What would $1,000 in ads actually get you?
Pick your trade, your channel, and your city. The simulator runs the same typical South Florida cost-per-lead ranges we publish across this site — no hype numbers, and the assumptions are printed right on it. Drag the budget and watch the math.
Build your scenario
Four taps. Every assumption is adjustable.
Your tradePay per real call — the Google Guaranteed spot at the very top of the page. Junk calls get disputed and credited.
Your reviews & Google Business ProfileRoofing · LSA · Miami
3.2–6.4xreturnEstimated month, once the channel is dialed in.
That works out to roughly $500–$990 of ad spend per booked job.
Estimates from the typical South Florida ranges published on this site — not a quote or a guarantee. Cost per lead moves with your trade, your review count, how established your Google Business Profile is, and your location — see the worked GBP example ($111 vs $55 per lead). Under ~$1,500/mo, numbers get lumpy — judge results over 90 days, not one month. Benchmarks last reviewed August 2026.
Cost per lead isn't one number. Four things move it.
Two roofers in the same county can pay wildly different rates for the same click or call. These are the levers:
1Your trade
Roofing calls are some of the priciest in home services ($90–$180 on LSA) because the ticket is huge. Garage doors sit near the bottom ($25–$70). Same platform, 4× difference — pick your trade in the simulator and the ranges update.
2Reviews & your GBP
Google rewards profiles people click and call: review count, response rate, completed services, photos. In our worked example, a weak profile paid ~$111 per blended lead while a strong one paid ~$55 — same budget, half the price.
3Your location
Miami-Dade is the most crowded auction in Florida — more contractors bidding means higher rates than Broward or Palm Beach for the identical service. Density of homeowners searching cuts the other way. The city picker applies a modest county adjustment.
4Speed & follow-up
Not in the simulator, but it decides your real ROI: answering in 4 rings vs. 4 hours can double a close rate, and disputing junk LSA calls claws real money back. It's most of what we actually manage day to day.
Typical cost per lead in South Florida, by trade.
The published ranges behind the simulator. Tap a row to load that trade above.
| Trade | LSA (per call) | Google Search (per lead) | Meta (per lead) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roofing | $90–$180 | $150–$250 | $25–$70 |
| HVAC | $50–$120 | $90–$180 | $20–$60 |
| Plumbing | $40–$100 | $70–$150 | $20–$55 |
| Electrical | $30–$80 | $50–$120 | $20–$50 |
| Windows & Doors | $80–$200* | $80–$200 | $25–$80 |
| Garage Doors | $25–$70 | $30–$90 | $20–$50 |
*Windows & doors mostly run Google Search — LSA category availability is limited for impact-window work, so both columns show the qualified-Google-lead range. Meta figures assume a real offer and fast follow-up.
Writing about contractor advertising costs? You're welcome to cite these ranges — just link to this page as the source.
LSA vs. Google Search vs. Meta — the honest order.
1. Local Services Ads
Start here for most trades. You pay per real call, not per click; junk calls get disputed and credited; and the Google Guaranteed badge sits above everything else on the page. The catch: Google's screening paperwork — we handle it. How we run Google Ads →
2. Google Search (PPC)
Add when LSA caps out. Costs more per lead, but you choose the exact searches — emergencies, insurance work, financing — and land each on its own page. Highest-intent traffic money can buy, and negative keywords keep DIY clicks out.
3. Meta (Facebook & Instagram)
Cheapest lead, earliest intent. $20–$80 per lead depending on trade and offer — but these homeowners weren't searching for you, so speed-to-call and real filmed proof decide everything. Best for big tickets. Meta ads + content →
Ad budget FAQ.
How much should I spend on Local Services Ads?
Most South Florida contractors get a real read starting at $1,000–$2,500/mo on one channel. LSA only charges for actual calls, so the budget is really a dial for call volume — at typical rates that's roughly 5–20 calls a month at $1,000 depending on your trade. Scale once you know your close rate.
What does a lead cost for my trade?
Typical LSA ranges we see: roofing $90–$180 per call, HVAC $50–$120, plumbing $40–$100, electrical $30–$80, garage doors $25–$70; windows & doors run $80–$200 per qualified Google lead. Search costs more per lead than LSA; Meta typically runs $20–$80.
Why is my real cost per lead different from this?
Because cost per lead isn't one number. Your review count, how established your Google Business Profile is, and your city's competition all move it — in our worked example, a weak profile paid ~$111 per blended lead vs. ~$55 for a strong one on the same budget. Dispute discipline on junk LSA calls matters too.
Should I start with LSA, Search, or Meta?
For most trades: LSA first (pay per real call), Search second when you need more volume, Meta for big-ticket trades once you have real filmed content and a fast follow-up process. That order is exactly how we deploy budgets for clients.
Want these numbers run on your company — with your real reviews, your real city?
That's the free audit. Name and number — we'll text you within minutes and have your written numbers back in 24 hours. No card, no contract.