Hiring a Facebook Ads Agency: What to Expect

Facebook and Instagram Ads (now Meta Ads) are among the most powerful paid social channels. But the platform's complexity — from audience building to creative testing to attribution — means most businesses are better off partnering with a specialized agency. Here's what to expect when you do.

What a Facebook Ads Agency Actually Does

A good Facebook Ads agency handles much more than just "running ads." Their scope typically includes:

• Strategy — Defining your funnel, audiences, messaging angles, and campaign structure.
• Creative production — Designing ad images, writing copy, and producing video content.
• Campaign setup — Building campaigns with proper targeting, placements, and conversion events.
• Testing — A/B testing creatives, audiences, and landing pages to find winning combinations.
• Optimization — Daily monitoring, bid adjustments, and budget reallocation based on performance.
• Reporting — Weekly or monthly reports with clear metrics and insights.

The Onboarding Process

Expect the first 2–4 weeks to be a ramp-up period. A typical onboarding looks like:

1. Week 1 — Kickoff call, access to ad accounts, review of past performance, brand assets handoff.
2. Week 2 — Audience research, competitive analysis, creative brief development.
3. Week 3 — Creative production, campaign setup, pixel/CAPI verification.
4. Week 4 — Launch initial campaigns, begin testing phase.

Don't expect strong results in the first month. The testing phase typically lasts 4–8 weeks before the agency finds winning formulas.

Creative: The #1 Lever

With Meta's AI-driven targeting (Advantage+), creative quality is now the biggest performance lever. A great agency:

• Produces 10–20+ new ad creatives per month
• Tests multiple formats: static, video, carousel, UGC
• Iterates on winners — changing hooks, CTAs, and angles
• Understands platform-native creative (not repurposed TV ads)

If an agency only refreshes creative once a quarter, they're behind the curve.

Pricing Models

Model	Typical Range	Notes
% of ad spend	10–20%	Common, scales with budget
Flat retainer	$1,500–$8,000/mo	Predictable costs
Performance	CPA or ROAS-based fee	Aligns incentives, less common
Hybrid	Base + performance bonus	Best of both worlds

Creative production may or may not be included — always clarify this upfront.

What to Look for in Reviews

When evaluating agencies on Pick an Agency, pay attention to:

• Creative quality — Do reviewers mention strong ad design and copy?
• Communication — Is the agency responsive and proactive?
• Results specifics — Look for mentions of ROAS, CPA, or revenue numbers.
• Scaling ability — Has the agency helped clients scale from $5K to $50K+ in monthly spend?

Questions to Ask Before Signing

1. Do you handle creative production in-house or do I need to provide assets?
2. How do you handle iOS privacy changes and Conversions API (CAPI)?
3. What's your approach to Advantage+ Shopping campaigns?
4. How many new creatives do you test per month?
5. What does your reporting include and how often?

Find Your Facebook Ads Agency

Browse top Facebook Ads agencies on Pick an Agency — compare reviews, pricing, and creative capabilities to find the right partner.