Marketing Budget Calculator
for Local Businesses
Answer 4 quick questions and get a personalised monthly marketing budget with a channel-by-channel breakdown — in under 60 seconds.
What type of business do you run?
We'll tailor your budget to your industry.
How the calculator works
Industry benchmarks
Budget percentages are based on industry data across thousands of local businesses. New businesses typically invest more (15–20%) to build awareness, while established ones maintain at 5–10%.
Goal-based allocation
Your primary goal determines how to split spend. Customer acquisition favours paid ads. Local visibility favours SEO. Retention favours email. We weight the channels accordingly.
Minimum floors
Paid ad channels need a minimum budget to generate enough data for optimisation. We set a $500/month floor so your budget can actually produce meaningful results — not just impressions.
Marketing budget FAQs
How much should a small business spend on marketing?
Most small businesses should spend 7–15% of monthly revenue on marketing. New businesses in growth mode often invest 15–20%, while established businesses with steady revenue can maintain presence at 5–10%. The right number depends on your industry, competition, and goals.
How do I split my marketing budget between channels?
The best split depends on your primary goal. If you want new customers fast, weight toward Google Ads (40%) and Meta Ads (30%). If local visibility is the priority, invest more in Local SEO and Google Business Profile. For retention, Email & SMS marketing delivers the highest ROI.
What's the minimum marketing budget for a local business?
We recommend a minimum of $500/month for paid advertising to see meaningful results. Below that, budgets are too thin to generate sufficient data for optimisation. Many local businesses see strong results starting at $1,000–$2,000/month across two or three channels.
Should I do Google Ads or Meta Ads first?
Google Ads captures people actively searching for your service (high intent, faster results). Meta Ads builds awareness and reaches people who don't know they need you yet. For most local businesses, start with Google Ads for quick wins, then add Meta Ads once your baseline is profitable.
How long does it take to see results from marketing?
Google Ads can deliver results within days. Local SEO typically takes 3–6 months to gain traction. Email marketing shows results within weeks for existing customers. Plan your budget with a 90-day runway to measure true channel performance.
Want a real custom plan?
The calculator gives you a solid starting point. But a free 20-minute audit from Nataliia gives you a precise plan based on your actual website, competitors, and local market.
Book my free audit →