Facebook Ads ROI Guide: How Austin Businesses Turn $1 Into $4+
If you are spending money on Facebook and Instagram Ads /services/paid advertising and cannot answer "what is my ROI?" in one sentence, you are not running ads, you are donating to Meta. This guide is the exact ROI framework we use at Rehman Media for Austin, Round Rock, Georgetown, and Waco local businesses in 2026. No theory, no fluff, only the math, the tracking, and the levers that actually move return on ad spend. What Facebook Ads ROI Actually Means ROI return on investment and ROAS return on ad spend get used interchangeably, but they are not the same. Get this right before you optimize anything. ROAS = Revenue ÷ Ad Spend. A 4x ROAS means every $1 in ad spend produced $4 in revenue. ROI = Revenue − Total Cost ÷ Total Cost. ROI accounts for ad spend, agency fees, product cost, and overhead. It is the number your accountant cares about. Most agencies will quote ROAS because the number looks bigger. We track both because profit, not revenue, is what keeps your business open. ! Facebook Ads ROI formula diagram showing Revenue minus Ad Spend divided by Ad Spend times 100, with an example of $1,000 spend, $4,200 revenue, and 320% ROI. /blog/rehman media facebook ads roi formula infographic.jpg Realistic ROI Benchmarks by Industry These are real numbers from the campaigns we manage across Central Texas, not Meta's global averages. Use them as the floor, not the goal. Industry Typical ROAS Strong ROAS Cost Per Lead Restaurants & Bars 3x to 5x 6x to 10x $2 to $8 Home Services HVAC, plumbing, roofing 4x to 6x 8x to 15x $25 to $60 Real Estate 2x to 4x 5x to 8x $40 to $120 Med Spa / Aesthetics 3x to 5x 7x to 12x $20 to $50 E commerce local DTC 2x to 3x 4x to 6x n/a High ticket services $5k+ 3x to 6x 8x+ $80 to $200 If your account is below "Typical" today, your problem is no