Google Ads Budget Calculator
for Local Businesses
See how many clicks, leads, and revenue you can expect from your Google Ads budget. Category-specific benchmarks for 30 industries.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should a local business spend on Google Ads?
Most local service businesses see meaningful results starting at $500-$1,500 per month. At $500/mo you can typically generate 20-40 clicks and 2-5 leads depending on your industry's average CPC. Businesses spending $2,000-$5,000/mo usually have enough data within 30 days to optimize toward a positive ROI. The right budget depends on your average job value — a roofer closing $8,000 jobs can afford a higher cost per lead than a house cleaner closing $200 jobs.
What is a good ROAS for local service ads?
A good return on ad spend (ROAS) for local services is 3x to 5x, meaning every $1 in ad spend generates $3-$5 in revenue. High-ticket services like roofing and HVAC replacement often achieve 8-12x ROAS because a single closed lead can be worth $5,000-$15,000. Lower-ticket services like house cleaning typically see 2-3x ROAS. If your ROAS is below 2x, your campaign likely has targeting or conversion tracking issues that need to be fixed before scaling budget.
How many leads can I expect per dollar spent?
Lead volume depends on your industry CPC and your landing page conversion rate. At a typical 5-8% conversion rate, a plumber spending $1,000/mo at $12 average CPC would get around 83 clicks and 4-7 leads. An HVAC company at $18 CPC would get roughly 55 clicks and 3-4 leads for the same budget. The calculator uses real CPC benchmarks from 30 industries so you can see exactly what to expect before spending a dollar.
Is $500 per month enough for Google Ads?
$500/mo is enough to test and get initial data, but it limits your reach. In competitive industries like legal or HVAC where CPCs range from $15-$25, $500 buys only 20-33 clicks per month — barely enough for statistical significance. For lower-CPC categories like cleaning or pest control ($6-$10 CPC), $500 can generate 50-80 clicks and 3-6 leads, which is a viable starting point. The key is to start with a focused geographic area and a single high-intent campaign rather than spreading thin.
How long before I see my first leads from Google Ads?
Most local service campaigns generate their first lead within the first 3-7 days of going live. Google's learning period takes about 2 weeks, during which your CPC and ad position will fluctuate. By week 3-4 you should have enough data to evaluate performance and make optimizations. Campaigns with proper conversion tracking, relevant keywords, and a fast-loading landing page typically reach steady-state performance within 30-45 days.