Expect to pay two things: a management fee (published agency fees run from about $400 to $10,000 a month) and ad spend paid to Google or Meta (smaller firms often start at $3,000 to $5,000 a month). The number that matters is cost per retained case. A common rule of thumb is to keep it near 20% of your average fee, about $1,000 on a $5,000 case.
The three costs
- Management or agency fee: what you pay someone to build and run campaigns, funnels and follow-up.
- Ad spend: paid directly to Google, Meta or other platforms. This is where most of the budget goes.
- Your time: intake, follow-up and consultations. Slow response wastes the first two.
Published agency fees in 2026
| Type | Example published pricing | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Low-cost websites and content | From $95/mo; done-for-you from about $400/mo (Build Your Firm) | Website, content, basic presence |
| Tax-only agency programmes | $397/mo startup; $597/mo to $10K/mo; $997 website setup (TaxProMarketer) | Websites, SEO, ads management; ad spend extra |
| Law firm agencies | PPC from $1,450/mo; SEO from $2,500/mo; All Access from $4,299/mo (Grow Law) | Attorney-focused SEO, PPC and web |
| Industry estimates for retainers | $2,000 to $4,500 small; $5,000 to $10,000 mid; $10,000 to $25,000 large resolution firms | Full-service management |
| Done-for-you acquisition (our model) | Fixed fee for build and management, quoted after a call | Ads, qualifying funnel, follow-up, appointment setting, reporting |
These are not like for like. A $400 website plan and a service that books qualified consultations onto your calendar are different products, so compare on what reaches your calendar.
Ad spend and cost per lead
- Google Ads: clicks on IRS debt terms commonly cost $40 to $90. TaxProMarketer puts typical resolution cost per lead at $80 to $120, and reports one campaign at $33.14 per lead over 90 days.
- Meta: usually cheaper per lead because you reach people before they search, but enquiries need firmer qualification. See Meta video ads for resolution.
- Bought leads: exclusive leads typically cost 2 to 3 times shared ones. See tax resolution lead cost.
- Large national firms reportedly spend $30,000 to $150,000 a month on paid search, which is why small firms rarely win head-on with broad keywords.
A simple budget model
Work backwards from the case, not forwards from the lead:
| Step | Example |
|---|---|
| Average fee per case | $4,000 |
| Target acquisition cost (20%) | $800 per retained case |
| Close rate from held consultation | 30% |
| Show rate for booked consultations | 70% |
| Affordable cost per booked consultation | $800 x 30% x 70% = about $168 |
| Cases wanted per month | 10 |
| Total monthly acquisition budget (spend plus fees) | about $8,000 |
Swap in your own fee, close rate and show rate. Use your real average fee from the last twelve months, not your headline price, because discounts and smaller cases pull it down.
Where budgets leak
- Unqualified enquiries: no balance threshold or notice question on the form.
- Slow follow-up: taxpayers contact several firms, and the first to call usually wins. See speed to lead.
- No-shows: no reminders or confirmation call.
- Measuring the wrong thing: cheap leads that never retain.
What we charge
We charge a fixed fee for the build and management period. Ad spend is paid by you directly to the platforms, in accounts you own. We quote after a 30-minute call on your fees, capacity and intake, and we will tell you if your numbers do not support paid acquisition. Book a strategy call.
Comparing providers? See the best tax resolution marketing agencies in 2026.
Questions
How much should a tax resolution firm spend on marketing?
A common benchmark is to allow up to about 20% of the average fee to acquire a client. On a $5,000 case that is about $1,000 per retained client, covering ad spend and fees. Work back from that to a monthly budget based on how many new cases you can handle.
What does a tax resolution lead cost?
Published figures put Google Ads tax resolution leads at roughly $80 to $120 each, with individual campaigns reported lower. Clicks on IRS debt terms can cost $40 to $90. Cost per lead varies widely by market, offer and how strictly the form qualifies.
What do tax resolution marketing agencies charge per month?
Published agency prices run from about $400 a month for basic tax-only programmes to $2,500 to $4,300 a month for SEO or full-service law firm packages, and up to $10,000 a month for larger programmes. Ad spend is paid on top, directly to Google or Meta.
What is a realistic starting budget?
Many smaller firms start with $3,000 to $5,000 a month in ad spend plus management, which is enough to produce a meaningful number of qualified consultations and learn what converts. Below that, testing is slow.
Want these numbers for your own firm? Book a strategy call and we will walk through your lead sources, intake and cost per retained case.