There are two separate costs in any Google Ads program: your ad spend, which goes to Google, and the management fee, which pays someone to run the account. Mixing the two up is the most common source of confusion.
Ad spend
Ad spend is what you pay Google for clicks. You set the budget, and with a good setup you can raise or lower it at any time. The right amount depends on your market, your competition, and how much new business you can handle.
Common management pricing models
- Flat monthly fee, usually based on complexity.
- Percentage of ad spend, which rises with your budget whether or not results do.
- Packages or tiers, which may or may not fit your business.
- Setup fees charged separately to build the account.
Each can work. What matters is knowing what you pay for and who does the work.
What I charge
My management starts at $1,000 per month and scales with complexity. It is a flat monthly fee, not a percentage of your ad spend. There are no long-term contracts, no minimum ad spend, and no tiers. Your ad budget is paid directly to Google or OpenAI, and you own your accounts.
What to compare
Ask who manages your account day to day, how often they make changes, whether you own the account, and how you can reach them. A lower fee is not a bargain if the account is rarely touched.