Running it yourself
Works for a very small, simple account if you have a few hours a week to learn the platform and check it. The risk is paying for the learning in wasted clicks.
Google Ads for small business
Google Ads for small businesses
You don't need an enterprise budget to make Google Ads work, but you do need enough spend to gather real data, and a plan for whether to run it yourself or hand it to someone who does this full time.
£500+Monthly ad spend we recommend as a floor
3 monthsMinimum, so there's enough data to judge
WeeklyAccount reviews and reporting
The problem
A small budget has no room for waste
A large advertiser can absorb a few weeks of sloppy targeting. A small business can't. Every pound spent on a search that was never going to become a customer is a pound that wasn't spent on one that would have.
That makes tight targeting, clear negative keywords and proper conversion tracking more important at a small scale, not less.
Common leaks
Where small accounts usually lose money
Usually going wrong
- Broad keywords with no negative keywords, so budget goes on irrelevant searches
- Every click sent to the homepage instead of a page built for that offer
- No call tracking, so phone enquiries look like they never happened
- Accepting Google's automated suggestions without checking what they target
- Checking the account monthly instead of weekly
What fixes it
- A tight negative-keyword list built from real search terms
- A landing page that matches the ad and the offer
- Tracking for both calls and form fills from day one
- A person reviewing what Google actually spent money on
- A weekly review rhythm with changes made in small steps
Before you spend a pound
A short checklist before launching
Have these in place
- Conversion tracking for calls and form submissions
- A page that clearly matches what the ad promises
- Someone to answer calls and enquiries quickly
- A clear idea of what a new customer is worth
- Your Google Business Profile claimed and up to date
Why it matters
- Without tracking you can't tell which spend produced customers
- Mismatched pages are the most common reason clicks don't convert
- Slow follow-up wastes the leads you've already paid for
- It sets the most you can afford to pay for an enquiry
- It supports your local visibility alongside the ads
DIY or hire help?
An honest comparison
Hiring a specialist
Costs a management fee but usually saves it back in avoided waste within the first month or two, and frees your time. See what that looks like on the Google Ads consultant page.
How it works
Understand. Plan. Launch. Scale.
No packages. We get to know the business, work out what it actually needs, build it, and grow it once the numbers stack up.
1
Get to know you
A free consultation covering what you sell, what a customer is worth and what you can realistically spend.
2
Build the plan
A focused structure sized to your budget, rather than a bloated account you can't afford to feed.
3
Get it live
Campaigns and call/form tracking set up properly before any real money is spent.
4
Make it perform, then scale
Weekly optimisation and plain-English reporting. Spend only increases once the numbers justify it.
★★★★★"It was a pleasure working with Edward on our project. We were new to Google Ads and he walked us through it step by step, with insight that would have taken us a while to figure out. We'll definitely be using Edward again."
★★★★★"Gave good tips and tricks on how to improve my Google Ads."
FAQ
Common questions
How much should a small business spend on Google Ads?
Most small service businesses see workable results starting at £500 to £1,000 a month in ad spend. Below that, there usually isn't enough traffic for the account to gather the data it needs to improve.
Should I run Google Ads myself or hire help?
If you have a few hours a week to learn the platform properly and check the account, DIY can work for a very small, simple account. Most small businesses find the time saved and the mistakes avoided by hiring a specialist pay for the management fee within the first month or two.
Is there a minimum budget you work with?
We generally recommend at least £500 a month in ad spend before management makes financial sense. Below that, the honest advice is often to hold off or start with a smaller, focused campaign.
Do you only work with big companies?
No, most clients are small and medium service businesses, not national brands. Reporting and account structure are scoped to a budget that makes sense at that size.
What should I set up before running Google Ads?
Conversion tracking for calls and forms, a page that matches what the ad promises, a way to answer enquiries quickly, and a claimed Google Business Profile. Spending before those are in place mostly buys clicks you can't measure.
Next step
Tell us where things stand
Share your current spend and targets. You'll get a straight answer on what's realistic and how we'd get there.