Small business ideas
Ireland
Donegal
Social media management

Online and digital Home-basedCreativeRepeat customers

How to start a social media management business in Donegal

Everything you need: what it costs, what you can make, what Donegal asks for, and every step from your first idea to your tenth customer.

Start this business with PressUp

Checked October 2026 In euros 12-minute read

The prices and costs in this guide are estimates for Ireland: researched US figures converted to euros by price levels. Registration fees and taxes are Ireland's own.

To start€835–1.8kLean to full setup

Per month€2.6k–10kOnce established

Profit margin75–90%After tools, insurance and payment fees

First customer2–6 weeksFrom today

DifficultyLearn it by doing, then build a portfolio

From homeYesOr you go to them

01Is it right for you?

A good fit if you love social media and making things that get noticed

Most small businesses know they should post regularly but never find the time. You plan their posts, make the graphics and videos, schedule everything and reply to comments, usually for a monthly fee.

You'll like it if

You already enjoy posting and making content
You notice what makes people stop scrolling
You can write short, punchy captions
You like working with local businesses

Think twice if

You'd rather stay off social media
You don't like being on call for comments
Changing apps and trends frustrate you
You need the same tasks every day

02What it costs

From €835 to start

Start lean with the essentials and upgrade as customers come, or set up fully from day one.

Total to start€835

What	Cost
LaptopFor editing, planning and reporting	€600
Design and scheduling tools, three monthsFree plans to start; paid design, scheduling and email in the full figure	€0
Insurance, first three monthsProfessional liability, plus general liability in the full figure	€160
Registering your businessFree as a sole trader; more to form a company	€0
Website and marketingWebsite, domain and business cards	€75
Total	€835

Once you're running: about €100 a month, plus about 3% of what you earn. Insurance, design and scheduling tools, email and your website every month, plus card or bank fees on each payment.

03What you can make

Work out your own numbers

Move the sliders to match your plans. The chart shows a first year that builds up as word gets around.

Average price per hour €35 €10€130

Hours a week 20 150

Monthly costs €100 €0€400

Typical in Donegal: €20–€65 per hour, 10–30 hours a week once established.

Revenue a month—

Profit a month—

Pays back in—

Your first yearTotal: —

Money inCosts

Side hustle€690–1.6k

2–3 small clients

Full-time, on your own€2.6k–5.6k

4–8 monthly clients

With helpers€6k–10k

Freelancers help with design and video

04Step by step

12 steps to your first customers

Each step says what it costs and how long it takes. Most owners get through them in a few weeks.

1
Build a small portfolio
2–3 weeks Free

Show what you can do before anyone pays you: run your own accounts well, or help a friend's business for a month.
- 3 sample content plans
- Before-and-after examples
- Simple results: reach and follows
2
Pick a niche
2–3 days Free

Restaurants, salons, gyms and home services all need content. Focusing on one makes your work and your pitch stronger.
- One or two kinds of business
- The platforms they use
- Check what competitors post
3
Choose your name
1 day Free

Pick a name that's easy to remember and tag. Make sure no one in Donegal has it, and that the handles are free.
- 3–5 name ideas
- Check the social handles
- Check the domain
Get name ideas for your businessFind a name
4
Register your business in Donegal
1 day to 2 weeks €0–€50

Most owners start as a sole trader with Revenue, and register a business name if they trade under another name; a company with the CRO keeps business debts separate.
- Register as a sole trader: free
- Register your business name: €20
- Form a company: €50
5
Get your Tax Reference Number (TRN)
1–5 days Free

Your business's tax number from Revenue, for taxes and banking.
- Register with Revenue
- Open a business bank account
6
Sort out VAT
1–3 days Free

You must register for VAT once your sales pass €42,500 a year. The rate is 23%.
- Know when to register for VAT
- Keep records of income and costs
- Set money aside for income tax
7
Get insured
1–2 days Quotes are free

Insurance protects you if something goes wrong on a job. Get quotes from two or three insurers.
- Professional liability
- General liability
- Cyber liability
8
Set up your tools
1–2 days €600–1.2k

