The percentage of revenue a business should allocate to its advertising budget varies depending on the industry, business size, goals, and growth stage. Here’s a guide to help you determine an appropriate range for your business:
General advertising budget guidelines
1. Small businesses:
For newer or growing businesses, it’s typical to allocate 7-12% of annual revenue for marketing and advertising.
The higher range applies if your bookkeeping business is trying to build brand awareness, enter new markets, or acquire more clients.
2. Established businesses:
For businesses with a steady client base, a more conservative range of 2-5% of annual revenue might be sufficient to maintain visibility and attract some new clients.
Industry considerations
1. Bookkeeping and accounting services:
These businesses often rely on referrals, local networking, and targeted marketing to reach specific audiences.
Aim for 4-8% of annual revenue if you are focusing on digital strategies like paid ads, search engine optimization (SEO), and email marketing.
Monthly vs. annual budgets1. Monthly budget: Divide your annual allocation into monthly increments. Adjust for seasonal trends; for example: Spend more during tax season or the start of a new fiscal year when demand for bookkeeping services increases. Scale back slightly during slower periods.
Factors to adjust your advertising budget
1. Business stage: Start-ups or businesses in growth mode should spend more than mature, stable businesses.
2. Local competition: In highly competitive areas, you may need to invest more to stand out.
3. Target audience: If your focus is on small businesses or specific niches (e.g., e-commerce bookkeeping), you may need targeted, higher-cost strategies.
4. Marketing channels: Digital marketing (Google Ads, social media ads, SEO) may cost more upfront but often delivers higher ROI.
Word-of-mouth and referral programs may require less financial investment but more time and effort.
Tracking results
Regularly monitor return on investment (ROI) to ensure your advertising spend aligns with your revenue goals. Adjust as necessary to maximize effectiveness.