Free Download · 13 Pages · No Sales Call
The Construction Marketing Budget Guide
The benchmarks, frameworks, and budget ranges we use with every new construction client — compiled into a working reference you can take to your next budget conversation.
Red Door Marketing
The Construction Marketing Budget Guide
Free Guide · 13 Pages
The Construction Marketing Budget Guide
How much should a residential roofer spend on Google Ads? What's a reasonable cost-per-lead for commercial GCs? This is the budget framework we use with every new client — yours for free, instant download.
- Budget benchmarks by trade and company stage
- The 70/20/10 construction marketing mix
- Cost-per-lead ranges across 8 construction segments
- When to invest in ads vs. SEO vs. brand
What's inside
13 pages. No filler.
Every section answers one budget question we hear from construction owners every week.
The 70/20/10 Framework
How to split marketing budget across proven, compounding, and experimental channels — and why construction specifically benefits from this ratio.
Budget ranges by company stage
What solo operators, local contractors, regional builders, and multi-market operators actually spend each month — both management fees and ad spend separated.
Segment-specific breakdowns
Residential, commercial, and industrial each get their own mix table and typical cost-per-lead ranges. No one-size-fits-all.
Cost-per-lead benchmarks across 8 trades
Roofing, HVAC, plumbing, remodeling, windows/siding, commercial GC, tenant fit-out, industrial — with realistic LSA, SEO, and social ranges.
The decision framework
Three questions answer where to invest — how fast you need leads, how much revenue comes from referrals, and what channels your competitors are missing.
7 red flags your budget is wrong
If two apply, you're over-paying. If four apply, pause spend and audit before continuing.
The first-year implementation checklist
Months 1–3 (infrastructure), 4–6 (optimization), 7–12 (compounding). The sequence that actually works.
Why we wrote it
Because every budget conversation starts with the wrong numbers.
Most construction owners we meet are working from two bad sources for marketing budget: (1) their previous agency's invoice, or (2) what their competitor mentioned at a trade event.
Neither tells you what your business should spend. A commercial GC in Atlanta and a residential remodeler in Allentown live in different universes — and the difference between a good budget and a wasteful one is usually between 30–60% of total spend.
This guide is the document we end up walking new clients through during their first strategy call. We published it so the conversation can start further down the road — whether you end up working with us or not.
Before you download
Questions we get
Who is this guide for?
Construction company owners, marketing leads, and operators thinking through marketing budget decisions. Whether you DIY, work with an agency, or are between agencies — this is a working reference for those conversations.
Do I need to get on a sales call to get the guide?
No. Enter your name and email, click download. The guide is yours to keep. We might follow up once with a short email, but there's no forced call.
How current are the benchmarks?
Updated Q2 2026. Ranges reflect typical outcomes across our active construction client portfolio. We revise the guide when market dynamics shift.
Is this a pitch for Red Door?
The guide is genuinely useful whether you work with us or not. The last page has a contact CTA — that's the entire pitch. Everything else is real budget guidance.
Want it tailored to your business?
The guide is the starting point. If you want a custom budget projection for your specific trade, market, and current starting position — schedule a free 30-minute review call.