There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but the good news is that social media can be scaled to fit nearly any budget. Some tradesmen start with as little as £50–£100 a month in boosted posts or targeted ads, especially if they’re new to the platform or just testing the waters. If you’re looking for a steady flow of leads, you might set aside a percentage of your monthly revenue for social ads—somewhere between 5% and 10% if you really want to ramp up.

It also depends on how competitive your local market is. If you’re the only locksmith in a small town, you might not need to spend as much as a plumber in a busy city like London. Start small and see how your audience responds. Monitor metrics like engagement (likes, comments) and conversions (messages or calls resulting from your posts). Over time, you’ll get a sense of what sort of budget delivers a solid return, allowing you to fine-tune your spending without breaking the bank.