Configuring Monthly Budgets

Your monthly budget controls how much you spend on leads each month. Here's how to set it up for success.

---

How Monthly Budgets Work

When you create a lead request, you set a monthly budget that:

• Limits your maximum spend per calendar month
• Automatically pauses lead submissions when reached
• Resets on the 1st of each month
• Can be adjusted anytime

---

Budget Requirements

Requirement	Details
Minimum budget	2× your price per lead
Maximum budget	Unlimited
Currency	Set in your account currency (e.g., GBP)

Example: If your price per lead is £25, your minimum monthly budget is £50.

---

Setting Your Initial Budget

Step 1: Calculate Your Lead Capacity

How many new leads can your business handle each month?

Consider:

• Staff availability
• Current workload
• Response time requirements
• Conversion capacity

Example: A solo plumber might handle 10-15 new leads per month.

Step 2: Do the Math

Monthly Budget = Leads Needed × Price Per Lead

Leads Per Month	Price Per Lead	Monthly Budget
10	£25	£250
20	£25	£500
30	£25	£750

Step 3: Add Buffer Room

Consider setting your budget 20-30% higher than your minimum needs:

• Accounts for variable lead quality
• Allows for growth opportunities
• Prevents running out mid-month

Example: Need 10 leads? Set budget for 12-13 leads.

---

Budget Strategies

Conservative Approach

Best for: New users or tight cash flow

• Set budget for minimum acceptable leads
• Monitor carefully in first month
• Increase as you validate ROI

Example: Start at £200/month, increase by £100 each month if results are good.

Growth Approach

Best for: Businesses prioritizing growth

• Set higher budget than immediate needs
• Accept more leads to scale quickly
• Focus on increasing conversion capacity

Example: Set £1,000/month even if you only "need" £500 worth of leads.

Seasonal Approach

Best for: Businesses with predictable cycles

• Adjust budget based on seasonal demand
• Increase during busy seasons
• Decrease during slow periods

Example:

• Summer (busy): £800/month
• Winter (slow): £300/month

---

What Happens When You Hit Your Budget?

When your monthly spend reaches your budget:

1. Lead request pauses – Sellers can no longer submit leads
2. Existing leads remain – You can still purchase pending leads
3. Sellers see "Budget reached" – They know to wait for next month
4. Auto-reset on 1st – Submissions open again automatically

Budget Reached Notification

You'll receive a notification when:

• You're at 80% of your budget
• You've reached 100% of your budget

---

Adjusting Your Budget

How to Change Your Budget

1. Go to Lead Requests
2. Find your lead request
3. Click Edit
4. Update the Monthly Budget
5. Click Save

Increasing Mid-Month

If you hit your budget but want more leads:

1. Edit your lead request
2. Increase the monthly budget
3. Your request will reactivate immediately

Note: The new budget applies to your current month's total spend, not additional to what you've already spent.

Decreasing Mid-Month

If you've overspent or need to slow down:

1. Edit your lead request
2. Lower the monthly budget
3. If you've already exceeded the new budget, the request pauses immediately

---

Budget vs. Auto-Pay

Understanding how budget interacts with Auto-Pay:

Setting	Behavior
Auto-Pay ON + Budget available	Leads purchased automatically
Auto-Pay ON + Budget reached	Auto-purchases stop
Auto-Pay OFF + Budget available	Manual review and purchase
Auto-Pay OFF + Budget reached	Can't purchase more leads

Tip: With Auto-Pay enabled, you might hit your budget faster. Monitor closely in the first month.

---

Budget Tracking

Where to Check Your Spend

1. Lead Request Card – Shows "£X of £Y spent this month"
2. Lead Request Details – Full breakdown of purchases
3. Billing History – Settings → Billing → View transactions

Monthly Reporting

At the end of each month, you can review:

• Total leads purchased
• Total amount spent
• Cost per purchased lead
• Budget utilization %

---

Common Budget Mistakes

❌ Setting Budget Too Low

Problem: Running out of budget mid-month, missing good leads.

Fix: Set budget with 20-30% buffer above minimum needs.

❌ Setting Budget Too High

Problem: Overspending, especially with Auto-Pay enabled.

Fix: Start conservative and increase based on results.

❌ Forgetting to Adjust Seasonally

Problem: Same budget year-round when demand varies.

Fix: Set calendar reminders to review budget monthly or quarterly.

❌ Not Monitoring Spend

Problem: Surprised by charges at month end.

Fix: Check spend weekly, especially with Auto-Pay on.

---

Pro Tips

1. Set budget based on profit, not revenue – Factor in your costs
2. Review monthly – Adjust based on lead quality and conversion
3. Use multiple lead requests – Different budgets for different services
4. Track ROI per lead request – Know which categories perform best
5. Pause if needed – Temporarily pause rather than setting very low budget

---

Next Steps

• Using location filters effectively
• Using Auto-Pay for automatic purchases

---

Need Help?

Questions about budgeting? Contact support.