Can Founders Do Their Own PR? Real Cost of DIY Public Relations

Posted on October 5, 2026 by Mark Macias

By Mark Macias
Founder of MACIAS PR | Former NBC Executive Producer

I hear a variation of the same sentence from founders all the time: “I can do the PR myself.” My response frequently surprises them. “You should try it.”

I’m not being sarcastic. If you’re a founder who believes you can handle your own media relations, I’ll be the first person to encourage you to give it a shot before hiring a PR agency. Keep doing it while you’re running the company and you’ll quickly see it is another full-time job.

The best PR clients are the companies and founders who worked with other PR agencies before approaching MACIAS PR. Their expectations are more aligned and they seem to appreciate my pushback on ideas more. That’s because they get another perspective on how PR works. A successful PR campaign is more than: researching reporters; developing story angles; writing pitches; following up with reporters; coordinating interviews around the reporter’s schedule; writing an editorial. You get the picture.

Here’s a closer look at the pros and cons of doing PR yourself.

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How Much Does a PR Startup Campaign Cost?

Posted on September 30, 2026 by Mark Macias

By Mark Macias
Founder of MACIAS PR | Former NBC Executive Producer

I hear a version of this question frequently from founders: Can a startup run an effective PR campaign on a startup budget? Of course it can.

MACIAS PR has launched media and branding campaigns for all kinds of startups. You can see those case studies here. But there is a fundamental relationship that frequently gets lost when founders start discussing budgets: the size of the PR campaign has to match the scope of work.

You can’t hire an agency for a limited startup campaign and then expect the resources of a national, full-scale media campaign. If you want more markets, more storylines, more reporters and more agency hours, that’s a different scope of work—and it requires a different budget. This isn’t unique to PR. It’s how professional services work.

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What Should PR Cost? Find Out Now

Posted on September 3, 2026 by Mark Macias

By Mark Macias
Founder of MACIAS PR | Former NBC Executive Producer

One of the first questions nearly every prospective client eventually asks me is: How much does PR cost?

It’s a fair question. It’s also one that most PR firms have difficulty answering without first getting you on a call.

There’s a legitimate reason for that. A local PR campaign for a small business doesn’t cost the same as a national media campaign targeting CNBC, The Wall Street Journal or major consumer publications. The scope of work is different and requires different resources. A startup establishing credibility requires a different strategy from a public company trying to influence investors. A crisis communications campaign can require an entirely different level of resources.

But none of that means you should have to sit through a sales call just to learn whether professional PR is even within your budget.

That’s why MACIAS PR created the free PR calculator behind FreePRQuote.com.

And if you’re even considering PR, my advice is simple: try it now. There is no risk in finding out what your campaign could cost.

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