How to Choose the Best Facebook Ads Agency

Choosing an ads agency is a big decision. A good one can scale a store profitably; a bad one can burn months and budget. Rather than recommend specific agencies, this guide shows how to evaluate them.

What a good ecommerce ads agency does

Creative strategy: testing angles, hooks and formats continually. Creative now drives most Meta ad performance.
Account structure: simple, data-friendly campaigns using tools like Advantage+ where appropriate.
Measurement: Conversions API set up, clean pixel events, and reporting on purchases and profit.
Landing page feedback: they flag when the store, not the ads, is the problem.
Communication: regular reporting and clear next steps.

Questions to ask

Which ecommerce brands at our size have you worked with? Can we speak to one?
Who will actually run our account day to day?
How do you produce and test creative?
What metrics do you report, and how often?
How do you handle attribution and iOS privacy limits?
What happens if results are poor after 90 days?
Who owns the ad account, pixel, audiences and creative?

Pricing models

Model	Pros	Cons
Flat retainer	Predictable	May not scale with effort
% of ad spend	Scales with account	Incentive to increase spend
Hybrid	Balanced	More complex
Performance-based	Aligned incentives	Hard to define fairly

Red flags

Guaranteed ROAS or revenue numbers.
Wanting to own your ad account.
Reporting only clicks, reach or vanity metrics.
Long lock-in contracts with no exit.
No questions about your margins.

In-house vs agency vs freelancer

In-house: most control, needs skills and time.
Freelancer: flexible and affordable for smaller budgets.
Agency: broader team (creative, analytics, strategy) for larger budgets.

What to prepare before talking to agencies

Agencies can give better proposals if you share:

Gross margin and average order value.
Current monthly ad spend and results by channel.
Best-selling products and seasonal patterns.
Existing creative assets and brand guidelines.
Your targets: break-even cost per purchase, growth goals, budget limits.
Access constraints: who approves creative and spend.

A trial period structure

Many brands start with a defined trial, for example 60 to 90 days, with agreed goals:

Phase	Focus
Weeks 1–2	Audit, tracking fixes, creative strategy
Weeks 3–6	Launch and test new creative and structure
Weeks 7–12	Optimise, scale winners, report learnings

Agree in advance what "success" means and how often you will meet.

Ending an agency relationship cleanly

If it does not work out, make sure you retain admin access to the ad account, pixel, catalogue and pages, receive copies of creative files you paid for, and get a handover note on what was tested. Remove the agency's partner access in Business Manager once the notice period ends.

Get your house in order first

Know your margins, average order value and break-even cost per purchase. Read do Facebook ads work for ecommerce, don't make this mistake with your Facebook ads and how to add someone to Facebook Ads Manager.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Facebook ads agencies charge?

Common models are a flat monthly retainer, a percentage of ad spend, a hybrid, or performance-based fees. Ask for all costs in writing, including creative production.

When should a store hire an agency?

Usually once you have a product that sells, a converting website and enough budget that management time and expertise matter. Agencies cannot fix a product that does not sell.

Should I give an agency access to my ad account?

Give access through Meta Business Manager as a partner, keeping ownership of the ad account, pixel and pages in your own business.

Platform features, prices and policies change. Check the official help pages linked above before you act on a detail that matters to your store.

How to Choose the Best Facebook Ads Agency for Your Store