Free Tool · Strategy

Marketing Budget Calculator: what should you actually be spending?

Most businesses either under-invest and stay invisible, or over-invest with no plan. Enter your revenue and how aggressively you want to grow, and this tool recommends a total marketing budget plus a sensible split across channels.

Growth ambition
Recommended budget / year
AED 240,000
Per month
AED 20,000
Suggested monthly split
  • Paid advertisingAED 8,000
  • Content & SEOAED 4,000
  • Social & creativeAED 4,000
  • Tools, CRM & testingAED 4,000

A starting point, not a rule. Shift budget toward whatever channel is actually bringing you customers.

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These are industry benchmarks (typically 5-20% of revenue depending on growth stage), not rules. Treat the channel split as a starting point, your real allocation should follow where your customers actually convert.

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Frequently asked questions

What percentage of revenue should go to marketing?

Established businesses often spend 5-10% of revenue on marketing, while businesses in aggressive growth mode or newer brands frequently spend 15-20% or more. The right number depends on your margins, growth targets and how competitive your market is.

How should I split my marketing budget across channels?

A common starting split is roughly 40% to paid advertising, 20% to content and SEO, 20% to social media and creative, and 20% to tools, CRM and experimentation. Adjust based on where your customers actually discover and buy from you.

Should a new business spend more or less on marketing?

New businesses usually need to spend a higher percentage of revenue, because they're building awareness from zero and have no existing customer base or word-of-mouth to rely on. As your brand and repeat revenue grow, the percentage typically comes down.

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