Google Ads That Actually Generate Tradie Leads
Real Google Ads management for Australian tradies. Stop wasting ad spend on tyre-kickers and competitor clicks. Real leads from day one while your SEO builds. 5 real leads in 90 days or I keep working free.
Why Tradie Google Ads Fail
Most Tradie Google Ads Are Set Up to Lose Money
A tradie sets up Google Ads themselves or hires a generic agency. They bid on broad match "plumber" and watch their $1,500 budget disappear in 10 days on clicks from people researching plumber wages or wanting to be plumbers themselves. We build trade-specific campaigns with exact-match buyer-intent keywords, negative keyword lists tuned for tradies, and ad copy that filters out the tyre-kickers before they click.
- Buyer-intent keywords only: "emergency plumber Bacchus Marsh", not "plumber"
- Aggressive negative keywords: jobs, training, courses, wages, DIY, salary
- Ad copy that pre-qualifies on price and service area
- Call tracking so you know which ads actually generate phone calls
Why It Works
Why Our Tradie Google Ads Convert
Leads From Day 1
SEO takes 90 days. Google Ads can generate phone calls within a week. Run ads while your SEO builds, then taper ads as organic takes over.
Trade-Specific Negatives
We block 200+ negative keywords specific to your trade — "jobs", "courses", "DIY", "wages", "training" — so your budget only spends on real buyers.
Suburb-Targeted Geo Bids
Higher bids in your most-profitable suburbs, lower bids in fringe areas. We adjust by suburb based on what actually generates jobs.
Emergency Search Premium
Burst pipe at 11pm = highest-converting click you will ever buy. We build separate campaigns for emergency intent with mobile-first ads and click-to-call.
No Hidden Commissions
Google Ads management is bundled into your plan with no percentage markup on ad spend. Your ad spend stays your ad spend. We do not take a percentage cut like other agencies.
Call Tracking Included
Dynamic call tracking shows which ads generate phone calls. You see the real ROI per keyword, not just "click-through rate".
Real Costs
How Much Does Google Ads Cost for Tradies?
Realistic starting budgets by trade, based on the campaigns we run for Australian tradies. Metro competition costs more per click; regional areas need less to win.
| Trade | Starting ad budget (per month) | Typical cost per click | Typical cost per lead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician (metro) | $1,000-$1,500 | $8-$18 | $40-$80 |
| Plumber (metro, incl. emergency) | $1,000-$1,500 | $10-$25 | $45-$90 |
| Painter | $600-$1,000 | $4-$10 | $30-$60 |
| Cleaner | $500-$800 | $3-$8 | $25-$50 |
| Gardener / landscaper | $500-$800 | $3-$8 | $25-$55 |
| Any trade (regional) | $500-$700 | $3-$9 | $25-$60 |
Budgets are ad spend paid directly to Google; management is bundled into our plans with no percentage markup. For a deeper breakdown of click costs by industry, see our Google Ads cost guide for Australia, or read how much a tradie should spend on marketing overall.
Pricing
What Tradie Google Ads Actually Cost
Most Australian tradie agencies charge a percentage of your ad spend (typically 15-25%) plus a setup fee. Google Ads management is bundled into our Growth ($250/wk) and Domination ($450/wk) plans, with no percentage markup on ad spend. Your ad spend stays your ad spend. We recommend $500-$1,500/mo for ads depending on your trade and area. Average tradie cost-per-lead from well-managed Google Ads in Australia is $30-$80. That is cheaper than HiPages per-lead fees.
- Google Ads management is included from our Growth plan ($250/wk)
- Ad spend is separate and paid directly to Google
- Typical tradie ad budget: $500-$1,500/mo to start
- No commission cuts. No setup fees. No lock-in.
Our Process
Our Tradie Google Ads Process
1
1. Keyword Research
We map every buyer-intent keyword for your trade × your suburbs. Then we build the negative keyword list so you only spend on real customers.
2
2. Campaign Build
Separate campaigns by service type (emergency vs scheduled) and by suburb cluster. Ad copy tuned for tradies.
3
3. Landing Pages
Dedicated landing pages for each campaign with click-to-call buttons, quote forms, and the right trust signals. No sending traffic to a generic homepage.
4
4. Call Tracking
Dynamic phone numbers swap in based on ad source. You see exactly which keyword generated each phone call.
5
5. Weekly Optimisation
Negative keywords added weekly. Bids adjusted by suburb and time-of-day. Ad copy tested constantly.
