Marketing without a plan is like taking your firm on a road trip without a map. You might get somewhere eventually, but you’ll waste time, money, and probably a few good cases along the way. That’s why Best Era created the Marketing Budget Calculator—a free, easy-to-use tool that helps law firm owners determine the right marketing investment and how to allocate it across different channels.
This guide breaks down how to use the calculator, how to interpret your results, and how to turn your marketing strategy into a revenue-generating machine.
Law Firm Marketing Budget Calculator
Strategically allocate your marketing investment based on industry best practices and your firm's growth objectives
Why Every Law Firm Needs a Marketing Calculator
Whether you’re a solo attorney or managing a multi-office firm, understanding your marketing numbers helps you:
- Invest with intention instead of guessing
- Benchmark your marketing spend by growth goals
- Allocate your budget across high-performing channels
- Create accountability for yourself and any marketing vendors
If you want to step into your growth era, knowing your numbers is non-negotiable.
Step-by-Step: How to Use the Marketing Calculator
1. Enter Your Annual Gross Revenue
Start by inputting your Annual Gross Revenue into the calculator. This sets the foundation for how much you should be investing in marketing.
For example: If your annual gross revenue is $2,000,000, that’s your baseline for the next step.
2. Select a Marketing Investment Level
The calculator gives you four default options:
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- 5% — Minimum Recommended
- 10% — Growth Sweet Spot
- 15% — Aggressive Growth
- 20% — Rapid Expansion
Or, if you prefer, you can enter a custom percentage to tailor the budget to your goals.
For instance, a 10% investment on $2,000,000 revenue = $200,000/year or $16,667/month in marketing budget.
3. Review Your Annual and Monthly Budget
Once you set your percentage, the calculator displays:
- Annual Revenue
- Investment Rate
- Annual Marketing Budget
- Monthly Marketing Budget
This gives you immediate clarity on how much you should be spending based on your goals.
Allocate Your Marketing Budget by Channel
This is where the real strategy begins. The Marketing Calculator lets you divide your budget across 18+ channels. Each one includes a suggested percentage and calculated dollar value.
Some key categories include:
- SEO — e.g. $40,000 (20%)
- PPC (Google Ads) — $30,000 (15%)
- LSA (Local Service Ads) — $20,000 (10%)
- Meta Ads (Facebook/Instagram) — $16,000 (8%)
- Referral Activities — $16,000 (8%)
- TV, Radio, OTT Ads — Ranging from 2-3% per channel
- Email, Photography, Videography, Newsletters, Community Events
You can adjust the percentages for each channel depending on what strategies you’re actively using. The tool recalculates dollar amounts in real time.
Why This Marketing Calculator Works for Law Firms
Unlike generic marketing tools, this calculator is designed specifically for law firm operations. It aligns with:
- Legal industry growth benchmarks
- Common law firm revenue models (retainer, contingency, flat fee)
- Multi-channel legal marketing strategies
Instead of just showing vanity metrics like impressions or clicks, this tool helps you understand how much you should be investing and where to spend that money wisely.
When Should You Use the Calculator?
- Quarterly planning: Adjust budgets based on revenue updates
- Campaign launches: Plan your allocation across PPC, SEO, and more
- Vendor evaluations: Ensure agencies align with your actual goals
- Annual budgeting: Set firm-wide goals and align your spend accordingly
Pro Tips for Getting the Most From It
- Pair this tool with your intake data to calculate your cost per lead and cost per signed case
- Use it to compare historical spend vs. projected budgets
- Avoid overloading too many channels at once—focus on 3-5 to start
Resources
- [internal link to other calculator pages]
- [internal link to FAQ pages on marketing]
Final Thoughts: Your Growth Era Starts With Clarity
The Marketing Calculator isn’t just about budgeting. It’s about clarity. It helps you stop guessing, start planning, and scale with confidence.