Free plans of design and scheduling apps cover your first clients. Upgrade as you add accounts.
- A design app
- A scheduling app
- A shared content calendar
9
Set your prices
1 day Free

Monthly packages by number of platforms and posts are easiest to sell. See the prices below.
- Starter, growth and full service
- A setup fee for new accounts
- A monthly results report
10
Put your business online
1 day Included

Your own site and accounts are your shop window. Show your packages, examples and a way to book a call.
- Website with your packages
- Portfolio examples
- Call booking
Describe your business and PressUp builds your websiteBuild your website
11
Get your first clients
2–6 weeks Free

Walk into local businesses with ideas for their accounts. A free content audit opens doors.
- Offer 10 free audits
- Ask friends who own businesses
- Ask every client for a review
Ask your customers for reviews by email with PressUpSee how
12
Bill and keep track
Ongoing Included

Invoice every month on the same day and keep each client's details in one place.
- Monthly invoices
- Client list
- Renewal reminders
Keep your customers and invoices in one place with PressUpSee how

05Licenses in DL

What Donegal asks for

Registering, taxes, and what this business needs. Check the details with each authority: rules change.

Register as a sole trader

You register for Income Tax through myAccount or ROS.

RevenueFree

Register your business name

Filing online on CORE. Paper filing costs more. Register within one month of starting to use the name.

Companies Registration Office€20once

Form a company

Form A1, filed online on CORE. Reserving the name first is optional and costs extra.

Companies Registration Office€50once

Tax Reference Number (TRN)

Your business's tax number, for banking and taxes.

RevenueFree

06Equipment

What to buy first

Buy the "must haves" to start. Add the rest when customers pay for them.

LaptopEnough power for photo and short video edits

€600–€1,050Must have

Design app, a yearTemplates, brand kits, video

€0–€120Must have

Scheduling app, a yearFree plan to start, paid as you grow

€0–€190Later

Second screenPlan and edit side by side

€50–€120Later

07Pricing

3 packages that sell

Simple choices make it easy to say yes. Most customers pick the middle one.

Starter

€430 per month · 2 platforms

12 posts a month
Graphics and captions
Monthly report

Growth

€860 per month · 3 platforms

20 posts a month
Stories or short videos
Replies to comments and messages
Monthly report and call

Full service

€1,550 per month · Up to 4 platforms

30 posts a month
Everything in Growth
Ad campaigns managed

Monthly management for a small business in DonegalTypical: €340–€1,700

Average €860

€0€560€1.2k€1.7k€2.3k

08First customers

How to get your first customers

You don't need an ad budget. These work for new owners almost everywhere.

Your own accounts

Post for yourself the way you'd post for clients. It's your best proof.

Free

Walk-in audits

Visit local businesses with three quick ideas for their accounts.

Free

Partner with designers and photographers

They meet clients who need regular content and can send them your way.

Partnership

Monthly packages

Clients who see results stay for months: steady income you can plan around.

Repeat income

Reviews

Ask every happy client for a review and a short quote for your site.

With PressUp Reviews

09Your first 30 days

A month from now, you could be open

Week 1

Set up

Choose your name and handles
Register your business
Get insurance quotes

Week 2

Build proof

Make 3 sample content plans
Help one business for a month
Collect simple results

Week 3

Go live

Website with your packages
Set your prices
Set up your tools

Week 4

First clients

Offer 10 free audits
Aim for 2 monthly clients
Ask for reviews

10Questions

Common questions

Do I need a license to manage social media in Donegal?

Usually not. You'll register your business and handle your taxes. In the US, follow the FTC's rules on disclosing paid posts and on fake reviews.

Do I need a marketing degree?

No. Clients care about results and good-looking, steady posts. A small portfolio, even from your own accounts or a friend's business, matters more than a degree.

Who pays for ads?

Usually the client pays the platforms for ad spend directly, and you charge a fee for setting up and running the campaigns.

Can I start part-time?

Yes. Posts can be planned and scheduled ahead, so many managers start with two or three clients around another job.

How many clients can one person handle?

It depends on how many platforms and posts each needs. Time your work for each client for a month before you take on more.

Costs and earnings are estimates from the sources below, checked October 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the authorities named in this guide. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.

Sources