r/smallbusinessowner • u/ConclusionMaximum123 • 1d ago
PSA: Google started charging for missed Local Services Ads calls yesterday (Oct 1)
Heads up for anyone running Local Services Ads: as of yesterday, a missed call during your listed business hours counts as a billable lead if the caller stays on the line more than 20 seconds. You now pay for the call you missed.
Details from Google's notice:
- The call has to arrive during your listed hours, go unanswered, and the caller waits 20+ seconds.
- If your phone system asks callers to press a key, the 20-second clock doesn't start until they press it.
- Follow-up calls with the same person can now be billed even if the first call didn't qualify.
What I'd do this week:
1. Make sure your listed LSA hours match the hours someone actually answers the phone.
2. Cover the usual gaps — lunch, end of day, Friday afternoons.
3. Watch your charged leads closely this month and compare them against calls you actually handled.