How Much Does PPC Management Cost in 2025?
One of the most common questions I get is: how much does PPC management cost?
The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. It depends on your ad spend, the complexity of your campaigns, and who’s managing it. In this post, I’ll break down exactly how I price PPC, explain what affects the cost, and give you a clear idea of what to expect if you’re thinking of hiring someone like me to manage your campaigns.
Why Most Businesses Hire Someone to Manage PPC
PPC is one of the fastest ways to get your business in front of the right people. A good campaign can generate results within days, but it takes experience to get right.
To run a proper PPC campaign, you need:
Keyword research
Targeted ad copy
Landing pages that convert
Conversion tracking
Ongoing testing and optimisation
It’s not something you can set up once and forget about. That’s why most businesses choose to outsource it, especially when ad budgets start to grow.
How I Price PPC Management
I keep my pricing simple and transparent.
If your monthly ad budget is £5,000 or less, I charge a flat £500 fee. If you want to spend more, the percentage drops. This makes sure your fee stays proportionate and doesn’t become ridiculous as your budget grows.
I don’t tie anyone into long contracts. If things are working, you’ll stick around without needing one.
If you’d like me to take a look at your current account, just fill in the contact form at the bottom of this page. I’ll give you honest feedback with no pressure.
How PPC Is Usually Priced
Here’s how most PPC agencies or freelancers price their work:
1. Percentage of ad spend
This is the most common model. The agency charges a percentage of your ad budget. It scales with your growth, but percentages can vary widely. Mine starts at 10% and go lower as your spend increases.
2. Fixed monthly fee
Some people prefer a set monthly fee no matter how much you spend. This works well if your budget is consistent and you want predictable costs.
3. Performance-based
You pay based on results, like leads or revenue. This can work in theory, but it needs accurate tracking and a clear sales process. It’s usually offered by bigger agencies or in very specific situations.
4. Hybrid models
Some combine a base fee with performance incentives or extra services. It can be useful, but you’ll want to make sure it’s clear what’s included.
Should You Hire a PPC Manager or Keep It In-House?
If you’ve got the time to learn the platform, set up tracking and monitor performance every week, you can manage PPC yourself. But it’s easy to spend hundreds or even thousands without getting much back if things aren’t set up correctly.
Here’s a simple breakdown of the pros and cons.
| Approach | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| In-House |
Full control Lower monthly cost |
Time-consuming Risk of wasting budget |
| Hire a Specialist |
Faster results Less hassle Better ROI |
Management fee Finding someone you trust |
Most clients who come to me have already tried it themselves or had a bad experience with automated campaigns that didn’t deliver. Once the setup is done properly and you start to see results, the value becomes clear.
What Affects the Cost of PPC Management
There are a few key things that can increase the amount of work involved, and therefore the cost:
Campaign complexity
If you’re running a simple local campaign with a few ad groups, it’s pretty straightforward. If you have thousands of products, multiple landing pages or several locations, the setup and optimisation take more time.
Industry competition
Some industries like law, finance or home improvement are much more competitive. You’ll need sharper ad copy, tighter targeting and a bigger budget to compete. That has an impact on how much time is needed to manage your account properly.
Geographic targeting
Local campaigns are quicker to manage than national or international ones. The wider your reach, the more data we need to analyse and test.
Platform mix
Most of the work I do is on Google Ads and Microsoft Ads. If your campaign also includes Facebook, Instagram or YouTube, that requires additional setup, testing and strategy.
Campaign goals
Whether you’re aiming for leads, online sales or brand visibility, your goal affects the structure and tracking required. Lead generation might need forms and CRM integration, while ecommerce needs product feeds and sales tracking.
Level of reporting
I include clear monthly reports as standard, showing what’s working and what’s next. You shouldn’t have to pay extra just to know how your money is being spent.
Is PPC Management Worth It?
Yes, but only if it’s being done properly.
A good campaign will pay for itself. A bad one will quietly burn your budget. My job is to make sure every pound you spend works as hard as it can. That means regular testing, tight tracking, and a strategy that fits your goals.
Whether you're spending £1,000 a month or £20,000, the aim is always the same: profitable growth without wasting time or money.
Want Me to Take a Look at Your Ads?
If you're not sure whether your current campaigns are working properly, or you're thinking about trying PPC for the first time, I'm happy to help.
Just fill in the form below and I’ll get back to you personally.