Do Google Ads work for contractors?
Short answer
Yes, when the math and tracking are right — but they waste money fast without them. Google Ads and Local Services Ads deliver immediate high-intent leads, but only pay off if you know your cost-per-closed-job ceiling, track conversions properly, and send clicks to a page built to convert. Most contractors 'try ads,' send traffic to a weak homepage, and conclude ads don't work.
Why contractor ad budgets get wasted
- No conversion tracking — you can't tell which clicks became jobs, so you optimise blind.
- Traffic sent to a slow, generic homepage instead of a focused landing page.
- Bidding on broad terms ('kitchens') that attract browsers, not buyers.
- Quitting before the account exits its learning phase — the first few weeks are the worst data.
UpdatedJul 14, 2026