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.
What a realistic starting budget looks like
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 actually improve, you end up guessing rather than optimising. The right number depends on your average job value and how competitive your area is, not a one-size-fits-all figure.
DIY vs. hiring help
If you have a few hours a week to learn the platform properly, watch the account and adjust it, DIY can work for a very small, simple campaign. But Google Ads punishes a set-and-forget approach, wasted clicks on the wrong searches add up fast. Most small businesses find that the time saved and the mistakes avoided by hiring a specialist cover the management fee within the first month or two. See what that looks like on the Google Ads consultant page.
Small doesn't mean sloppy
A small budget just means the account has less room for waste. That makes tight targeting, clear negative keywords and proper conversion tracking more important, not less, so every pound is going toward someone who might actually buy.
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.
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.