blended both. Here’s what we’ve learned.
Agency vs Internal Team: What’s Better for Therapy and Psychiatry Marketing?
The real question is not “agency vs internal team mental health marketing.”
It’s this:
• How fast do you need growth?
• How much control do you want?
• What can you afford right now?
• Who will manage strategy and accountability?
In our experience, most clinics underestimate the true cost of hiring in-house. They also overestimate how much control they’ll actually gain.
Let’s break it down clearly.
The Real Cost of Hiring In-House Marketing
Many clinic owners search: hire in-house marketing manager for therapy practice. It feels safer. More control. Someone in the office.
But here’s what that really costs in 2025.
Typical In-House Marketing Manager:
• Salary: $65,000–$95,000+
• Payroll tax & benefits: 20–30% extra
• Software tools (CRM, SEO, email, ads): $500–$2,000/month
• Ongoing training & conferences
• Risk of turnover
And that’s just one person.
One person usually cannot handle:
• SEO strategy
• Paid ads
• Website CRO
• Email automation
• Content writing
• Compliance oversight
• Analytics and reporting
So you either:
• Overwork them
• Hire more people
• Or accept slower growth
We’ve seen clinics build internal teams that cost $150,000+ per year before ads.
Mental Health Marketing Agency Cost
Now let’s look at outsource digital marketing for mental health clinic models.
A specialized mental health marketing agency cost usually ranges from:
• $3,000–$10,000/month depending on services
• Plus ad spend
For that, you often get:
• A strategist
• An SEO specialist
• A paid ads expert
• A copywriter
• A web optimization specialist
• Reporting dashboards
That’s a team. Not one person.
Felix Shaye, Google Certified Expert and Google Partner with over 25 years of SEO and digital marketing experience, puts it this way: “Most clinics don’t need an employee. They need a system. Marketing isn’t a job title. It’s a coordinated engine.”
Outsource vs In-House Marketing for Clinics: Cost Snapshot
Here’s a simple side-by-side view.
In-House Model
• Higher fixed payroll cost
• Full-time salary commitment
• One skill set per hire
• More daily control
• Slower to scale
• Harder to replace if they leave
Agency Model
• Lower overhead risk
• Access to multiple specialists
• Faster testing and scaling
• Less HR management
• Shared attention across clients
• Requires trust and clear communication
When Clinics Choose In-House
There are times when building an internal marketing team healthcare makes sense.
For example:
• Multi-location psychiatry groups
• ABA companies with 10+ centers
• National telehealth brands
• Clinics with $3M+ annual revenue
One of our clients built an internal marketing manager role after reaching 4 locations. They needed someone to coordinate events, referral relationships, and community partnerships locally.
But even then, they kept SEO and ads outsourced.
That’s the hybrid marketing model for therapy clinic structure.
Hybrid Model Marketing: Often the Smartest Path
Hybrid model marketing is growing fast in 2025.
Here’s how it works:
• Agency handles SEO, PPC, CRO, analytics
• Internal hire manages social, referrals, brand voice
• Clear KPI dashboard tracks ROI
This reduces risk. It also balances marketing control vs cost.
In-house marketing vs agency ROI comparison often favors hybrid because:
• Strategy stays expert-led
• Execution becomes faster
• Brand stays aligned
• Costs stay predictable
Marketing Control vs Cost: What Clinics Overlook
We’ve personally tested both models.
One psychiatry clinic in Dallas hired an internal marketing coordinator at $70,000/year. After 8 months, lead volume barely moved. Why? They lacked advanced SEO and paid media experience.
We transitioned them to a structured outsource vs in-house marketing for clinics hybrid plan. Within 6 months:
• Cost per lead dropped 32%
• Show rate increased 18%
• Intake pipeline became predictable
Control is important. But clarity is more important.
Marketing Staffing Plan for Psychiatry Practice
If you’re building a marketing staffing plan for psychiatry practice growth, ask yourself:
- Are we clear on revenue targets?
- Do we know our patient acquisition cost?
- Do we track ROI monthly?
- Who owns accountability?
Felix Shaye explains: “ROI is not about who sits in your office. It’s about who understands data, search intent, and compliance. Healthcare marketing requires precision.”
Without strong analytics, both agency and in-house can fail.
Outsource vs In-House for ABA, TMS, and Psychiatry Clinics: What Actually Works
From our experience:
Small Clinic (1–2 providers)
• Best fit: agency model
• Focus: SEO + paid search
• Goal: stable lead flow
Mid-Size Clinic (3–8 providers)
• Best fit: hybrid marketing model
• Focus: brand + performance marketing
• Goal: reduce dependency on referrals
Large Multi-Location
• Best fit: internal marketing leader + agency specialists
• Focus: systems, automation, expansion
• Goal: scale and consistency
Marketing Agency or Internal Team? A Real Cost Breakdown for Therapy Practices
Let’s simplify it.
If your revenue is under $1M:
Outsourcing is usually safer.
If your revenue is $1M–$3M:
Hybrid often gives best ROI.
If your revenue is $3M+:
Internal leadership + agency specialists works well.
The mistake we see most? Clinics hiring too early. Or outsourcing with no accountability framework.
Building a Mental Health Marketing Team: Agency vs Internal Comparison Guide
Before deciding, do this:
• Map your growth goal for 12 months
• Define target cost per lead
• Audit current website conversion rate
• Review intake show rate
• Calculate lifetime patient value
This turns an emotional decision into a data decision.
We believe in transparency. There is no one-size-fits-all answer. But there is a right structure for your stage of growth.
If you’re wondering whether to outsource vs in-house marketing for clinics, or you’re comparing agency vs internal team mental health marketing options, the smartest move is not guessing. It’s building a clear plan.
At AdJet Marketing, we specialize in structured marketing consultation for therapy practice growth. We’ll walk you through a real in-house marketing vs agency ROI comparison based on your numbers.
If you’re considering outsource digital marketing for mental health clinic growth, building an internal marketing team healthcare plan, or testing a hybrid marketing model for therapy clinic expansion, let’s map it together.
Book a strategy call today. We’ll help you choose the model that gives you growth, clarity, and control — without wasted budget.