Most small business owners I talk to assume TV advertising is out of reach. They dont know that the cost of a local tv commerical is not only with in reach but less costly than more traditional advertising.
They picture national brands, massive budgets, and production crews that cost more than their monthly revenue.
That’s not reality—especially at the local level.
But there’s also a mistake on the other side: thinking you can spend a few hundred bucks and “try TV” for a month and expect results.
So the question remains… How much does a local tv commercial cost?!
In the following article I will cover such things as how much a 30 and a 15 second commercial cost. As well as a tv vs. digital cost comparison.
Let’s break down what local TV actually costs—and more importantly, what it takes for it to work.
The Short Answer: What You’ll Actually Pay
Here’s the real-world version based on what I sell every day:
1. Production Cost
In many cases, production is included—up to a point—based on your ad spend.
You don’t necessarily need to go spend thousands upfront on a commercial. The bigger factor is where and how often you run it.
2. Airtime Cost (The Part Everyone Asks About)
This is where things vary, but here’s a real example:
- :30 second commercial (morning news): ~$200 per spot
- :15 second commercial: ~$100 per spot
And here’s something most people don’t realize:
👉 A :15-second ad is half the price, but gets essentially the same number of impressions.
That makes it one of the most efficient ways to get started.
3. The Real Minimum (This Is What Matters)
If you take nothing else from this post, take this:
If you’re not willing to spend at least $1,000–$1,500/month for 3 months, don’t do TV.
That’s not a sales line—it’s just reality.
Running one or two ads is like going to the gym once and expecting results. It doesn’t work.
TV works through:
- Consistency
- Repetition
- Familiarity over time
What You’re Really Paying For (It’s Not Just the Ad)
Most people compare TV to digital and think:
“Why would I spend $1,500 on TV when I can run Facebook ads for less?”
Here’s the difference:
TV is one of the most efficient ways to reach a large audience quickly.
In many cases, I can get a business down to around:
$4 cost per 1,000 people (CPM)
That’s extremely competitive—especially when you consider:
- You’re showing up alongside trusted content (like local news)
- You’re reaching people who aren’t actively searching yet
- You’re building familiarity at scale
Why Most Small Businesses Get TV Wrong
There are a few things I hear all the time:
“TV is only for big companies”
Not true.
Local TV is one of the fastest ways for a small business to stop being invisible in their market.
“Let’s just try it for a month”
This is the fastest way to waste your money.
TV is a momentum channel. It builds over time—not overnight.
“I need perfect tracking before I start”
You’ll never get perfect attribution with TV—but it’s far more trackable than it used to be.
We can use:
- QR codes
- Dedicated phone numbers
- Website traffic (Google Analytics)
The goal isn’t perfection—it’s directional proof that it’s working.
A Real Example (What This Looks Like in Practice)
I worked with a local owner in the private medical testing space.
They were part of a franchise, so some marketing was already happening at the corporate level (mainly Google search). Locally, they had tried billboards—but didn’t have a consistent strategy.
We built a campaign that included:
- A branded, educational article on our website
- Display ads supporting it
- $1,000 in targeted CTV
- $2,500 in broadcast TV (morning news)
Total spend: $4,500
Within the first month, the owner emailed me and said:
They had already made back the entire $4,500 from the specific tests featured in the campaign.
Was every sale directly from TV? Probably not.
But the combination of:
- Visibility
- Credibility
- Repetition
…created immediate momentum.
That’s what you’re aiming for.
When TV Is NOT a Good Fit
This is the part most people won’t tell you.
TV is not for everyone.
You probably shouldn’t do TV if:
- You can’t commit to at least 3 months
- You’re spending less than $1K/month
- You’re only focused on immediate, bottom-of-funnel leads
- You’re not willing to invest in creative that stands out
Also, some industries tend to struggle more than others:
- Insurance
- Financial advisors
On the flip side, I think industries like home services, medical, and even real estate are often underutilizing TV.
TV vs Digital: Which Should You Choose?
Here’s the simplest way to think about it:
- TV = Awareness + Trust + Brand
- Digital = Intent + Targeting + Immediate Action
TV has gotten better at driving action (especially when paired with digital), but it still shines at:
Making sure people know who you are before they need you
If your entire strategy is “I need leads tomorrow,” digital may be the better starting point.
But if you’ve plateaued and need more people to know you exist, TV becomes a powerful lever.
Final Thought: TV Isn’t About One Ad
TV isn’t about one commercial.
It’s about showing up consistently enough that:
- People recognize your name
- They remember you when they need your service
- You stop relying only on word-of-mouth
If you’re a small business that’s plateaued, that’s usually the missing piece.