Fractional Ad Management vs Agencies, Freelancers & In-House Employees

See how Fractional Ad Management compares on cost, performance, and flexibility—so you can choose the smartest way to run profitable Google & Meta campaigns.

Launch Faster.
49%
Clients report up to 49% faster campaign optimizations than traditional agencies.
Spend smarter.
71%
Clients save 71% on average compared to hiring a full-time ad specialist.
Scale confidently.
96%
96% of clients continue month-to-month thanks to flexibility and consistent results.

Monthly cost comparison

Here’s what businesses typically spend on ad management each month—and why Fractional delivers more performance for less budget.

Ad Management

Senior ad experts and flexible plans for growing brands.

$1,999
CAD
billed monthly. Plus ad spend
Term
30 Day plan, pause anytime
Onboarding
2 - 3 Days
Channels
Google Ads, Meta Ads, remarketing
Tracking
Pixel setup + performance dashboards
Reporting
Weekly + monthly reports
Optimization
Continuous testing and reviews
Scalability
Add campaigns anytime
This service is best for
Businesses needing consistent ad optimization and reporting without agency fees or overhead of staff.

Traditional Agencies

Dedicated account managers and larger teams with higher retainers.

$4,000–$8,000
CAD
retainers plus 10–20% of ad spend
Term
6 - 12 Month contracts
Onboarding
1 - 2 Weeks
Channels
Multi-platform coverage
Tracking
Often delayed or outsourced
Reporting
Monthly summary
Optimization
Slower, batch updates
Scalability
Requires contract changes
This service is best for
Brand overhauls with strategy, research, and multi-channel campaigns.

Freelancers

Cost-effective but limited time, bandwidth, and reporting depth.

$2,500–$5,000
CAD
hourly or percentage of spend
Term
Project or hourly-based
Onboarding
2 – 5 days (availability-dependent)
Channels
Varies by skillset
Tracking
Manual pixel setup
Reporting
Basic ad reports
Optimization
Limited bandwidth
Scalability
Dependent on freelancer capacity
This service is best for
Small campaigns or seasonal promotions. Small budgets are recommended.

Full-time Employees

Consistent focus but high fixed cost and slower onboarding.

$6,000–$9,000
CAD
plus hiring costs, benefits, and more
Term
Full-time employment
Onboarding
2 - 6 Weeks hiring
Channels
Depends on the employee
Tracking
Internal analytics setup
Reporting
Internal dashboards
Optimization
Consistent but slower testing cycle
Scalability
Hire to expand
This service is best for
Large teams running multiple accounts year-round for internal brands.
Ready for the next step?
Click to learn more about how Fractional Ad Management can help your business scale and save.
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Why businesses switch to Fractional Ad Management

Agencies add layers, retainers, and percentage-based fees that inflate ad costs. Freelancers can be affordable but lack structure, reporting depth, and consistent optimization. Hiring in-house guarantees focus but limits flexibility and adds long-term expense. Fractional Ad Management delivers expert-level strategy and campaign management at a flat rate—no contracts, no commissions, just performance and transparency.

Is Fractional Ad Management right for you?

If your business relies on Google or Meta ads for growth, Fractional Ad Management fits perfectly. You’ll get fast, expert support and ongoing optimization without agency markups or in-house overhead. Every campaign is tracked, tested, and improved week by week to increase ROI. It’s built for companies that value results, not retainers.

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Ad Management
Can I pause or cancel my plan?
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Ad Management
Does the fee include ad spend?
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Ad Management
How does it compare to hiring an agency?
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Ad Management
How fast will I see results?
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Ad Management
What is Fractional Ad Management?
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Ad Management
What’s included in the plan?