Billboards for Small Businesses: Affordable Local Advertising That Works with BillboardsAmerica
Published on September 19, 2025
Billboards for Small Businesses: Why Outdoor Advertising Works
Most small businesses assume billboards are only for large brands with huge budgets. The reality is that billboards can be one of the most affordable and effective ways to reach local customers. At BillboardsAmerica, we make it simple. You can browse our map, choose boards in your area, or contact us directly and let our team guide you.
Why Billboards Make Sense for Your Small Business
• Local impact: Billboards sit where your customers live, work, and commute. They provide guaranteed visibility to the people already nearby.
• Cost effective: National averages show billboard advertising runs around $7–$20 CPM (cost per thousand views), which is competitive with Facebook and Google ads. (TastyAd CPM Comparison) (Broadsign)
• Proven response: Three in four adults take an action after seeing an out of home ad, such as visiting a website or making a purchase. (OAAA/Morning Consult)
• Flexible campaigns: Run a long term static board for continuous awareness or a short term digital billboard for an event or special offer.
Small Business Types We Help
Business Type Typical Goals Example Billboard Use
Restaurants and Cafés Attract new diners, promote menus, announce openings “Exit 23 – Dine with Us” or “Now Open Downtown”
Gyms and Fitness Studios Grow memberships, fill classes, promote new programs “Join Today” or seasonal fitness offers near residential areas
Auto Dealers and Repair Shops Increase service bookings and sales “Oil Change $29 – Exit 14” or dealership promotions
Local Retail and Boutiques Boost foot traffic, highlight sales, build brand presence “Holiday Sale Starts Friday” or “Grand Opening”
Healthcare and Dental Practices Build trust and advertise to new patients “Now Accepting Patients” or “Family Dental Nearby”
Event Venues and Entertainment Drive ticket sales for shows and community events Concert countdowns or festival announcements
How to Get Started with BillboardsAmerica
1. Browse our map: Explore billboard locations in your city, complete with traffic counts and pricing.
2. Select your boards: Pick the right placements for your business or let us recommend them for you.
3. Creative support: We can provide guidance to make sure your message is clear and impactful.
4. Track results: Use QR codes, unique phone numbers, and short URLs to measure customer response.
5. Choose your campaign length: Book long term static boards or short digital rotations.
How Much It Costs
• Static billboards often start around $500 to $1,500 per month in smaller cities. (Dash Two)
• Digital boards can be purchased in shorter increments, with slots starting at a few dollars per play.
• Pricing is transparent, based on location, visibility, and impressions.
What does cost per thousand views (CPM) mean?
Billboards are priced on impressions, which is the number of times people see your ad. The cost per thousand views (CPM) tells you how much it costs to reach 1,000 people.
For example:
• If a billboard costs $1,000 per month and delivers 150,000 impressions, the CPM is $6.67.
• That means you pay $6.67 for every 1,000 people who see your ad.
This is how billboards compare directly with digital ads like Facebook or Google, which also use CPM pricing.
Success Stories
“Our café booked a billboard just two miles from downtown and lunchtime foot traffic rose 25 percent in the first week.” – Café owner, Austin, TX
“Our auto shop saw a 40 percent increase in calls over one weekend after we added a directional board by the highway exit.” – Auto repair shop, Phoenix
Measuring Billboard ROI
• Use a simple URL or QR code to capture web visits.
• Place a call tracking number on your creative.
• Compare sales or enquiries during the campaign to your normal baseline.
• Check analytics for branded search increases while your boards are live.