Do paid ads pay off for a supplements e-shop?
They can, because supplements convert well and customers reorder. The catch is strict ad policies and heavy competition on popular products. The key number is your break-even cost per order and how many customers come back for a second pack.
Orientational market averages
| Cost per click (Google) | €0.4 |
|---|---|
| Click through rate (Google) | 4.5 % |
| Conversion rate | 2 % |
| Cost per 1000 impressions (Meta) | €6 |
| Click through rate (Meta) | 1.4 % |
| Visits that send an inquiry | 4 % |
| Close rate | 20 % |
Values for the Slovakia market. These are orientational averages, not a promise. Your real numbers depend on your offer, website and campaign setup.
The average cost per click for supplements is above typical retail, but conversion rates are also higher. How much do ads cost for a supplements e-shop? Expect to pay more per click than fashion and to depend strongly on repeat orders, since one pack with a small basket rarely leaves much room for ad cost.
Competition: high
Competition is high, and on top of it Google and Meta restrict health claims, which limits what your ads can say.
Worked example
A sample business run through the same engine as the calculator:
- Monthly budget
- €800
- Order value
- €40
- Gross margin
- 50 %
- Channel
- Google Search
- Cost per order
- €20
- Break-even
- €20
- Risk
- Medium risk
When ads don't pay off in this industry
Health claims in ads
Promising cures or effects gets ads rejected and accounts suspended. Stick to facts: ingredients, dosage, origin, certifications.
Competing on the most popular products
Protein, magnesium and vitamin D are advertised by everyone. Specific formulations, bundles or your own brand have better economics.
Tiny baskets
One pack at 15 to 20 euros cannot carry much ad cost. Bundles and subscriptions make the numbers work far more often.
What to check before you start
- Your ad texts and landing pages comply with health claim rules.
- Average basket, not single product price.
- Share of customers who reorder within 90 days.
- Whether your prices on key products are competitive.
Check your own numbers
The example is someone else's business. Put in your budget, prices and margin and see your own risk in 2 minutes.
Check your own numbersQuestions from this industry
What is the average cost per click for supplements?
Our orientational benchmark is around 0.40 EUR on Google Search in Slovakia. Popular product searches can cost much more.
Why do supplement ads get rejected?
Mostly because of health claims or restricted ingredients. Google and Meta both have specific policies for supplements and they apply them strictly.
Do subscriptions help ad profitability?
Yes. A subscription turns one expensive acquisition into several orders, which lets you pay more for the first one.
Is it better to sell my own brand?
Usually yes. Your own brand has better margin and nobody can undercut you on the same product.
Related industries
Useful calculators
This is an estimate based on market averages. Real results depend on your offer, website and campaign setup.