Calculator and laptop on a desk for marketing budget planning

MARKETING SPEND CALCULATOR

How much should you actually invest in growth?

Use the calculator below to estimate a sensible investment range, then pressure-test which channels deserve attention before you start spending.

WHAT IT HELPS WITH

Budget is only useful when it has a job.

The calculator is designed for business owners who know they need to invest, but don’t want to guess. It weighs the stage you’re at, the sales target you’re chasing, and the channel mix that makes the most commercial sense.

Find a real investment range

Start with a number that matches your ambition, not a number someone pulled from a deck.

Prioritise the right channels

Compare paid social, search, SEO, automation, and brand activity against your current stage.

Turn the answer into a next move

Use the output as a planning filter before you book retainers, campaigns, or content production.

ESTIMATE BELOW

A practical starting point for your next growth budget.

No calculator replaces strategy. But this one gives you a sharper conversation about spend, timing, and channel mix.

Ad budget calculator

Most Aussie businesses spend less than half what they should on ads.

Tell us about your business. We'll show you the budget range that actually moves the needle — and how to split it across channels.

Current annual revenue (AUD)Target annual revenue (AUD)Where you want to be. We budget off this, not where you are now.Current monthly ad spend (AUD)Leave at 0 if you're not running paid ads yet.

Industry

Goal

Stage

Recommended monthly budget

$ —

Range: $ —–$ — / month

Australian SMEs spend 2–3% of revenue on marketing. The benchmark for businesses serious about growth is 8–18%. The formula for predictable success isn't to go viral, it's to be in front of your customers, where they are. Not relying on them to find you, finding them first.

Current spend: $0 · Recommended marker: $ — ·

Suggested channel split

enter your details to calculate

Figures are estimates based on Australian SME benchmarks (8–18% of target revenue, scaled for stage and goal), with a $600/mo floor below which paid ads rarely move the needle. Your actual numbers depend on margin, competition and what your funnel can convert. Use this as a starting point, not gospel.

Next step

Now put a number on the return & forecast results.

A budget without a forecast is just a guess with a spreadsheet.

The calculator below runs your spend through the same funnel logic we use in-house: CPM, CTR, landing page conversion, order value. You get a revenue forecast, a ROAS estimate, and a benchmark verdict on each metric so you know whether your assumptions are realistic or optimistic before a dollar leaves your account.

01 · Inputs

02 · Forecast

03 · Review

Ad channel
Monthly ad budget (AUD)Use the budget from the calculator above, or test a scenario you’re considering.CPM — cost per 1,000 impressions ($)Meta AU average: $10–$15. Google Search: $15–$35. Higher CPM isn’t always bad — it often means a more targeted, higher-intent audience.Click-through rate (CTR %)Meta average: 1.5–2.5% for traffic, up to 2.6% for lead gen. Google Search: 4–7%. Below benchmark usually means a creative or audience problem, not a budget one.Clicks-to-landing-page-view rate (%)Typically 55–70%. Accounts for bounces before the page loads.Purchase conversion rate (%)Ecommerce median: 1.5–2.0% on Meta, 2.5–4.0% on Google Search. Below 1% usually signals a landing page or offer problem, not an ad problem.Average order value ($)Your AOV directly sets your break-even ROAS. Lower AOV needs higher volume; higher AOV gives more room to absorb cost-per-click.
Forecast
$11,352
Estimated monthly revenue · 2.27x ROAS
Impressions312,500
Clicks5,000
LPVs4,300
Purchases103
Benchmark verdicts
CPM $16 vs $14Average
CTR 1.6% vs 1.7%Average
LPV 86.0% vs 89.0%Average
CVR 2.4% vs 2.4%Average
What-if sliders
CPM100%
CPM at $16: $0 revenue vs. currentCTR100%
CTR at 1.6%: $0 revenue vs. currentLPV100%
LPV at 86.0%: $0 revenue vs. currentCVR100%
CVR at 2.4%: $0 revenue vs. currentAOV100%
AOV at $110: $0 revenue vs. current

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The Numbers Don’t Lie: Navigating the Metrics That Matter

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How much should you actually invest in growth?

How much should you actually invest in growth?

How much should you actually invest in growth?

Budget is only useful when it has a job.

Find a real investment range

Prioritise the right channels

Turn the answer into a next move

A practical starting point for your next growth budget.

A practical starting point for your next growth budget.

A practical starting point for your next growth budget.

Most Aussie businesses spend less than half what they should on ads.

Now put a number on the return & forecast results.

Now put a number on the return & forecast results.

A budget without a forecast is just a guess with a spreadsheet.

Some more resources:

Some more resources:

Some more resources:

AI Isn't a Miracle. It's a Mirror.

AI Isn't a Miracle. It's a Mirror.

The Numbers Don’t Lie: Navigating the Metrics That Matter

The Numbers Don’t Lie: Navigating the Metrics That Matter

The First Cut is the Deepest: Why Small Businesses Bleed When They Kill Their Marketing

The First Cut is the Deepest: Why Small Businesses Bleed When They Kill Their Marketing

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