Local Service Ads vs Google Ads for Cleaning Companies
Local Service Ads vs Google Ads: Which One Should a Cleaning Business Run?
Most cleaning businesses don’t fail at ads because they “picked the wrong platform.” They fail because they picked a platform that doesn’t match their current reality: reviews, response speed, tracking, and capacity.
LSAs can be incredible when you have strong reviews and can answer calls fast. Google Ads wins when you need control over service types, cities, and intent—especially when your tracking is clean. Use the decision tool on this page to get a recommendation you can act on.
Two fast paths depending on what you find:
- If you choose Google Ads (or “Run Both”), lock measurement first: Conversion Tracking Setup
- If you’re already spending and results feel off, find leakage fast: Google Ads Audit
Tip: If you can’t answer calls reliably, LSAs can punish you. If your tracking is wrong, Google Ads will drift. Pick the channel that matches your strongest foundation today.
LSA vs Google Ads Decision Tool (For Cleaning Businesses)
This tool helps you choose the right channel based on how cleaning leads actually happen: reviews + call handling (LSA) vs control + tracking + landing experience (Google Ads). You’ll get a recommendation and a 7-day plan you can execute.
Rule of thumb: LSAs reward strong reviews and fast answers. Google Ads rewards control and clean tracking. If your calls/forms aren’t tracked correctly, fix measurement before scaling Ads.
Your situation
Speed + readiness
Tip: If you’re already running Google Ads and results feel “off,” the fastest clarity comes from an audit: https://methodcleanbiz.com/services/google-ads/google-ads-audit/
Results
You’ll get a recommendation, readiness scores for each channel, and a 7-day plan.
Readiness scores
Why this recommendation
Next 7 days (fix-first plan)
Relevant links
Copy / Paste My Results
Paste into a note, doc, or message to your team.
What “LSA First / Ads First / Run Both” Actually Means
The tool isn’t picking a “better platform.” It’s matching the channel to the foundation you have right now— reviews, response speed, tracking, and how much control you need.
LSA First
You have the two things LSAs reward: trust (reviews) and response speed. Your advantage is “call-now” demand—people who want service and want it fast.
Ads First
You need control: specific service types, specific cities, specific intent. Google Ads lets you filter demand with keywords, geo settings, and messaging—especially useful when your market is competitive.
Run Both
You have capacity, tracking, and reviews. This is the “stack” approach: LSAs for fast call volume, Google Ads for scalable control and consistent pipeline.
Best next step if your result involves Google Ads: make sure calls and forms are tracked correctly first. Start here: https://methodcleanbiz.com/services/google-ads/google-ads-conversion-tracking-setup/
The Real Reasons Leads Get Expensive
When LSAs or Google Ads “stop working,” it’s usually not the platform. It’s one of these basics breaking quietly in the background.
- Missed calls → you pay for demand you never capture (LSAs punish this especially hard).
- Weak reviews → lower trust, lower conversion, and worse lead quality (your “click-to-lead” cost rises).
- Wrong geo settings → out-of-area clicks and calls that will never book.
- No negative keywords → you buy junk intent (jobs, DIY, supplies, “cheap,” out-of-scope services).
- Poor tracking → Google optimizes for noise and you make decisions on the wrong numbers.
- Sending traffic to generic pages → lower conversion rate, higher CPL (people click… then hesitate).
FAQs (LSA vs Google Ads for Cleaning Companies)
These are the questions that show up between jobs—when the phone rings, the crews are booked, and you’re trying to figure out if you should put your money into LSAs or Google Ads without lighting it on fire.
Do LSAs work for cleaning businesses with low reviews?
They can—but it’s like showing up to a walkthrough with no references. You might still get calls, but you’ll feel the cost in lead quality and consistency. If your reviews are thin, prioritize a steady review habit while you run a channel you can control more tightly.
Cleaners win trust one job at a time. Ads just decide how quickly strangers find you.
If I miss calls, should I avoid LSAs?
If missed calls are common, LSAs can punish you—because LSAs assume you’ll answer fast. Think of LSAs like a “now hiring” sign for your phone line: if nobody picks up, you pay for disappointment. Fix call coverage first, then scale.
Fast response is a marketing advantage in cleaning—because the other company is one tap away.
Can I run LSAs and Google Ads at the same time without wasting money?
Yes—if you have capacity and clean tracking. “Run both” works when LSAs bring call-now volume and Google Ads gives you control over services, cities, and keywords. The waste comes from overlap without measurement (double counting) or when you can’t handle the call volume.
Two faucets can fill the same bucket. The problem is leaving the drain open.
Which is better for move-out cleaning vs recurring house cleaning vs commercial?
Move-out and recurring cleaning often benefit from Google Ads because you can control intent (“move-out cleaning near me”) and tailor messaging to the job type. LSAs can work well for fast residential calls if your reviews and response time are strong. Commercial is often a different play entirely—qualification matters more than volume.
If you do commercial work, don’t treat it like house cleaning leads: Google Ads for Commercial Cleaning
Do I need a website for LSAs? For Google Ads?
LSAs can generate calls with less reliance on your website, because the lead happens inside Google’s ecosystem. Google Ads usually performs best when your landing experience is clear and mobile-friendly—because that’s where clicks turn into calls/forms. If your site is weak, Ads can still work, but CPL usually rises.
What should I fix first if both channels are struggling?
Fix the fundamentals that touch both channels: call handling, tracking clarity, and service area control. If you don’t know which leak is costing you, run an audit—because guessing gets expensive.
Start here: Google Ads Audit