$8.25
Average CPC
+57% vs $5.26 average
4.82%
Average CTR
7.15%
Conversion Rate
$98.65
Cost Per Lead
+41% vs $70.11 average
Source: WordStream 2025 (Professional Services)
Not all accountant keywords cost the same. Here's what you can expect to pay based on search intent:
'CPA' signals they want credentialed professional, not TurboTax. 'Near me' adds buying intent.
Business owners are high-value clients with recurring monthly needs and referral potential.
Self-employed have complex returns requiring professional help—good lifetime value.
Recurring revenue opportunity. Monthly bookkeeping clients are most valuable accounting clients.
Proactive planning clients have higher budgets and value advisory relationship over transactional work.
Lower CPCs mean more clicks for your budget. Here are proven strategies:
Google rewards relevant ads with lower CPCs. Match your ad copy to your keywords and ensure your landing page delivers on your ad's promise.
Stop paying for irrelevant clicks. Add negatives like "jobs", "salary", "DIY", and "free" to your accountant campaigns.
Exact match keywords typically have lower CPCs than broad match because you're not bidding on irrelevant variations.
Run ads when accountant searches convert best. Business hours (9am-6pm) for business clients. Early evenings (6-9pm) for personal tax clients reviewing their situations after work.
These keywords drain your budget without delivering quality leads:
Career researchers and students, not potential clients.
Price-sensitive DIYers looking for reasons to avoid hiring you.
Completely opposite of professional accounting services.
Students researching education, not business clients.
DIYers specifically avoiding professional help.
At $8.25 per click, here's what you need to generate leads:
Minimum Monthly Budget
$2,500
Recommended Range
$3,000-$8,000/month (peak in Q1)
At $98.65 CPL and 30% close rate, each new client costs $329 to acquire. Personal tax clients ($300-600/year) need 1-2 year retention to break even. Business bookkeeping clients ($500-2,000/month) justify acquisition cost in first month. Focus on business client acquisition and recurring service relationships.