How much should you spend on marketing?
It’s one of the most common, and most debated, questions in business. Spend too little and you stall growth. Spend too much in the wrong places and you burn budget without results.
This calculator gives you a data-backed starting point. Enter your annual revenue, select your industry and company size, and choose your growth goal. In seconds, you’ll see a recommended annual marketing budget based on real industry benchmarks, plus a full breakdown of how to allocate it across labor, advertising, technology, content, events, and more.
Whether you’re building your first marketing budget or pressure-testing an existing one, use this as your baseline.
Marketing budget calculator
Budget allocation
If you’d like to discuss further, reach out for a consult.
Contact us →Frequently Asked Questions
How is the recommended budget calculated?
Your recommended budget is based on industry benchmarks, the percentage of revenue that companies in your sector typically invest in marketing. Rates vary by industry and company size (Enterprise vs. Mid-market), and reflect standard growth targets. If you select aggressive growth, an additional 1.5 percentage points are added to your industry's standard rate.
Why do the percentages vary by industry?
Marketing spend as a percentage of revenue differs significantly across sectors. Technology companies typically invest more to drive awareness and customer acquisition in competitive markets, while manufacturing or energy companies may invest less due to longer sales cycles and relationship-driven business development. The benchmarks in this calculator reflect those real-world differences.
What's the difference between enterprise and mid-market?
Company size affects how much you need to invest to move the needle. Enterprise companies often have established brand equity and infrastructure, so their rates tend to be higher to sustain scale and market position. Mid-market companies, depending on industry, may invest at lower rates, though this can vary significantly based on competitive dynamics and growth stage.
What does the budget allocation breakdown mean?
Once your total recommended budget is calculated, the tool breaks it down across six categories: labor (employees and agency), advertising and media, marketing technology (martech), content creation, events and trade shows, and research and miscellaneous. These allocations are based on typical B2B spending patterns and are meant as a starting framework; your actual mix may shift based on your specific strategy and priorities.
Is this tool free to use?
Yes, completely free. Enter your information, get your results, and download a personalized PDF summary at no cost. If you'd like to go deeper, reviewing your current spend, stress-testing your allocation strategy, or building a full marketing plan, Savage offers consulting engagements for exactly that.