What gets a tradie more work?
Google Ads, Facebook and Instagram, enquiry platforms, vehicle wraps and word of mouth: how each one charges, when it fits, and what to check before spending.
The short version
- Choosing paid advertising
- The right advertising for tradies depends on the work you want, the money you can spend and the jobs you can take on. Google Ads can put your business in front of people searching for your services. Facebook and Instagram let you advertise an offer or show completed work. hipages gives you invitations to quote, with a subscription plus credits you spend to accept an invitation.
- Building enquiries over time
- SEO means getting your business found on Google. Your free Google listing shows your business and contact details. A website, your listing and reviews can help people contact you without a charge for each click. The website and the work to get it found still cost money or time.
- Checking the result
- Judge tradie advertising by the paid jobs it brings in and what those jobs leave after costs. Record which enquiries become paid work and compare the full bill with what those jobs leave after costs.
Where can a tradie spend an ad budget?
Compare the full cost and the commitment before choosing. Free options are included because paying for advertising is only one way to bring in work.
| The channel | How you pay | When it fits and what to check |
|---|---|---|
| Google Ads | Ad spend paid to Google, plus management if you hire someone | People search for the work you want. Paying for a click does not guarantee an enquiry or a job. |
| Facebook and Instagram advertising | An ad budget, plus any fee for someone to make and manage the ads | You have completed work or an offer to show. Check how many enquiries turn into paid jobs. |
| hipages | $139 to $649 a month plus GST, with credits spent accepting enquiries | You want invitations to quote. Other businesses can receive the same enquiry; membership starts with 6 months and renews for 12. |
| Airtasker | A service fee on assigned tasks under its standard option; an optional annual pass has different terms | You want to quote on posted tasks. Read the fee and payment terms before accepting work. |
| Vehicle wraps and signage | An upfront price for the signage, with design and preparation priced separately where needed | You want your business name and contact details visible on your vehicle or at a job. It does not guarantee calls. |
| Word of mouth and reviews | No ad spend; time asking for reviews and keeping in contact | You want referrals and a record of completed work. You cannot set how many referrals arrive. |
| Website and SEO | A website purchase, then your own time or an ongoing fee to get the business found on Google | You want enquiries without paying for each click. It takes time and ongoing work, and there is no guaranteed number of jobs. |
| Social posts and local Facebook groups | Your time, or a fee if someone manages the posts | You want to show your work locally. Group rules can limit promotion, and publishing a post does not guarantee enquiries. |
hipages pricing and renewal terms checked on 12 October 2026. Other costs depend on the service and provider. Our prices and terms are below.
When are Google Ads the right call?
When people search for the services you want to advertise and you have room to take on the work. Google Ads are paid adverts on Google. You choose which jobs and areas to advertise, and pay Google for clicks on your search ads.
The person who clicks needs to see what you do, where you work and how to contact you. The ad can bring someone to your website; it cannot guarantee they will hire you.
Ad spend and management are separate costs. When you pause the ads, they stop bringing people to your website. If you hire an agency, its contract may still require management payments.
Do Facebook and Instagram ads work?
They can, when the work you win covers the cost of the advertising. Facebook and Instagram ads, also called Meta ads, can show your work or an offer while people use those apps. That is different from a Google search for a service.
Check whether the enquiries fit the work and area you advertised, how many become paid jobs, and what you spent to get that work. KINGTRADIE does not manage Facebook or Instagram advertising.
Are hipages and the lead platforms worth it?
They can be a way to fill gaps, especially when you are starting out. hipages sends job invitations in your trade and area, without needing to build a website first. It calls those invitations leads: you spend credits to accept them, whether or not you win the work.
hipages plans run $139 to $649 a month plus GST. Membership starts on a 6-month introductory term and renews on a 12-month term. Other businesses can receive the same enquiry. The price is for access and credits, not a guaranteed number of paid jobs.
Airtasker charges differently. Its standard option takes a service fee when you are assigned a task, and an optional annual pass has separate terms. Oneflare now redirects to Airtasker, so it is no longer a separate option to sign up to.
What about Google Local Services Ads?
Google Local Services Ads are not listed as available in Australia in Google's help centre, checked on 12 October 2026. They are a separate advertising product that charges for enquiries in supported countries.
Australia is absent from Google's country selector. Check Google's current availability before paying anyone to arrange these ads. Regular Google Ads are a different product.
Do vehicle wraps and signage pay off?
They can help people recognise your business and find your contact details. A wrap is an upfront purchase, and the price changes with the vehicle, coverage and design. These are published installer examples, not an Australian average.
| The option | Published price | Extras to check |
|---|---|---|
| Small ute decal package, Smilee Design | From $350 plus GST | Design setup from $95 plus GST |
| Large ute decal package, Smilee Design | From $690 plus GST | Design setup from $180 plus GST |
| Full ute wrap without roof, Smilee Design | From $3,400 plus GST | Design charged separately |
| Full ute wrap including roof, Smilee Design | From $3,900 plus GST | Design charged separately |
| Full commercial van or SUV wrap, That's A Wrap Sydney | $5,000 to $8,000 | Design $110 an hour; ask whether GST and preparation are included |
Smilee Design and That's A Wrap Sydney published pricing, checked 12 October 2026. Confirm the total for your vehicle before ordering.
