Free Ad Budget Calculator — How Much Should You Spend on Ads?

Enter your monthly revenue and pick a growth mode to see a budget.

Percent-of-revenue budgeting and the channel split are rules of thumb, not laws — your margins, market, and goals should shape the final number. Want us to hit these numbers for you?

How much should a local business spend on advertising?

A common rule of thumb is to budget a percentage of monthly revenue based on your goal: around 5% to maintain your position, around 10% to grow steadily, and around 15% for aggressive growth. Your margins and market ultimately decide the right number, which is why we show a range rather than a single figure.

Why split the budget between Meta and search?

They do different jobs. Meta (Facebook and Instagram) puts your offer in front of people who were not looking yet, while search ads capture people actively searching for what you sell. A 70/30 Meta-to-search split is a common starting point for local businesses; rebalance toward whichever channel delivers cheaper leads once you have data.

Should the ad budget include agency or creative fees?

Track them separately. The percent-of-revenue guideline here refers to media spend — what the platforms charge to run your ads. Add management and creative costs on top when you plan total marketing cost, so you can still see your true media efficiency.