The right PPC management fee depends on the account, the work included and the business outcome being measured. Before accepting a proposal in 2026, separate the advertising budget from the management fee and check whether setup, landing pages and conversion tracking are included.
Separate ad spend from management fees
Ad spend pays the advertising platform to run campaigns. A management fee pays for the agency's work. Depending on the agreement, you may also pay for initial setup, landing-page development, call tracking or other software.
Ask for each component to be listed clearly, including applicable taxes and billing currency. Confirm whether the platform bills your business directly or the agency handles that payment. A proposal should make it easy to identify how much money reaches the advertising platform.
Understand the pricing model
A flat monthly fee covers an agreed scope for a stated price. A percentage-of-spend arrangement ties the management fee to the advertising budget, sometimes with a minimum fee. A hybrid can combine a base fee with an additional percentage or defined project work.
None of these models proves the quality of the service. Ask what changes when the advertising budget increases, when another location is added or when a new campaign type is required. The agreement should describe those boundaries before work expands.
What should the scope explain?
A proposal should identify the services and regions being advertised, the account structure, campaign responsibilities and the review process. It should explain how search terms, negative keywords, ads, budgets and landing pages will be assessed.
Partopia's paid media services connect campaign intent, landing-page clarity and conversion measurement. If a campaign needs a new landing page, clarify whether that is part of management or a separate web design project. Neither item should be assumed from the monthly fee alone.
Check measurement before judging value
Agree on what counts as a lead. A click on a submit button is different from a successful form submission, and an enquiry is different from a qualified sales opportunity. Where possible, the reporting process should connect advertising activity with the enquiries the business actually receives.
Ask who tests forms, call destinations and booking paths. Also confirm how duplicate conversion counting is prevented. Reporting should explain the definition of each result so a lower cost per conversion does not simply reflect a change in what is being counted.
Confirm ownership and approval rules
Your proposal should identify who owns the advertising account, analytics, tag manager and any call-tracking accounts. Confirm who has administrator access, who approves budget changes and what happens to account access when the agreement ends.
Review the contract term, cancellation conditions and handover arrangements. Ask how frequently performance is reviewed and what information your team must supply. A sensible fee comparison includes these responsibilities alongside the monthly amount.
How do you decide what to pay?
Compare proposals against the same scope and total budget. Include media spend, management, setup, landing pages and recurring tools in your calculation. Then assess whether the work and measurement are appropriate for the services you are promoting.
A low fee with important exclusions may not be the least expensive complete option. Equally, a higher fee needs a clear explanation of the additional work. Avoid treating a promised number of leads or a guaranteed return as a substitute for a defined plan.
Request a clear PPC proposal
Bring your current account information, target services, regions and budget to the discussion. Partopia Digital can review how campaigns, landing pages and measurement fit together. Call (604) 445-8334 or contact the team to discuss the scope of a paid media engagement.