What percentage of your total expenses per year is usually allocated toward advertising? With all of the new "luxury brochures" being printed (I think they're all done by Haw thorne Pub lications, I'm sure you've all received calls from them to be in their "premier" guides for local venues) I'm getting a lot of calls to be included in guides for specific locations. I was wondering what other people try to aim for in terms of advertising budgets.

To follow up on my own question, snarky baker once posted that it should be around 5-8% of total sales, btu that seems high to me based on what I'm spending now. Also, is that gross sales or net? What do other people pay? I'm home-based and do primarily wedding cakes, if that makes a difference.