Quick Answer
UK PPC agencies typically charge £500 to £5,000+ per month for management fees, depending on your ad spend, campaign complexity, and the agency's pricing model. The most common models are flat monthly fees and percentage of ad spend (10-20%).
UK PPC Agency Pricing Overview
The table below shows typical PPC agency fees in the UK based on monthly ad spend. These figures represent market averages for 2026 and may vary based on agency expertise, location, and service scope.
| Monthly Ad Spend | Typical Agency Fee | Pricing Model | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| £1,000 - £5,000 | £500 - £1,000 | Flat fee | Best for small businesses. May get junior-level attention. |
| £5,000 - £20,000 | £1,000 - £2,500 | Flat fee or % of spend | Sweet spot for most UK businesses. Expect dedicated account management. |
| £20,000 - £50,000 | £2,000 - £5,000 | Flat fee or 10-15% of spend | Senior-level expertise. Strategy calls and custom reporting. |
| £50,000+ | £5,000+ or 8-12% of spend | Negotiated | Enterprise-level. Dedicated team, custom strategies, multiple platforms. |
PPC Agency Pricing Models Explained
Flat Monthly Fee
Pros
- +Predictable costs regardless of ad spend
- +No incentive for agency to inflate spend
- +Aligned with performance outcomes
Cons
- -May not scale well for very large accounts
- -Higher entry point for small budgets
Best for: Growing businesses that want predictable costs
Percentage of Ad Spend
Pros
- +Lower barrier to entry for small budgets
- +Scales naturally with account size
- +Industry standard — easy to compare
Cons
- -Agency profits from higher spend, not better results
- -Costs increase as you scale — punishes success
- -Can misalign incentives
Best for: Businesses with very small or very large budgets
Performance-Based
Pros
- +Pay for results, not activity
- +Strongly aligned incentives
Cons
- -Hard to define fair performance metrics
- -May lead to short-term optimisation
- -Often combined with a base fee anyway
Best for: Ecommerce with clear revenue attribution
What Affects PPC Agency Costs?
Monthly Ad Spend
Higher ad spend typically means higher management fees, though the percentage often decreases at scale.
Number of Campaigns
More campaigns and ad groups require more time for optimisation, testing, and reporting.
Industry Competitiveness
Highly competitive industries (legal, finance) require more sophisticated strategies and closer attention.
Campaign Types
Search-only is simpler than managing Search + Shopping + Performance Max + Display simultaneously.
Reporting Requirements
Custom dashboards, weekly calls, and detailed attribution reporting add to management costs.
Agency Location & Overhead
Central London agencies typically charge more than regional or remote-first agencies. Consider expertise over location.
What Should Be Included in Agency Fees?
Regardless of pricing model, a reputable UK PPC agency should include the following in their management fee:
- Initial account audit and strategy development
- Campaign setup or restructuring
- Keyword research and negative keyword management
- Ad copy creation and A/B testing
- Bid optimisation and budget management
- Conversion tracking setup and maintenance
- Regular performance reporting (monthly minimum)
- Account manager access and support
Watch out for extras: Some agencies charge separately for landing page recommendations, conversion tracking setup, or quarterly strategy reviews. Clarify what's included before signing.
PPC Chief Pricing
We use a transparent flat-fee model. No percentage of spend, no hidden costs.
- £400 — One-time Strategy Session (audit + 90-day roadmap)
- £1,500/mo — Growth (£3k-10k ad spend)
- £2,500/mo — Scale (£10k+ ad spend)