Pricing
Pay for results, not hours.
Three simple parts. No long contracts after the first three months, and no VAT on top.
01 · Setup
fromone-off
- Free competitor ads snapshot and audit
- Offer and campaign strategy
- Landing page built to convert
- Call and form tracking
- AI reply assistant built, trained on your business and connected to your calendar
- Dashboard set up with your login
02 · Monthly base
fromper month
- Meta and Google campaign management
- New ad creative tested every month
- AI assistant running 24/7
- Live dashboard and monthly review call
- Pause or scale with your capacity
03 · Per result
fromper qualified lead, or from £75 per booked appointment
- Exclusive to you, never shared
- Logged automatically in your dashboard
- Dispute within 72 hours, not charged if it doesn't qualify
- Rate set by your average job value
Plus your ad spend, paid directly to Meta or Google from your own account. Not VAT registered: no VAT added.
What counts as a qualified lead
Agreed in writing. Checked every time.
So there's never an argument about an invoice.
- A unique enquiry from a real person (no duplicates within 30 days)
- Inside your agreed service area
- For a service you offer
- With a working phone number or email
- Not disputed within 72 hours, or dispute rejected with a reason
Compared
Where your money goes.
| Typical retainer agency | Shift | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee before results | Often £500–£1,500+ | From £300 |
| Paid for | Time and activity | Qualified leads or bookings |
| Enquiry follow-up | Your problem | AI assistant, under a minute |
| Reporting | Monthly PDF | Live dashboard |
| Ownership | Varies | Your accounts, your data |
Pricing FAQ
The fine print, in plain English.
How much does an AI advertising agency cost in Essex?
With Shift you pay a one-off setup from £750, a monthly base from £300, and then from £30 per qualified lead or from £75 per booked appointment. Ad spend is separate and paid directly to Meta or Google. Traditional agency retainers for small businesses in the UK commonly run from £500 to £1,500 a month before any results.
Why is there a monthly base as well as pay per result?
The base covers the work that happens every month whatever the results: managing campaigns, creating and testing ads, running the AI assistant and keeping your dashboard live. Keeping it small means most of what you pay is tied to results.
Should I choose per lead or per booked appointment?
Per booked appointment suits businesses that want the assistant to qualify and book for them, and is easy to verify because it is in your calendar. Per lead suits businesses that prefer to call every enquiry back themselves. We will recommend one after the audit.
How much should I spend on ads?
Most local campaigns need at least £750 to £1,500 a month in ad spend for the platforms to learn and deliver steadily. We will recommend a starting budget for your trade and area after the audit, and you can change it at any time.
Is there a performance bonus?
Optionally, after the first three months, some clients add a small bonus of 3–5% of jobs won through Shift, in exchange for a lower per-result fee. It is never required.
Do you charge VAT?
No. We are not VAT registered, so the prices shown are what you pay.