Find your exact rate
Typical project work, moderate complexity.
Factor in AI tool subscriptions
Your Rate
Day Rate
$450
Project Est.
$2,200
Retainer
$8,350/mo
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Community Data
What do you actually charge?
Anonymous. Helps improve market benchmarks.
How to Charge a Flat Fee for PPC Campaign Management
Flat-fee PPC management typically ranges from $500–$4,000/month depending on account complexity and deliverables. Most freelance PPC specialists charge $750–$1,500/month for a single-platform account and $2,000–$4,000/month for multi-platform management.
Floor
$500
per hour
Typical
$1,500
per hour
Premium
$4,000
per hour
Find your exact rate
Typical project work, moderate complexity.
Factor in AI tool subscriptions
Your Rate
Day Rate
$450
Project Est.
$2,200
Retainer
$8,350/mo
Was this helpful?
Community Data
What do you actually charge?
Anonymous. Helps improve market benchmarks.
What changes the price
- Number of platforms (Google only vs. Google + Meta + LinkedIn)
- Campaign count and complexity
- Reporting frequency and deliverable depth
- Strategy meeting cadence
- Creative asset production included
- Conversion tracking setup and maintenance
- Account size (campaign count, keyword count)
- Contract length (month-to-month vs. 6-month commitment)
Real quote breakdowns
Single Platform — Google Ads Only
A regional services company needs Google Search campaign management. Two campaigns, 8 ad groups, monthly performance report, and one 30-minute call per month.
Breakdown
Flat monthly fee: $900. Covers campaign optimization (6 hours), monthly report (2 hours), and client call. Effective rate: ~$112/hour.
Dual Platform — Google + Meta Ads
An e-commerce brand needs both Google Search/Shopping and Meta (Facebook + Instagram) ads managed. Biweekly calls, a shared dashboard, and unified attribution reporting.
Breakdown
Google Ads flat fee: $1,200. Meta Ads flat fee: $1,000. Cross-channel reporting and unified dashboard: $200. Total $2,400/month.
Full-Service Multi-Platform Management
A SaaS company needs Google, Microsoft Bing, LinkedIn, and YouTube ads managed with weekly strategy calls, a dedicated Slack channel, and quarterly business reviews.
Breakdown
Google Ads: $1,500. Microsoft Ads: $700. LinkedIn Ads: $1,500. YouTube: $900. Reporting, QBRs, and dedicated communication: $900. Total $5,500/month.
Frequently asked questions
When is flat-fee pricing better than percentage-of-spend for PPC?
Flat-fee pricing is better when clients have fixed, predictable budgets and want cost certainty. It also avoids the conflict-of-interest criticism of percentage models. Use it for clients who won't significantly scale their ad spend.
How do I scope a flat-fee PPC contract to avoid undercharging?
Define your deliverables precisely: how many campaigns, optimization hours per month, reporting format, and number of calls. Include a scope change policy — adding a new platform or doubling campaign count triggers a contract renegotiation.
Should I offer a discount for longer contract commitments?
Yes. Offer 10–15% off for 6-month contracts and 15–20% off for 12-month contracts. The predictable income justifies the discount and reduces client churn.
How do I price a flat-fee retainer for a brand new PPC account?
New account setup requires significantly more work than ongoing management — charge a one-time setup fee (1–2x your monthly rate) in addition to the first month's retainer. Subsequent months are ongoing management only.