If you’re trying to work out what Google Ads actually costs before committing to anything, this is the straight answer: real numbers for the Victoria market, from an agency that manages campaigns here every day for healthcare clinics on the Saanich Peninsula, trades businesses in Langford and service companies across Greater Victoria.
This guide is about Google Ads only, in Victoria only. If you run a clinic and want to compare every marketing channel, see what digital marketing costs a Canadian clinic.
The two costs: ad spend and management
Ad spend is the money that goes to Google and pays for the clicks. You set the budget, it’s billed to your own Google account, and you control it.
Management is what you pay an agency or specialist to build, run and improve the campaigns. It’s a separate cost.
When someone says “Google Ads costs $1,500 a month”, they might mean ad spend, management, or both. Always ask which. At SEO Medics, management is a flat $199 CAD a month, and your ad spend goes straight to Google.
What Google charges: cost per click in Victoria
Google Ads is a real-time auction. What you pay per click depends on your industry, your keywords and how many local businesses are bidding. Victoria sits in the middle of the Canadian range: pricier than a small interior town, cheaper than Metro Vancouver. These are typical ranges we see across Victoria, Saanich, Sidney, Oak Bay, Langford and nearby communities.
Healthcare
| Specialty | Typical cost per click (Victoria) |
|---|---|
| Dentist | $6–$20 (implants and emergency at the top) |
| Chiropractor | $4–$9 |
| Physiotherapy | $3–$8 |
| Counselling / therapy | $3–$7 |
| Naturopathic doctor | $3–$7 |
| Massage therapy | $2–$6 |
| Acupuncture | $2–$5 |
Dental varies the most by keyword. Our dental Google Ads guide breaks Victoria dental costs down by service.
Trades and home services
| Trade | Typical cost per click (Victoria) |
|---|---|
| Plumber (emergency) | $6–$14 |
| Electrician | $5–$12 |
| HVAC | $5–$11 |
| Roofer | $4–$9 |
| General contractor | $3–$8 |
| Landscaper | $2–$5 |
Emergency services sit at the top because searchers need help now and advertisers know it. Tighter targeting, such as Sidney, Saanichton or Oak Bay rather than all of Greater Victoria, usually brings costs down. For more on trades, see Google Ads for Victoria electricians, plumbers and HVAC.
What’s a realistic monthly ad spend in Victoria?
- Solo practitioner or single-location trades business: $300–$600 a month. This is the practical floor. At $300 a month and about $5 a click, a chiropractor targeting “chiropractor Saanich” gets roughly 60 clicks. At a 10–15% conversion rate, that’s 6–9 new patient enquiries, enough to test the channel before scaling up.
- Established clinic or multi-service trades company: $600–$1,200 a month. Enough to run separate campaigns for different services, such as general physio and sports injury rehab, or emergency plumbing and bathroom renovations.
- Competitive or multi-location business: $1,200–$2,500+ a month. Dental, broad coverage of all of Greater Victoria, or several services at once all need more budget to stay competitive.
The $200-a-month trap. Very small budgets don’t produce enough clicks for Google to learn which searches convert. Results swing, costs stay high, and owners conclude “Google Ads doesn’t work” when the real problem was too little data. If budget is tight, see our $10-a-day guide for how to make a small budget count.
New accounts can sometimes get a promotional credit from Google that offsets part of the first months. Terms vary by account and change over time, so check how the Google Ads credit works before counting on it.
What management costs: flat fee or percentage of spend
The typical agency model: 10–20% of ad spend
Many agencies charge a percentage of your monthly ad spend. At $1,000 in ad spend that’s $100–$200; at $3,000 it’s $300–$600, on top of the ads. The agency earns more when you spend more, whether or not your results improve. Many also lock you into 6–12 month contracts and keep ownership of the ad account, so if you leave, you lose what was built.
The flat-fee model
We charge a flat $199 CAD a month: no percentage of spend, no setup fee and no contract. Whether you spend $400 or $4,000 on ads, the fee is the same, so our incentive is your results, not your budget. Google bills ad spend to your own account, and you own that account permanently.