A wrap does not guarantee enquiries, and its purchase price does not buy a set number of jobs. Ask new callers where they found your business so you can record work that came from the signage.
Can word of mouth carry a business?
Yes, referrals can bring in work without paying for advertising. The limitation is that you cannot choose when someone recommends you or how many referrals arrive.
Your Google listing is the free business listing with your hours, reviews and contact details. Ask clients for an honest review after the job so people can read about your work. Google allows review requests, but not rewards in exchange for reviews.
Free tradie advertising options
You can promote a trade business without an ad budget. It still takes time to keep the information current and respond to enquiries.
- Keep your Google listing's services, hours and contact details accurate.
- Share completed work on your social pages, with the service and area clearly named.
- Use local Facebook groups where their rules allow business posts.
- Ask clients for honest reviews and let people know which work you take on.
Free posts and a free Google listing are different from paying for a website or ongoing work to get found on Google. Our digital marketing for tradies guide compares those choices.
What should you run first?
New business, quiet calendar
Use the example below to compare the full bill with what each paid job leaves after costs. Check that you can fund the commitment and take on the jobs needed. KINGTRADIE's Google Ads management has a 3-month minimum, with ad spend separate; hipages starts with 6 months and renews for 12.
Established, but the months are patchy
Apply the calculation to the paid work each option already brings in. Fund the ongoing commitment while you compare results. KINGTRADIE's SEO runs 3 months at a time. Adding Google Ads means allowing for both fees and ad spend.
Booked out weeks ahead
Compare the jobs needed with the jobs you have room to take on. If the work cannot fit, extra ad spend cannot pay for itself through those jobs. Pausing ads reduces ad spend; an agreed management term may still need paying.
Advertising packages for tradies
Compare what the quote includes and what you pay separately. A management fee is not the whole advertising budget.
| KINGTRADIE service | Starting price | Term and separate costs |
|---|---|---|
| Google Ads management | Starts from $1,400 a month | 3-month minimum, then month to month. Ad spend is separate, paid to Google on your own card. |
| SEO, getting your business found on Google | Starts from $1,200 a month and goes up with the size of your goals | 3 months at a time, no 12-month contracts. A website build is a separate service. |
| Website | Starts from $3,990 for a 5-page website | More pages get a clear, fixed price before we start. Advertising and ongoing SEO are separate services. |
With SEO, you can see movement within about 2 months when the plan is carried out properly, and it keeps building. That is not a promise of paid jobs by a set date. Allow for the ongoing cost while the work develops.
Example: checking the advertising bill
This is a hypothetical month, not a campaign result or forecast. It uses KINGTRADIE's starting management fee. Every other amount and count is an assumption, with an existing website and no extra campaign fees.
| What you record | Example |
|---|---|
| Google Ads management | $1,400 for the month, using our starting fee |
| Assumed ad spend | $1,000 |
| Full advertising bill | $1,400 + $1,000 = $2,400 |
| Assumed paid jobs | 8 |
| Assumed money collected for each job | $1,200 |
| Assumed costs for each job | $300 materials + $400 labour, including paying yourself + $100 travel |
| Each job leaves before advertising | $1,200 − $800 = $400 |
| Advertising cost per paid job | $2,400 ÷ 8 = $300 |
| Jobs needed to cover the advertising bill | $2,400 ÷ $400 = 6 paid jobs |
| Money left after job costs and advertising | 8 × $400 − $2,400 = $800 |
That $800 still has to help cover remaining overheads. It is not take-home profit. Your own labour is a job cost, even when you do the work yourself.
Use your own records for the same period. Include any website work or extra campaign fees, and round the jobs needed up to a whole job. Check GST in your quote and use the same GST basis for advertising costs and job amounts.
Where does KINGTRADIE sit?
We help trade businesses across Australia win more work through websites, SEO and Google Ads. We sell some of the services compared here, so our prices and terms are included alongside the other choices.
We do not sell wraps, run an enquiry platform or manage social media advertising.
See our workAdvertising questions?
What is the best advertising for tradesmen?
There is no single best advertising option for every trade business. Google Ads can suit work people search for, while Facebook and Instagram can advertise an offer or show completed work. Compare the full costs, the jobs you can take on and the paid work each option brings in.
How much should a tradie spend on advertising?
There is no fixed amount that suits every trade business. Choose an affordable budget based on what a job leaves after costs. Include ad spend, management and any website work in the total. KINGTRADIE's Google Ads management starts from $1,400 a month, with ad spend separate and paid to Google on the client's own card.
