hello: I have had my store for a little over a year and need help marketing but I have a small budget what can I do ?
Topic summary
A Los Angeles-based store owner with just over a year in business is seeking marketing help on a limited budget.
Initial Guidance:
- With constrained funds, finding effective marketing assistance will be challenging
- Recommendation to explore time-leveraging strategies when money is tight
- Canadian resources mentioned (Small Business Enterprise Centres, Accelerators) but not applicable to this LA-based business
Budget Benchmarks Provided:
- Small businesses commonly spend $5K+ monthly on advertising alone
- Email marketing can cost similarly
- Recommended minimum: $2K/month for ad spend only
- Agency retainer fees would be substantially higher than ad spend alone
Status: The conversation remains open with the owner now understanding typical marketing budget ranges but without a clear next step for their limited-budget situation.
With a small budget, it’s going to be tough to find help with your marketing that really moves the needle for you. Check out some of our other responses for some tips on leveraging your time when money is limited. Also, if you’re based in Canada, there are some great Small Business Enterprise Centres and Accelerators that may be able to help you with additional guidance at no or low cost.
I am in Los Angeles ca. what is an average amount for a marketing budget?
Average? All over the place. It’s not uncommon for small businesses to spend $5K+ per month on ads alone. Email marketing can cost just as much. We typically recommend at least $2k/month on just ad spend. An agency on retainer will likely cost quite a bit more than that.