6
6. Monthly Reporting
Clear monthly report: spend, clicks, calls, jobs booked, cost per lead, cost per job. The numbers that matter to a tradie.
Real Tradie Ads Results
From Posting in Facebook Groups to 56 Enquiries From Google Ads at $75 Each
NextGen's Google Ads, April to August 2026
56
Enquiries from Google Ads, April to August 2026
$75
Average cost per enquiry across the whole run
$59
Cost per enquiry, 1 July to 3 August (27 enquiries on $1,603)
24
Website enquiries in August, ads paused from the 3rd
5.0 (175)
Google reviews
Google Ads vs HiPages
Google Ads vs HiPages for Tradies
Both put you in front of people searching for your trade. The difference is who owns the lead, what you pay, and what you are left with when you stop paying.
| Google Ads (managed) | HiPages | |
|---|---|---|
| Who gets the lead | You, exclusively. The call comes straight to your phone. | Shared. The same job is sold to multiple tradies who race to quote. |
| Cost model | You pay per click, only when someone searches for your service in your area. | Monthly subscription plus lead credits, whether the leads suit you or not. |
| Typical cost per real lead | $30-$80 for most trades. | Often $50-$150+ once you count leads you lose to other quoters. |
| Targeting control | Full: your suburbs, your services, your emergency hours, your negative keywords. | Limited: you take the categories and areas HiPages offers. |
| What you own after 12 months | Your account, keyword data, call history, and landing pages. It all stays yours. | Nothing. Cancel and the pipeline stops the same day. |
Full breakdown with real numbers in our guide: Is HiPages worth it for tradies?
Our Guarantee
Ready to Run Ads That Actually Work?
Book a free audit. We will show you what your current Google Ads (or your competitors') are costing per lead, and the campaign structure we would build instead.
FAQs
Tradie Google Ads Questions
How much should a tradie spend on Google Ads?
Start at $500-$1,500/mo depending on trade and area. Plumbers and electricians in metro Melbourne typically need $1,000-$1,500/mo to compete. Painters and gardeners in regional areas can win with $500-$700/mo. We will recommend a starting budget during your audit.
How long until Google Ads generate leads?
Phone calls usually start in week 1. The first 30 days are about finding which keywords convert best for your specific business. By month 2 the campaign is tuned and cost-per-lead drops.
Should I do Google Ads or just SEO?
Both, ideally. Ads give you leads now while SEO builds. SEO gives you leads forever once it kicks in. Most of our tradie clients run both for the first 6-12 months, then taper ads as organic takes over.
Why is your management fee a flat rate instead of a percentage?
Because percentage-based pricing incentivises agencies to spend more of your money, not get you more leads. Google Ads management is bundled into our Growth ($250/wk) and Domination ($450/wk) plans with no percentage markup on ad spend. Your ad spend stays your ad spend.
Do you do Google Local Service Ads for tradies?
Yes — when they are available for your trade in your area. Local Service Ads (the ones at the very top with the green tick) are great for tradies but Google has not rolled them out for every trade. We will tell you during the audit whether your trade qualifies.
What happens if I cancel?
Cancel any time. We hand over your Google Ads account, your call tracking setup, and your landing pages. You own everything.
Is Google Ads better than HiPages for tradies?
For most established tradies, yes. Google Ads leads are exclusive and come straight to your phone, while HiPages sells the same job to several tradies who race to quote it. A well-managed campaign lands at $30-$80 per lead for most trades, and you keep the account, keyword data, and landing pages. Full comparison in our guide: is HiPages worth it for tradies?
What is a good cost per lead for a tradie on Google Ads?
$30-$80 for most trades in Australia. Emergency plumbing and electrical clicks cost more but convert at a much higher rate, so cost per booked job often ends up lower. If your current campaign is above $100 per lead, the account structure is usually the problem, not the platform.
Can I run Google Ads myself?
You can, and some tradies do. The catch is that Google's own recommendations (broad match, auto-apply, Performance Max everywhere) are tuned to spend your budget, not to protect it. If you DIY, start with exact-match buyer keywords, a big negative keyword list, and suburb-level location targeting. Most tradies who come to us have already burned a month or two of budget learning that the hard way.
What other tradie services do you offer?
Google Ads gives you leads from day 1. Pair with SEO for tradies for compounding organic growth and tradie websites that convert the traffic. Specialised pages by trade: electricians, plumbers, cleaners, painters. We also run trade-specific campaigns like Google Ads for plumbers.
More for your trade