Most agencies won't tell you this. We will. Your ideal ad budget depends on your industry, your market, and which platform actually makes sense for your business. Here's the honest breakdown.
A tattoo shop and a plumber operate in completely different advertising worlds. A tattoo artist might pay $1–3 per click on Google. A plumber in Austin could pay $10–60 per click for the same position. Telling both of them to spend $500/month on Google Ads would be dishonest — the tattoo shop would thrive, and the plumber would burn cash.
That's why we don't have a one-size-fits-all minimum. We match your ad spend recommendation to your industry, your local competition, and the platform that makes the most sense for your business. Sometimes that means Google. Sometimes it means Meta (Facebook & Instagram). Sometimes it means both. And sometimes it means one platform isn't worth your money at all.
We'd rather tell you the truth upfront than collect a management fee on a budget that can't deliver results.
Select your industry and target monthly ad spend. We'll show you what to expect from each platform — and whether the numbers actually make sense.
These are estimates based on 2025-2026 industry benchmarks for local service businesses. Actual results vary based on ad quality, landing page, competition, and seasonality. We dial in exact numbers during your onboarding.
Google Ads captures people who are actively searching — "plumber near me" or "tattoo shop Austin." These leads are hot. They're ready to buy. But you pay a premium for that intent, and competitive trades can cost $10–60 per click.
Meta Ads (Facebook & Instagram) interrupt people while they're scrolling. The leads are cheaper — typically 40–60% lower cost per lead than Google — but they require more follow-up because the person wasn't actively looking for you. Meta works especially well for visual businesses (tattoo, landscaping, home remodeling) and for building brand awareness.
Google Local Service Ads (LSAs) are the secret weapon for tradespeople. Instead of paying per click, you pay per lead — only when someone actually contacts you. They appear above everything else in Google search results and cost roughly 30–40% less per lead than standard Google Ads. We help eligible clients get set up on LSAs as part of our management.
| Factor | Google Ads | Meta Ads | Google LSAs |
|---|---|---|---|
| You pay for | Clicks | Impressions/clicks | Leads only |
| Lead quality | High — active intent | Medium — passive | High — verified |
| Cost per lead | $30–$140 | $15–$60 | $10–$80 |
| Best for | Emergency/urgent services | Visual / lifestyle businesses | Licensed tradespeople |
| Min budget to work | $1,000–$3,000/mo | $500–$1,500/mo | $500+/mo |
| How fast results come | Days to weeks | 1–2 weeks to optimize | Days |
We charge a percentage of your ad spend — the industry standard. This aligns our incentive with yours: when your ads work, you spend more, and we both grow. No hidden fees, no inflated markups.
You pay ad spend directly to Google / Meta. We charge for managing the campaigns.
Example: $500/mo ad spend = $200/mo management fee (minimum). $1,500/mo ad spend = $300/mo (20% kicks in). $3,000/mo = $600/mo. No contracts — cancel anytime.
What's included in management: Campaign strategy, ad creative & copywriting, audience targeting, bid optimization, A/B testing, landing page recommendations, monthly performance reporting, and direct access to the person running your ads.
We'll audit your market, recommend the right platform, and give you a realistic spend target — before you pay us anything.
Let's talkOr call our AI — (512) 866-9042 — 24/7