Local Services Ads setup for contractors

What Google Guaranteed means

The Google Guaranteed badge tells searchers that Google has screened the business. To earn it, you go through Google's verification, which typically involves checks on your business, your licensing where it applies, and your insurance. The exact requirements depend on the trade and the state.

That's one reason we handle setup carefully. A profile with a missed step can sit unapproved for a long time, and every day in that state is a day without leads.

We help you gather what Google asks for before you start, so verification doesn't stall over a missing document or a mismatch in your business details. If Google asks for more, we walk you through the request. Approval is Google's decision, and we can't speed it up or guarantee it, but a clean application gives it a fair chance.

The details in your profile should match everywhere else. Your business name, phone number, and address should line up with your website and your Google Business Profile. Small differences can slow a review and confuse customers.

How we set it up

Our setup follows the order Google expects:

• Create the profile and support you through verification
• Set the services you offer and the areas you cover
• Configure your budget and how leads are handled
• Check the details so what Google shows matches what you do
• Track the leads and report on them each month

Budget and lead management

With LSAs you set a budget, and Google decides how many leads that budget can buy. A small budget in a busy market may produce few leads. A larger one gives Google more room to show you. We set the budget with you, then watch how it performs.

Lead management matters as much as budget. Leads come as calls and messages, and fast replies help. Not every lead is a good one. A wrong service, a wrong area, or a spam call can all get through. Google has a process to dispute leads that don't qualify, and part of our monthly work is flagging the ones worth disputing. We can't promise Google will approve any specific dispute.

Our job here is to keep an eye on what's coming in. If a pattern shows up, like a flood of leads for a service you don't offer, we fix the service settings. If leads come from outside your area, we look at the service area. Good setup cuts down on bad leads before they ever reach you.

You can help, too. Answer quickly, and mark the outcome of each lead when you can. Google uses that feedback, and it helps us see which leads turn into booked jobs.

What it costs

Local Services Ads management is $120 per month plus a $240 setup. That's our fee. The leads themselves are billed by Google based on the budget you set. You can see how it fits with other services on the pricing page.

Our fee covers profile setup and ongoing management, with service and area setup, budget and lead management, and monthly reporting. The lead cost is separate because Google sets the price per lead by trade and market, and we don't control it. We'll talk through a sensible starting budget with you before anything goes live.

How LSAs differ from Google Ads

Google Ads charge per click and give you more control over wording and landing pages. LSAs charge per lead and look different, with the badge and a more fixed format. Many contractors run both. If you want to see the click-based side, read about our Google Ads management service, or the broader PPC explainer.

Your Google profile also matters here. Reviews and a strong Google Business Profile help your LSA listing look credible.

Who LSAs suit, and who they don't

LSAs suit home service contractors doing $300K or more a year, in trades where Google offers them, who want leads from the top of search. They're a good fit if you can answer calls promptly and want to pay only for leads. We work with 15 contractors, with one per trade per market.

They're not for every trade. If Google doesn't offer LSAs for your type of work or your area, there's nothing to set up, and we'd tell you so. They're also a poor fit if you can't respond to leads quickly. A lead you miss is a lead you've paid for.

A final check before you start: ask who will answer the phone during business hours, and what happens after hours. Plan that first. The best-run LSA account in the world won't help if calls go unanswered, so we'd rather talk about your phone habits on day one than after the first invoice.