Is £199/month enough for Google Ads management?

Google Ads management is priced in two very different ways, and the difference matters more than the headline figure. Understand it and you'll save money. You'll also save yourself a good deal of frustration.

Fixed fee versus percentage of spend

Many agencies charge a percentage of your advertising budget. On the surface, it sounds fair. In practice, it rewards them for spending more of your money, whether or not that spending brings in enquiries. A fixed fee removes that conflict entirely.

Arête's Google Ads management starts at £199/month, as a fixed fee. Your ad budget is separate, paid directly to Google and always under your control. The fee isn't tied to what you spend.

What good management includes

• Campaigns built around the enquiries worth having. Vanity clicks don't count.
• Proper conversion tracking, so results are measured honestly
• Regular search term reviews and negative keyword work
• Advice on where to send traffic, so clicks turn into enquiries
• Plain-English reporting that leads with cost per enquiry

When £199 is enough

For a focused campaign in a defined area or service, a fixed fee at this level pays for careful, hands-on management. Run lots of campaigns across lots of locations and the scope grows, so the fee reflects that. Either way, you always know what you're paying and why.

The question to ask any agency

Ask how they're paid, and what happens to their fee as your spend grows. If the answer is a percentage, ask what stops the budget creeping up. If it's a fixed fee with a defined scope, you know exactly where you stand. One question. It tells you a lot.