How much does Google Ads management cost?PPC pricing models, fees and what should be included
Most agencies and freelancers don't publish their prices, which makes it hard to compare offers. This page explains how Google Ads and PPC management is usually priced, what should be included in the fee, which costs to watch out for, and exactly what I charge.
What Google Ads management costs
Running Google Ads has two costs: the ad spend you pay Google for clicks, and the management fee you pay the person or agency who runs the account. Management fees are usually a fixed monthly fee, a percentage of ad spend or a mix of both, and they range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars a month depending on who does the work and how big the account is.
My Google Ads management starts at $900 a month as a fixed fee, with no setup fee. It includes conversion tracking, the campaign build, ad copy, weekly optimization and a monthly review. Your exact price is a fixed quote after the free initial audit.
How PPC management is usually priced
Each model rewards something different. It's worth knowing which one you're signing up for.
| Model | How it works | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed monthly fee | One price a month for an agreed scope of work, whatever the ad spend | Check exactly what's included, and how changes in scope are priced |
| Percentage of ad spend | Commonly around 10–20% of monthly ad spend, often with a minimum fee | The fee rises when you spend more, even if results don't |
| Hybrid | A base fee plus a percentage above a certain spend | Harder to predict month to month |
| Hourly | Billed for the hours worked, typical for one-off projects | Ongoing optimization becomes hard to budget |
| Performance-based | Paid per lead or sale, or a share of revenue | Needs tracking both sides trust, and can push volume over quality |
I charge a fixed monthly fee. It keeps your costs predictable, and my fee doesn't go up just because your ad spend does, so recommending a bigger budget is never in my interest unless the results support it.
What a Google Ads management fee should include
A low monthly fee can cost more in the end if it leaves out the work that decides your results. Whoever you hire, check that the fee covers:
- Conversion tracking. Calls, forms and sales counted correctly in Google Ads and GA4. Without it, nobody can tell which ads bring customers.
- Campaign build or rebuild. Campaign structure, keywords, negative keywords, locations and settings, with the riskier defaults switched off.
- Ad copy and extensions. Written, tested and improved over time.
- Ongoing optimization. Search terms, bids, budgets and ads reviewed every week.
- Reporting you can read. Leads, cost per lead and revenue, alongside clicks and impressions.
- Direct access. Knowing who actually works on your account and being able to reach them.
All of this is included in my management fee, on every platform I run.
My Google Ads management pricing
Prices are starting points. Your exact fixed price follows the free initial audit and depends on the number of campaigns, locations and products, the platforms you advertise on and the state of your tracking.
| Service | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Google Ads management | from $900/mo | Tracking setup, campaign build, ad copy, weekly optimization and monthly review included |
| Microsoft Ads add-on | +$250/mo | Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo and Copilot, run alongside Google |
| ChatGPT Ads add-on | +$350/mo | Ads below relevant ChatGPT answers, with tracking set up first |
| Deep-Dive Audit | from $500 | Credited toward your first month if you start management within 30 days |
| Measurement Setup | from $700 | Tag Manager, GA4, call tracking and conversions, one-time |
| Audit + Measurement Setup | $1,000 | Both together, for businesses that run their ads in-house |
Ad spend is separate and paid directly to Google, Microsoft or OpenAI from your own card. A 3-month start, then month to month.
What Google Ads costs in total each month
Your total monthly cost is your ad spend plus the management fee. For most local service businesses, around $1,500–2,000 a month in ad spend is where results become reliably measurable. With management from $900, that puts a typical starting point at roughly $2,400–2,900 a month in total.
Online stores and businesses in competitive markets usually need more ad spend, and smaller local markets can need less. We set a realistic number together after the free initial audit, based on your area, your competition and what a customer is worth to you.
What to check when comparing offers
The monthly fee is only part of the picture. Many agencies work the way described below, and it can suit some businesses. Here is how I handle each point.
Setup fees
A one-time setup fee on top of the monthly fee.
With me: No setup fee. Tracking setup and campaign build are included.
Markup on ad spend
Ad spend paid through the agency, with a margin added on top.
With me: Your card is on the account and I never touch the budget.
Account ownership
Ad accounts and tracking created in the agency's name.
With me: Everything I set up is created in your name and stays yours.
Contract length
Twelve-month contracts, sometimes with cancellation fees.
With me: A 3-month start so the work has time to show results, then month to month.
Reporting
Reports focused on clicks and impressions rather than leads and revenue.
With me: Reports built around leads, cost per lead and revenue.
Who runs the account
The account is run day to day by an account manager. The specialist you first spoke to rarely touches it.
With me: The person you talk to is the person doing the work.
PPC agency vs. a Google Ads specialist
A larger PPC agency brings a team and processes, but its fee also pays for sales, account managers and overhead, and your account is often run by someone more junior. A specialist who works alone usually costs less for the same level of experience, and you deal directly with the person doing the work.
I've spent more than 8 years in paid search, managing campaigns for businesses in the US, Canada and Europe. I take on a small number of clients at a time, handle every account myself and reply within one business day.
Google Ads management pricing: questions
Something else? Send me a message and I'll reply within one business day.
How much does Google Ads management cost?
Management fees usually range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars a month, depending on the provider and the size of the account. My Google Ads management starts at $900 a month as a fixed fee, with tracking setup, campaign build and ad copy included and no setup fee.
Is a flat fee or a percentage of ad spend better?
A flat fee is more predictable and doesn't reward spending more for its own sake. A percentage of ad spend, commonly around 10–20%, can suit very large accounts, but the fee grows with your budget even when results don't. I charge a fixed monthly fee.
Is ad spend included in the management fee?
No. Ad spend is paid directly to Google from your own card, and the management fee is separate. I never mark up or handle your ad budget.
Do you charge a setup fee?
No. Conversion tracking, the campaign build and ad copy are included in the monthly management fee on every platform.
Do I have to sign a long contract?
No. There's a 3-month start so the work has time to show results, then it's month to month.
How much do PPC management fees cost for Microsoft Ads and ChatGPT Ads?
Microsoft Ads is an add-on from $250 a month and ChatGPT Ads an add-on from $350 a month to Google Ads management. Either can also run on its own, with a fixed quote after the free initial audit.
Get a fixed quote for your account
Let's see what ads can do for your business
Already running ads? I'll start with a free check of what's visible from the outside: your website, tracking tags and live ads. A full review inside your accounts needs read-only access and is part of the Deep-Dive Audit. Just getting started? I'll look at your website and market and tell you where to begin. Either way, you get a short written summary and a fixed-price quote. No obligation.