Free Tool
Dealer Ad Budget & ROI Calculator
How many extra mower sales does advertising need to drive before it pays for itself? Put in your dealership's real numbers and see the break-even math — no email required.
Your Dealership's Numbers
A typical unit you'd advertise — e.g. a zero-turn at $6,000–$12,000.
Wholegood margins at most dealerships run 12–20%.
What you'd pay Facebook/Google directly. You control this.
Pre-filled with our Facebook campaign rate ($750/mo, one brand). Edit freely.
Many brands credit dealers back 50–75% of qualifying marketing dollars.
What the Math Says
Total monthly investment
$1,250
Gross profit per sale
$1,200
Your break-even point
1.0
extra sales per month pays for all of it. Every sale beyond that is profit.
If campaigns drive…
Wholegoods only — doesn't count trade-ins, attachments, service, or the repeat business a new customer brings.
Want a free campaign plan for these numbers?
We'll take the budget you entered and map out exactly what we'd run for your dealership — platforms, creative approach, and expected timeline. No pressure, no pitch deck.
How the Math Works
The calculator keeps it simple and conservative. Your total monthly investment is ad spend plus management. Your gross profit per sale is the unit price times your margin. Divide one by the other and you get the only number that matters: how many extra sales per month make the whole thing free.
We deliberately leave out the upside that's hard to pin down — trade-ins you'll resell, attachments and accessories added at the register, the service and parts revenue a new customer brings for years. If the math works on wholegoods alone, everything else is gravy.
What the calculator can't tell you is how many sales a campaign will actually drive in your market — that depends on your area, your brands, and your inventory. That's the conversation we have on a free strategy call.
Calculator FAQ
What's a realistic ad budget for an OPE dealership?
Most independent dealers we work with spend $500–$2,000 per month on ad spend, plus management. The right number depends on your market size and how many brands you carry — the calculator lets you test any budget against your own margins.
What gross margin should I enter?
Wholegood margins at most OPE dealerships run 12–20%. If you know your actual margin on the units you'd advertise, use that — the break-even math is only as honest as the inputs.
Does this include parts, service, and repeat business?
No — deliberately. The calculator only counts gross profit on the equipment sale itself. Trade-ins, attachments, service work, and the lifetime value of a new customer are all upside on top of what the calculator shows.
How does co-op advertising money factor in?
Many OPE brands credit dealers back 50–75% of qualifying marketing dollars through co-op programs — 50% is the most common rate. Check the co-op box in the calculator, enter your rate, and choose whether your program covers ad spend only or management fees too. The break-even math then runs on your real out-of-pocket cost, which often cuts the sales needed to break even roughly in half.
How many extra sales can advertising actually drive?
It depends on your market, brands, and budget — anyone who promises a specific number before seeing your dealership is guessing. That's exactly what we scope in a free strategy call: what's realistic for your area and inventory.
Like What the Numbers Say?
Book a free 20-minute strategy call and we'll show you exactly what we'd run for your dealership at the budget you just tested.
Book My Free Call