What budget is a must for starting out?

I run a local business and it is service related. Right now I am currently getting new customers from word of mouth and Facebook primarily but I would like to test out google adwords and see if I can get in front of local competition. Is there any minimum budget that you need to spend to see minimal results? I don't mind spending the money to make money but Im curious how much we need to spend right off the bat.

Iv tried Facebook ads but from what iv heard from other local businesses, google adwords is where its at.

 

hey,
The average Google AdWords cost per click is between $1 and $2 on the search network. The average CPC on the Display Network is under $1. The most expensive keywords in AdWords and Bing Ads cost $50 or more per click.

 

Just remember, like most advertising, you will not be able to evaluate the results until the ads have run for three consecutive months, better yet six months.

And it depends on what kind of services you are providing. If it is something that the SAME person needs EVERY DAY, you can test your ads over shorter periods. If the SAME person only needs the same service once PER YEAR, then your test period will need to be well over a year to get results you can evaluate.

 

I don't go over $10 a day. $50 a click would destroy me. I would go $1 max and see how it goes.

 

I made the mistake of setting too high a budget on my website starnaminggifts.co.uk and I ended up netting all my income with the marketing spend in the first few months. It was depressing and the better way is to keep creating content

 

Interesting website Robert. Gives a whole new meaning to the term "be a star". Ha ha.

 

There isn't a strict minimum budget for Google Ads, but to see meaningful results, especially in a competitive local market, you’ll want to start with at least $10–$20 per day. This allows Google to gather enough data and test different ad variations. You can always adjust the budget based on performance. Since you’re focusing on local competition, targeting specific keywords related to your service and location will help you maximize your ad spend. Google Ads can be highly effective for local businesses when set up correctly, so it's definitely worth testing!

 

I tested out adwords with a budget of $2 a day as I was only testing and it sort of worked out well.

 

A good starting budget is around $15–$25 a day or about $450–$750 a month. That’s usually enough to get some solid traction, test out high-intent local keywords, and start pulling in real leads, not just a bunch of random clicks. With a proper setup and smart targeting, most local businesses start seeing real results within 2 to 4 weeks. The key? Stick to exact match keywords like “emergency [service] near me” and make sure your ads only show in your actual service area and only during your business hours. No point paying for clicks at 2 a.m. if you’re closed, right?
Google Ads usually beats out Facebook for local services too, since you’re showing up right when someone’s actively searching for what you offer. It’s like being in the right place at exactly the right time.