How Much Should You Spend on Ads Each Month Based on Your Cleaning Business Revenue?
Advertising can either feel like rocket fuel for your cleaning business or a giant money pit, depending on how well it’s planned.
The number one question we hear at Five Door Media is: "How much should I be spending on ads each month?" We get it. For a lot of cleaning companies that are trying to grow and scale, just paying for the agency fee, let alone the paid ad budget, can be daunting. We know that no matter level you are currently in, every dollar spent on marketing can be scary. This is why we really try to show you that this is an investment, not an expense.
Let’s break our suggestions for paid ad spend down by revenue level, so you can scale your ad budget confidently and without waste and anxiety. And remember, this is only for cleaning companies looking to really grow and scale. This isn’t for those who are looking to keep playing it safe and sound.
Why Ad Budgeting Matters
Too little? You get buried under your competitors. Too much, too soon? You end up burning cash without ROI.
Smart budgeting helps you:
Maximize bookings
Increase brand visibility
Avoid overspending on tactics that don’t work for your stage
Revenue-Based Ad Budget Guide
If You're Making Under $250K/year
Recommended Ad Spend: $250–$500/month
Where to Spend:
Google Local Services Ads (LSAs)
Boosting posts or running awareness campaigns on Facebook
Goals:
Visibility in your service area
Reviews, brand awareness, and getting your name out there
Tip: Stick with high-intent platforms like Google over "spray and pray" social ads.
If You're Earning $250K–$750K/year
Recommended Ad Spend: 3–5% of monthly revenue
Where to Spend:
Google Ads for search
Facebook & Instagram retargeting
Some social brand awareness ads
Goals:
Lead generation - this is where we start to build that growth and scale machine
Retargeting interested visitors - these are high intent because they have showed interest before visiting your website or social platforms in the past. Not perfect, but it’s something.
Solidifying your brand in the market
Tip: At this level, your CRM and lead tracking systems need to be dialed in. Don’t guess on ROI.
If You’re Over $750K/year and Scaling Toward 7 Figures+
Recommended Ad Spend: 5–8% of monthly revenue
Where to Spend:
Full-funnel strategy: Search, display, retargeting, video
Paid content promotion (blog posts, reviews, case studies)
AI-driven ad optimization tools
Goals:
Brand dominance
Retention and upsells
Audience building (email, pixel, lookalike lists)
Tip: This is where a specialized agency partner like FDM can make the difference between 2x ROI and 10x.
Bonus: What NOT to Do with Your Ad Budget
Don’t blindly "boost" posts without a clear CTA and targeting
Don’t outsource ads to freelancers with no industry experience
Don’t skip out on retargeting—your warm leads are your easiest wins
Final Thoughts
Your ad budget isn’t a guess—it should be tied to where your business is right now and where you want to go.
Want a custom ad strategy (with AI-powered insights) for your exact revenue stage?
➡️ Book a free strategy call with FDM. Let’s help you spend smarter and grow faster.