How Much Do Facebook Ads Cost in 2025? (Real Numbers & Examples)

If you’ve ever asked “How much does it cost to run Facebook ads?”, you’ve probably noticed one thing:

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Everyone gives you a different answer.

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Some say $5/day is enough.
Others say you need $5,000/month minimum.
Most articles dodge the real question entirely.

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After 6+ years running Facebook ads, managing $500,000+ in ad spend, and working with 25+ service-based businesses, here’s the honest answer:

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👉 Facebook ads don’t have a fixed cost — they have a math problem you need to solve.

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This article breaks that math down so you can tell before spending money whether Facebook ads will actually work for your business.

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The Short Answer: How Much Do Facebook Ads Cost?

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Here’s the realistic range for service businesses:

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But this only tells part of the story.

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The real cost of Facebook ads isn’t what you spend — it’s what it costs to acquire a customer.

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The Only Formula That Actually Matters

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If you want to know whether Facebook ads will work for you, you need to answer three questions:

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1. What does it cost to acquire a lead?

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This is your Cost Per Lead (CPL).

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Example:

• CPL = $10
• 10 leads → 1 customer
• Cost per acquisition = $100

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2. How much do you make per sale (after expenses)?

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Let’s say:

• Customer pays you: $150
• Your cost to deliver: $50
• Profit per sale: $100

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3. How often does a customer buy from you?

• One-time service?
• Monthly recurring?
• Annual repeat customer?

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This is the part most people ignore — and it’s why many think Facebook ads “don’t work.”

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If your lifetime value > cost to acquire, ads work.
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If it’s not, no ad strategy can save you.

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What Facebook Ads Actually Cost by Industry

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Here are realistic CPL ranges we see across service businesses:

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(Full breakdown here if you want deeper benchmarks → What’s a Good Cost Per Lead?)

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The key takeaway:
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Higher-ticket services usually perform better, because you have more margin to work with.

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Why Facebook Ads Work for (Almost) Every Business

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A common myth is:

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“Facebook ads only work for certain industries.”

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That hasn’t been our experience at all.

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We’ve seen success across:

• Home services
• Professional services
• Medical & wellness
• Coaching
• Trades
• Local businesses

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The difference isn’t the industry — it’s execution.

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The biggest success factors are:

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1. Speed to lead

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If you’re not contacting leads within 5 minutes, your conversion rate drops dramatically.

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This alone is why many businesses fail with ads.

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2. Creative volume

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Ads fatigue fast.

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Winning accounts:

• Launch multiple creatives
• Refresh ads every few weeks
• Test different angles (pain, outcome, authority, urgency)

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Facebook doesn’t reward perfection — it rewards volume and iteration.

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3. Understanding the numbers

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If you don’t know:

• Your close rate
• Your average deal size
• Your profit margin

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You’re guessing, not marketing.

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How Much Should You Budget for Facebook Ads?

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Here’s a realistic breakdown for service businesses:

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DIY Approach

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$1,000–$2,000/month

• Ad spend only
• You manage everything
• Slower learning curve
• Higher risk of wasted spend

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Best for: business owners who want to learn ads themselves.

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Managed Ads (Agency)

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$2,500–$5,000/month total

• Ad spend + management
• Strategy + creative direction
• Funnel optimization
• Ongoing testing

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Best for: businesses that want consistent leads without trial and error.

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Scaled Growth

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$5,000–$10,000+/month

• High-volume testing
• Aggressive scaling
• Multiple campaigns
• Predictable lead flow

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Best for: businesses with strong sales systems and capacity to handle volume.

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The Real Question You Should Be Asking

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Instead of:

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“How much do Facebook ads cost?”

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Ask:

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“How much can I afford to pay to acquire a customer and still be profitable?”

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Once you know:

• Your CPL
• Your close rate
• Your profit per sale

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Everything else becomes math.

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Final Thoughts

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Facebook ads aren’t magic.
They’re a multiplier.

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If your business:

• Has a solid offer
• Answers leads quickly
• Can handle volume
• Knows its numbers

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Then Facebook ads are one of the most scalable growth tools available.

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If not, they’ll just expose the cracks faster.