What Should Your Marketing Budget Be?
If you’re a CEO, founder, or team leader asking:
“What should we be spending on marketing?”
You’re asking the right question.
But maybe not the complete question.
The real question is:
“What are we spending, and is it aligned with strategy, value, and results?”
Let’s unpack both.
The standard answer:
Most experts recommend:
5–10% of gross revenue for consistent growth
10–20% if you're in aggressive scale-up mode
But those numbers are just a starting point.
The truth is, you could spend 20% and still underperform—if you’re not spending it with clarity.
You don’t need a bigger budget. You need a smarter one.
A bloated ad budget won’t fix weak messaging.
A redesigned website won’t work if your value isn’t clear.
Posting every day won’t help if you’re saying the wrong things.
You don’t get better results by doing more.
You get better results by aligning what you’re doing with why you’re doing it.
Before you set a budget, answer these:
Do you have a clear, differentiated value proposition?
Are your ideal customers defined—and do you know where they spend time?
Is your marketing aligned with sales and business goals?
Are you measuring what matters—not just likes and clicks?
If the answer is “no” or “not sure,” start there.
Don’t scale confusion. Fix clarity first.
A budget is not a strategy.
It’s a resource allocation tool.
Without a clear strategy behind it, your marketing budget becomes a cost center.
With the right alignment, it becomes a growth engine.
Spend with clarity.
Scale with purpose.
Want help making the most of the budget you already have?
Let’s talk. We’ll help you prioritize, realign, and stretch every dollar for more impact.
