Google Ads, Local Services Ads or SEO: which is best for a service business?

They do different jobs. Local Services Ads put you at the very top today and charge per lead. Google Ads charge per click. SEO takes a few months to build up, and it keeps bringing in calls after you stop paying. Many service businesses start SEO now and use ads to fill gaps.

In one February 2026 benchmark of 888 home service contractors, Local Services Ads averaged $54 a lead, but only about 44% of leads became booked jobs, which works out to roughly $233 for each paying customer. Ads stop the day you stop paying. A website, profile and reviews keep working, and they make every ad you run work better too.

For example, a new window cleaner with an empty calendar might run Local Services Ads for a few months while the website and reviews build up, then turn the ads down as calls from search come in.

We focus on the part you keep: the website, profiles and posts. Ads are optional, and if you run them, you pay the platform directly.

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