Do Google Ads work for tradies?
Yes, when Google Ads bring a trade business paid work worth more than the full advertising cost. Google Ads can show the business to people searching for its services, but a click does not guarantee an enquiry or a job. Check the work won as well as the money spent.
Are Google Local Services Ads available in Australia?
No Australian availability is listed in Google's Local Services Ads help centre, checked 12 October 2026. Local Services Ads charge for enquiries in supported countries. Regular Google Ads are a separate option for Australian trade businesses.
Is hipages cheaper than running your own ads?
It can be, depending on the paid work the trade business wins. hipages plans cost $139 to $649 a month plus GST, with credits spent accepting enquiries. Compare that subscription and any extra credits with the total cost of your own advertising, including management, and the work each brings in.
Does word of mouth count as advertising?
Yes. Word of mouth promotes a trade business through recommendations without paid advertising. Referrals can bring a trade business work, but the business cannot set when they arrive. Honest reviews on the business's Google listing give people another way to read about its work.
What do advertising packages for tradies include?
Advertising packages can include ad management, a website and SEO, which means getting a business found on Google. The quote should state which services are included. We offer all three at KINGTRADIE. Ad spend is separate from management. Google Ads management has a 3-month minimum, then runs month to month; SEO runs 3 months at a time.
Which trades does KINGTRADIE work with?
We work with trade businesses across Australia, including plumbers, electricians, painters, builders and renovators, carpenters, roofers, landscapers, locksmiths, and air conditioning and pest control businesses. KINGTRADIE is based on the Gold Coast and works with clients by phone, video call and email.
Sources
- hipages membership pricing and lead credits policy, checked 12 October 2026
- Airtasker standard service fee and optional Pro Pass terms, checked 12 October 2026
- Google Ads spending and budget help, checked 12 October 2026
- Google Local Services Ads country selector, checked 12 October 2026
- Google's guidance on requesting reviews and Meta's explanation of Facebook and Instagram ads, checked 12 October 2026
- Smilee Design ute signage prices and That's A Wrap Sydney prices, checked 12 October 2026
- Oneflare's redirect to Airtasker, checked 12 October 2026
- KINGTRADIE starting prices and terms, confirmed 7 October 2026
- Historical references from the earlier guide: hipages FY25 results, hipages reviews, Cars24's wrap guide and our July 2026 Google Ads bid estimates
Published supplier prices and availability checked on 12 October 2026. Historical references keep their original dates; they are not current price quotes. Check the provider's total price and terms before paying.
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I contacted Kingtradie to review my website and online presence. They built a fantastic new website and improved my Google SEO. Since engaging Kingtradie two months ago my website traffic has doubled and most importantly my phone enquiries have doubled. Lachy was easy going and great to deal with. Highly recommend Kingtradie for SEO and website!
Nic
- Google review
Highly recommend Lachie from King Tradie! He built a new website for my construction business and made the entire process simple and stress-free. I was able to hand over the reins and trust him to take control of the design and development, while still keeping everything clearly explained throughout the process. The finished website looks professional, the quality is excellent, and I'm extremely happy with the outcome. Most importantly, Lachie allowed me to stay focused on running my business instead of spending valuable time trying to build a website myself. Great service from start to finish!
Ryan
- Google review
Lachlan from King Tradie is the top G of tradie website design, development, and management. I've worked with many website agencies and individuals, and no one comes close to Lachlan's attention to detail and high-end quality. He doesn't waste your time asking the same questions; in fact, he did his own research and made the onboarding and entire website development process easy. I normally get myself too involved in projects, but I literally only had to show up for the photography session. Lachlan handled the rest. If you want to skip the time and money wasters, go with King Tradie.
Shaun
- Google review
I engaged Kingtradie to create a new website for us at Quick Micks Plumbing. Lachlan was very good at his job & I felt supported throughout to entire process. He has some great ideas & communication was excellent. He was always available for help & answering any questions I had. I would recommend Lachlan to anyone wanting to have a professional & original website content. Thanks very much Kingtradie
Michael
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Lachy from King Tradie has been absolutely great to work with from the very beginning. He built my website and I couldn't be more happier. He's always checking in with me and has bright ideas for the future. He actually cares for my business and wants the best outcome for me. If you are looking for someone to design a website. Definitely reach out to Lachy.
Ben
- Google review
I had the best experience with KingTradie. Lachlan is extremely passionate about what he does, and he did an amazing job on our MrLoo.au website. I truly wish him all the best.
Ludo
- Google review
Lachlan from kingtradie is the man! Easy to deal with, great work and super friendly bloke! Couldn't recommend him enough and will be pushing everyone to him!
Jake
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Lachlan has done great work on my new website. He was fast, helpful and listened to my ideas. I would be happy to recommend him to other tradies for their website design.
Luke
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