How to Set a Budget for Facebook and Google Ads (Without Wasting Money)
Last updated: 8 August 2025
Written by Aaron Pajar | Director, Reno Launch
Helping renovation businesses attract qualified leads and book more jobs with proven, stress-free digital marketing systems — no guesswork, no wasted ad spend.
Why This Guide Exists
One of the biggest questions I get from renovation business owners is: “How much should I spend on ads?”
Some think they need to pour thousands in from day one. Others try to “test the waters” with $5 a day and get frustrated when nothing happens.
This guide is here to clear up the confusion. I’ll walk you through how to set a realistic ad budget for Facebook and Google that gets results without wasting money. You’ll also see what’s worked for other renovation companies across Australia.
If you find this useful, that’s awesome. And if you’d rather hand off all the ad management, optimisations, and CRM setup to someone who does this every day — you can reach out anytime.
The Reno Launch Process: What We Do
We’ve built our process to take all the heavy lifting off your shoulders. Here’s what we do:
Ad Design & Targeting: We create scroll-stopping ads that attract the right homeowners.
CRM & Automation: Every lead is tracked and nurtured automatically.
Qualification & Booking: We pre-qualify leads and send them straight to your calendar.
Optimisation & Reporting: Weekly tweaks to keep campaigns sharp.
Our clients just show up, quote, and close the deal.
Table of Contents
Why Ad Budgets Matter (and Why Most Renovators Get It Wrong)
Facebook vs Google: How Budget Works on Each Platform
How to Calculate the Right Starting Budget
Common Budgeting Mistakes That Waste Money
Case Studies: What Worked for Real Renovators
What ROI You Should Expect
Free Download: Renovator’s Ad Budget Calculator
FAQs About Ad Spend
Ready to Plan Your Next Campaign?
(Skip ahead to any section that matters most.)
1 | Why Ad Budgets Matter (and Why Most Renovators Get It Wrong)
Your ad budget is the fuel for your marketing machine. Too little, and you never leave the driveway. Too much, and you might burn cash without a strategy.
Most renovators fall into two traps:
The Low-Budget Test: Spending $5–10/day and expecting big results.
The Blind Spend: Throwing $2,000 at ads without tracking cost-per-lead.
The sweet spot is a balanced, data-driven budget.
2 | Facebook vs Google: How Budget Works on Each Platform
Facebook & Instagram Ads: Great for reaching homeowners who aren’t actively searching but are interested. Best for kitchen, bathroom, and flooring projects. Works well at $30–$50/day.
Google Ads: Perfect for high-intent searches like “bathroom renovator Sydney.” These clicks cost more but convert faster. Works well at $40–$80/day depending on the suburb and competition.
The smartest renovators use both: Facebook for demand generation, Google for demand capture.
3 | How to Calculate the Right Starting Budget
Here’s a simple formula:
Work out your average job value (say $15,000 for a kitchen).
Decide your ideal ROI (we aim for 4x minimum).
Allocate daily spend that gives you at least 100 clicks or leads/month for data.
Most renovators should start with $30–$50/day per platform.
4 | Common Budgeting Mistakes That Waste Money
❌ Boosting posts instead of running proper campaigns
❌ Not separating budgets for Facebook vs Google
❌ Quitting too early (ads need time to learn)
❌ Ignoring cost-per-lead and only looking at “likes”
5 | Case Studies: What Worked for Real Renovators
These are real numbers from real businesses:
Banana Trades: $157,000 booked work in 67 days
Lux Remedial Developments: First job in just 14 days
Custom Resurfacing: 14 kitchen resurfacing jobs in 5 months
TipTopBathrooms: Turned $1,340 ad spend into $25,500 revenue
All started with budgets between $30–$50/day.
6 | What ROI You Should Expect
4x ROAS is the baseline for profitable campaigns.
Many Reno Launch clients see 10x–18x returns when systems are consistent.
Remember: It’s not just the first job. A single client can lead to referrals or repeat work.
7 | Free Download: Renovator’s Ad Budget Calculator
Want to see exactly what you should spend?
We’ve built a simple calculator that shows how to match your budget to your goals.
8 | FAQs About Ad Spend
Q: Can I start with $10/day?
A: Technically yes, but results will be slow. We recommend $30/day minimum.
Q: How fast will I see leads?
A: Most clients see leads within 48–72 hours.
Q: Should I put more into Google or Facebook?
A: Depends on your service. Kitchens/bathrooms → Facebook. Urgent services → Google.
9 | Ready to Plan Your Next Campaign?
We’ll help you set a budget that makes sense for your goals — not guesswork.
10 | Final Word from Aaron
I see too many renovators either burn cash on ads that don’t work — or hold back so much that they never give campaigns a chance to succeed. The truth is, you don’t need a massive budget. You just need a smart one.
At Reno Launch, we make sure every dollar you spend is tied to a system that brings you qualified leads — not tyre kickers.
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Disclaimer: This blog provides general information and does not constitute financial advice. Always review your own business margins and consult a professional before making spending decisions.
