No. Plenty of businesses do fine without ever paying for ads.
The free path — complete info, real reviews, and a page for each town and service — is slower, but it keeps bringing calls without a monthly ad bill.
Where ads can make sense:
- A brand-new site that needs calls right now, while the free ranking is still building.
- A slow season when you want to fill the calendar.
Here's the honest part. Ads stop the moment you stop paying, and they don't improve your free Google ranking. They're a faucet, not a foundation.
If you do run ads, or hire someone to, your site is ready. The Tracking tab records which ad clicks became calls or form fills, so you can see whether the money came back. In the left menu, click the word Advanced to open that section, then click Tracking.
Never let a salesperson pressure you into ads. Check your own numbers first.
Why this matters
Ads can help at the right moment, but they're easy to overpay for. Knowing you don't need them keeps you in control of your own money.
Related questions
Can't find your answer?
Ask a real person. Tell us what you were trying to do and we'll sort it out with you.