New Episode Drop!
How Much Should Small Businesses Spend on Marketing? (The Real Answer)

How much should a small business actually spend on marketing? The SBA says 7–10% of revenue… but that benchmark is built on Fortune 500 data, not your business. In this episode, Chris Flowers breaks down the real answer using 30 years of commercial finance: it's not what you spend, it's WHERE you spend it — and your margins decide everything.

Inside this episode:

• Why the 7–10% rule can break a thin-margin business

• The #1 mistake owners make in a downturn (and why you should double down instead)

• Why marketing is an INVESTMENT, not an expense — treat your budget like inventory

• The LTV:CAC ratio explained in plain English (the banker's rule: 3:1 or better)

• Where to actually put your dollars: short-form video, long-form video, live video, email, and SEO

• Meta vs. Google Ads — the honest take, and why you might be renting attention instead of owning assets

• The 'microwave mentality' that kills marketing ROI

Here's The Deal | Peoria, AZ

Podcast Coaching & Production — You Bring The Story, We Refine The Vision

Video Content & Marketing — Easy. Comfortable. Connected.

Ready to be seen? [email protected] | heresthedeal.biz/marketing

Subscribe for weekly straight-talk on business, marketing, and storytelling.

CHAPTERS (adjust timestamps to final cut)

0:00 Intro

1:00 The SBA 7–10% rule — and why it's not the whole story

2:50 Why your margins dictate everything

3:30 The #1 mistake: cutting marketing in a downturn

5:56 The $1,000/year trap (66% of owners fall in)

6:30 Marketing as investment, not expense — treat it like inventory

7:00 LTV:CAC explained — the banker's ratio

12:00 Where to actually spend: video, email, SEO

17:00 The 'microwave mentality' trap (90–180 days)

18:00 Meta vs. Google Ads: the honest answer

24:00 Renting attention vs. owning assets

25:48 Bottom line: judge against YOUR margins

#heresthedealbiz #mybizcoaches #videomarketing #easycomfortableconnected #smallbusinessmarketing #marketingbudget #marketingROI #businessgrowth