These are the questions we hear most often from Cambridge trades owners, answered as directly as we can. If yours isn't here, ask it; the answer will be just as plain.
Frequently asked questions
How much does marketing cost with Cambridge.Marketing?
Plans begin at $1,999 a month on month-to-month terms, or $1,499 a month if billed annually, plus 13% HST. Elite and Enterprise plans cost more and include website discounts or a free build. Ad spend is separate.
Do I have to sign a long contract?
No. There's no long-term contract, and 30 days' notice is all it takes to stop. Annual billing is available if you want the lower monthly rate, but it isn't required.
How soon will I see results?
Paid search can produce calls within days. Local SEO usually needs four to nine months to show its full effect, and B2B work with industrial clients often takes six months or more. We set expectations for each channel in writing.
We tried an agency before and it didn't work. Why would this be different?
Ask what went wrong first. Most failures we hear about come down to no tracking, no agreed cost per lead, or reports full of clicks instead of calls. We fix those three things before spending anything, and you can leave on 30 days' notice if it isn't working.
Who owns my website and accounts?
You do. Your domain, website, Google Business Profile, ad accounts and analytics are in your name. If you leave, everything stays with you and we help with the handover.
What will I see in reports?
Calls, texts and email clicks by source, cost per lead against your agreed ceiling, and, if you share which leads became jobs, cost per job won. Rankings and traffic are included, but they come second.
Can you promise rankings or leads?
No. Nobody can honestly promise where Google will rank you or how many people will call. We commit to a written plan, honest reporting and changing course when something isn't paying for itself.
Are you a contractor or a lead-selling service?
Neither. We don't do trade work of any kind and we don't sell your leads to other companies. We plan and run marketing for your business only.
Do you only work with HVAC companies?
No. Our published case studies are results from our HVAC work, but on this site we work with Cambridge plumbers, electricians, roofers, renovators, cleaners, landscapers and other service businesses.
Can you help if I'm based in Kitchener or North Dumfries?
Yes, if Cambridge is a meaningful part of your market. Many crews work across those lines, and we plan service areas from where your jobs actually come from.
Do I need a new website?
Not always. We audit what you have first. If it loads quickly, is easy to call from and shows real work, we improve it. If not, a rebuild may be the better spend.
How much time will this take from me?
About an hour at the start, then a short monthly check-in and a steady flow of job photos. The more real examples you share, the better your pages and ads become.
What's the first step?
Call, text or email. Tell us your trade, where in Cambridge you work and what you'd like more of. Eligible trades businesses get a free 30-minute first consultation.
Cost and commitment
The short answer: plans start at $1,999 a month, or $1,499 on annual billing, with 13% HST on top and no long-term contract. The longer answer is that the plan fee is only part of what you spend. If paid ads are involved, the ad budget goes straight to the platform from your own account.
Before you commit to anything, you can check whether marketing will pay for itself using your own numbers. Our lead budget guide shows the arithmetic, and the pricing page sets out what each plan covers.
If you've been burned before
Many owners come to us after a poor experience elsewhere. The pattern is familiar: a monthly fee, a report full of impressions and clicks, and no clear link to booked jobs.
What we do differently is simple and checkable:
- Tracking first. Every call, text and email click is counted and tied to its source before we spend on growth.
- A ceiling agreed in advance. We set the most you should pay per lead from your job value and close rate.
- Ownership. Your accounts are in your name, so you're never held hostage by an agency.
- An easy exit. If it isn't working, 30 days' notice ends it.
Timelines by channel
Different channels move at different speeds, and it helps to know which is which before you start.
| Channel | First signs | Fuller picture |
|---|---|---|
| Google Ads | Days | 1–3 months |
| Local SEO | Weeks | 4–9 months |
| Website rebuild | At launch | 2–3 months of data |
| Industrial-park outreach | 2–3 months | 6–12 months |
Cambridge-specific questions
Owners often ask whether they should market to "Cambridge" or to Galt, Preston and Hespeler. Our view is both: use Cambridge as the main term, and use the town and neighbourhood names where you have real jobs to show. Our areas page explains how the city breaks down.
Others ask whether being run from Vancouver is a problem. In practice it rarely is. The work happens in search results, ad accounts and websites, and our Mon–Fri 9–6 Pacific hours cover noon to 9 p.m. in Cambridge, which suits owners who catch up on calls after the crew has gone home.
Ownership and leaving
Owners sometimes ask what happens if they decide to stop. The answer is that very little changes for your business. Your website stays online under your domain, your Google Business Profile stays yours, and your ad account keeps its history because it was always in your name.
We hand over logins, explain what was running and why, and leave notes so the next person, whether that's you, a staff member or another agency, can pick up where we left off. We'd rather you leave on good terms and recommend us than feel stuck.
What we need from you
Accounts that perform well almost always have an owner who stays a little involved. That means answering the phone promptly, telling us which leads became jobs, and sending photos of real work. Ten minutes a week of that input does more for your results than any amount of extra spending.
Reporting you can read in two minutes
Every monthly report starts with the same three lines: how many calls, texts and emails came in, what each lead cost on average, and how that compares with the ceiling we agreed. Detail follows for anyone who wants it, but the top of the page should tell a busy owner whether the month worked.
Questions we can't answer for you
Some questions belong with other professionals. We don't advise on licensing, insurance, tax or code compliance. Where a regulator such as TSSA or ESA matters to your marketing, for instance in what you're allowed to advertise, we'll point you to the source and suggest you confirm with them.
Still have a question?
Ask us directly. You can reach us by call, text or email, and you'll talk to a senior strategist rather than a sales rep. Details are on the contact page.