Total monthly cost: Victoria examples
These are typical ranges from campaigns we manage. Leads are calls, form fills and booking requests, not clicks.
| Business | Ad spend | Management | Total per month | Estimated leads per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solo chiropractor, Saanichton | $500 | $199 | $699 | 8–15 |
| Physio clinic, Oak Bay | $800 | $199 | $999 | 15–25 |
| Massage therapist, Victoria | $400 | $199 | $599 | 6–12 |
| Dental clinic, Victoria | $900 | $199 | $1,099 | 12–20 |
| Plumber, Greater Victoria | $600 | $199 | $799 | 10–20 calls |
| Electrician, Langford | $500 | $199 | $699 | 8–16 calls |
Does it pay off? A worked example
Here’s how the math can look for a chiropractor spending $500 a month on ads:
| Step | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average cost per click | $5, so about 100 clicks a month |
| Clicks that become enquiries | About 10% = 10 enquiries |
| Enquiries that book | About 60% = 6 new patients |
| Revenue from first visits at $90 | $540 |
| Revenue if each patient averages 6 visits | $3,240 |
| Total monthly cost (ads + management) | $699 |
On first visits alone, the campaign doesn’t quite cover itself. Once patients return for care, which most chiropractic, physio and massage patients do, it pays for itself several times over. These are revenue figures, not profit, so use your own fees and costs. Our guide to whether Google Ads is worth it walks through the break-even math step by step.
For trades businesses with average jobs of $500–$3,000 or more, one or two jobs a month usually covers the whole cost.
Five things that change your cost in Victoria
- Geographic targeting. All of Greater Victoria costs more than a tight radius around your location. Start local, such as your municipality or neighbourhood, and expand once it’s working. A Saanichton dentist doesn’t need clicks from Langford on day one.
- Keyword intent. Broad terms like “massage” or “plumber” attract irrelevant clicks. Specific searches like “sports massage Sidney BC” or “emergency plumber Saanich” can cost more per click but convert far better.
- Landing pages. Sending people to a dedicated service page, not your homepage, lifts conversion rates and can lower click costs through Google’s Quality Score. See our landing page guide.
- Ad scheduling. Ads that run when nobody answers the phone waste money. For most local businesses, running during business hours makes a noticeable difference.
- Negative keywords. Without them, you pay for searches like “massage school”, “free physiotherapy” or “plumber jobs”. Our Google Ads self-audit shows how to find and fix these.
Search ads or Local Services Ads?
Search ads appear when someone searches your keywords. You pay per click and control keywords and budget closely.
Local Services Ads can appear above regular search ads with a Google verification badge. You pay per lead (a call or message) rather than per click. They’re well established for trades such as plumbing, electrical and HVAC. Which healthcare categories are offered varies, so check eligibility for your business. For businesses that qualify, running both covers more of the top of the page. We explain how Local Services Ads work on a separate page.
Summary: Victoria Google Ads budgets at a glance
| Business type | Monthly ad spend | With $199 management |
|---|---|---|
| Solo health practitioner (RMT, chiro, physio, counsellor) | $300–$500 | $499–$699 |
| Multi-service clinic | $600–$1,000 | $799–$1,199 |
| Dental practice | $700–$1,200 | $899–$1,399 |
| Trades, single service | $400–$700 | $599–$899 |
| Trades, multiple services | $700–$1,200 | $899–$1,399 |
These are starting ranges for the Victoria market. Your ideal budget depends on your service area, competition and how many new clients you can take on. For how ads fit into a full marketing budget, see what digital marketing costs a Canadian clinic.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the minimum I should spend on Google Ads in Victoria?
For most local businesses, about $300 a month in ad spend is the practical minimum. Below that, you won’t get enough clicks each month to learn what works or produce a steady flow of enquiries.
Do I have to sign a long-term contract?
Not with us. Our management is month to month at a flat $199 a month, and you can cancel any time. You pay Google directly for ad spend, so you always control the budget. See our pricing for details.
How quickly will I see results?
A new search campaign can start bringing in calls within days of going live. It usually takes one to three months of data and adjustments to bring the cost per enquiry down to a steady level.
Does Google Ads work for trades businesses in Victoria?
Yes. Plumbers, electricians, roofers and HVAC companies are some of the best fits, because people search when they need help now and the job values are high. Pairing search ads with Local Services Ads and a well-kept Google Business Profile covers most of the local search results page.
I’m already running Google Ads. Can you help?
Yes. Many Victoria businesses come to us after running ads themselves or with an agency. Start with our Google Ads self-audit, or ask us to review your account.
Get a clear budget for your business
We manage Google Ads for health practitioners and local businesses across Greater Victoria, for a flat monthly fee. Get in touch and we’ll look at your market, estimate your click costs, and suggest a starting budget that fits your goals. You can also read more about our Google Ads management in Victoria.
