Google Ads management is usually priced one of two ways: a flat monthly fee for the work, or a percentage of how much you spend on ads. We charge a flat monthly fee, quoted up front after a free consultation, and your ad budget stays separate from it.
Two costs, not one
Every Google Ads account has two costs. The ad budget is what you pay Google for clicks. The management fee is what you pay someone to run the account: research keywords, review search terms, test ads, adjust bids and report results. Pricing models differ in how they set the second number.
Percentage of ad spend
With this model, the management fee is a share of your monthly ad budget. As your budget grows, so does the fee.
- Simple to calculate and easy to compare month to month.
- The fee follows the budget, not the work. Spending more doesn't always mean more work, yet the fee rises.
- The incentive can point the wrong way. A manager paid on spend earns more when you spend more, even when the better move is to cut wasted spend.
Flat monthly fee
With a flat fee, you pay a set amount each month for managing the account, based on how much work it needs.
- Predictable. You know the cost before the month starts.
- Tied to the work. The fee reflects the number of campaigns and platforms and how much hands-on attention the account needs.
- No reason to inflate spend. Cutting wasted clicks doesn't cut the manager's pay, so the advice can focus on results.
The trade-off: if your account grows a lot, the fee may need to be re-quoted to match the extra work.
Questions to ask any Google Ads provider
- What's included each month? Search term reviews, ad testing, bid changes, conversion tracking and reporting should all be named.
- Is there a long-term contract? Month-to-month keeps everyone accountable.
- Is the ad budget separate from the fee? It should be clear what goes to Google and what goes to the manager.
- How will results be reported? Look for plain-English updates on what you spent, what it brought in and what changed.
- Who will work on my account? Know who's doing the work and how to reach them.
How we price it
We set up, run and improve Google Ads campaigns for a flat monthly fee, quoted up front after a free consultation, with 19 years of paid search experience and no long-term contract. Tell us about your business and your current ads, and we'll send your quote.