Facebook ads agency vs doing it yourself: which is right for your business?
An honest comparison to help small businesses decide who should run their Facebook and Instagram ads.
Facebook and Instagram ads (run through Meta Ads Manager) can bring in customers at almost any budget. The big question for most small businesses is whether to run them yourself or hire a Facebook ads agency. Here's an honest look at both options.
Running Facebook ads yourself
Pros
- No management fee, so your whole budget goes to ads
- You know your customers and products better than anyone
- Good for testing small budgets and simple offers
Cons
- Meta Ads Manager has a learning curve and changes often
- Tracking setup (Pixel, Conversions API, events) is easy to get wrong
- Creating fresh images and videos every few weeks takes time
- Mistakes in targeting or bidding can quietly waste budget
Hiring a Facebook ads agency
Pros
- Experience across many accounts and industries
- Proper tracking, testing and reporting from day one
- Regular new ad creatives so results don't fade
- You get your time back to run the business
Cons
- A monthly management fee on top of your ad spend
- Quality varies a lot between agencies
- You still need to share feedback on leads and sales
Side-by-side comparison
| Do it yourself | Facebook ads agency | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Ad spend only | Ad spend plus management fee |
| Your time | Several hours a week | A short review call or report each month |
| Tracking | You set it up | Set up and checked for you |
| Ad creatives | You design them | Often included or offered |
| Best for | Very small budgets, learning the basics | Businesses ready to grow and scale |
When doing it yourself makes sense
- You're just starting and your ad budget is very small.
- You enjoy marketing and have time to learn and test each week.
- You have a simple offer and a clear local audience.
When an agency makes sense
- You've tried ads yourself and results were inconsistent.
- You want to grow spend but need someone to manage it properly.
- You don't have time to create new ads and read reports.
- You also want Google Ads managed, so both platforms work together.
If you're unsure which platform to start with, read our guide on Google Ads vs Meta Ads for small businesses.
How to choose a good Facebook ads agency
- Ask how they measure success. Cost per lead or cost per sale matters more than clicks or likes.
- Check who owns the ad account. The ad account and Pixel should belong to your business, with the agency given access.
- Ask about creatives. Who designs the images and videos, and how often are they refreshed?
- Look at their reporting. Ask for a sample monthly report. It should be clear and honest.
- Avoid guaranteed results. No one can promise a fixed number of sales from day one.
- Check the contract. Month-to-month or short terms are a good sign of confidence.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Facebook ads agency cost?
Most agencies charge a monthly management fee on top of your ad spend. Some charge a flat fee and others a percentage of spend. Cubit manages Meta Ads and Google Ads for US businesses from US$199 a month plus ad spend.
Can I start with DIY and switch to an agency later?
Yes. If you set up your own ad account and Pixel correctly, an agency can be given access later and build on your existing data.
How long does it take for Facebook ads to work?
You'll see clicks quickly, but campaigns usually need a few weeks of data to optimize. Judge results over two to three months.
Do you also manage Instagram ads?
Yes. Facebook and Instagram ads are both run from Meta Ads Manager, so we manage them together.
Want your Facebook and Instagram ads managed properly?
See how Cubit manages Meta Ads and Google Ads for US businesses.
View ads management