How much should a small business spend on local marketing?

Most healthy small businesses put 5% to 10% of revenue into marketing, with local campaigns taking a large share. Print earns its place here because it delivers some of the lowest cost-per-impression rates available.

• Benchmark range: 5-10% of revenue is typical for local-focused businesses.
• Low cost per reach: postcards, flyers, and business cards stretch a small budget a long way.
• Concrete comparison: a run of 500 postcards can cost less than a single day of paid social advertising.
• Consistency wins: steady, repeated exposure builds recognition faster than occasional big spends.