How Much Should Google Ads Management Cost?
There’s no single right number, but there are fair ranges and unfair traps.
Common pricing models
- Flat monthly fee — simple, predictable; best for most small businesses.
- Percentage of ad spend — can quietly grow your costs as spend rises.
- Performance-based — appealing, but check how “performance” is defined.
Hidden costs to watch
Brand-name bidding billed as performance, manual work Google automates, and lock-in contracts. (More on brand bidding.)
Run your free Google Ads audit
Before you pay anyone, know your starting point. Connect your account and Kestrel runs all 40 checks in plain English — your health score, wasted spend, and the fixes that matter. It’s read-only, free forever, and needs no credit card.
See what transparent management looks like and how to judge an agency.