How Much Should a Vancouver Business Spend on Facebook Ads?

This is probably the most common question we get from new clients: how much you should actually spend on Facebook and Instagram ads. The honest answer is that it depends — but we can give you a realistic framework based on what we see working for businesses in Metro Vancouver.

Why There's No Universal Number

Ad spend that makes sense for a dental clinic in Burnaby is very different from what works for a boutique fitness studio in Kitsilano. Your industry, your target audience, your average client value, and your goal all affect what a reasonable budget looks like.

That said, there are some general ranges that apply to most local businesses just getting started with paid social.

Starting Out: $500 to $1,000 per Month

If you're running ads for the first time, this range gives you enough data to learn from without burning through money on a campaign that isn't dialed in yet. At this level, you're testing what creative works, what audiences respond, and what your cost per lead actually is.

Don't expect your first campaign to be your best one. The first month is mostly about learning what to adjust.

Getting Consistent Results: $1,000 to $2,500 per Month

This is where most local service businesses start to see reliable, repeatable results. You have enough budget to run multiple ad sets, test different audiences, and scale what's working without running dry.

For context, a local physiotherapy clinic, a cleaning company, or a trades business with a decent average job value can usually make this range work profitably within two to three months of testing and refinement.

What Your Budget Actually Buys

Keep in mind that your ad spend and your management fee are separate things. The budget you put into Facebook goes directly toward showing your ads. Any agency or freelancer you work with charges separately for strategy, creative, and campaign management.

At GC Media, we always recommend clients think of ad spend as one line item and management as another. A good manager can make $800 in ad spend significantly outperform a poorly managed $2,000 campaign.

The Metric That Actually Matters

Instead of fixating on what to spend, focus on cost per lead and cost per client acquired. If you spend $1,000 and get 10 qualified leads, and two of those become clients each worth $800, the math is clearly positive. That's the framework we use with every client before recommending a budget.

Start with a number you're comfortable testing with for at least 60 days. Give the campaign time to optimize. Then make decisions based on real data, not gut feeling.