If you run a business in Victoria and you’re thinking about hiring someone to manage your Google Ads, this guide covers what you should get for your money: what good management involves, how agencies charge, what to ask before you sign anything, and when doing it yourself makes more sense.
Why Google Ads works well in Victoria
Before choosing a manager, it helps to know why Google Ads suits this market.
- People search when they’re ready to book. Searches like “chiropractor Saanich”, “emergency plumber Victoria” or “dentist accepting new patients Sidney” come from people who already need help. Google Ads puts you in front of them at that moment, which a flyer or social post can’t do.
- Less competition than Metro Vancouver. Greater Victoria has plenty of local searches but far fewer advertisers bidding on them, so clicks usually cost less than in the Lower Mainland. Our Victoria cost breakdown has typical click costs by industry.
- Targeting can be very local. You can target specific municipalities or a radius around your location. An Oak Bay physio doesn’t need to pay for clicks from Langford, and a Sidney plumber can cover the Peninsula without paying for downtown.
- You control the budget and timing. You set a daily budget, choose the hours your ads run, and can pause when you’re fully booked. That suits seasonal businesses, such as landscapers busy in spring or clinics that fill up in January.
- It’s fast and measurable. A search campaign can be live within a week, and with conversion tracking you can see which keywords and ads produce calls and bookings.
Google Ads isn’t a replacement for SEO, which builds visibility over months. Most local businesses do best running ads for leads now while their organic rankings grow. See SEO vs Google Ads for Canadian clinics for how the two fit together.
What Google Ads management actually involves
Many owners assume management means someone logs in once a month to check the numbers. A well-run account takes much more than that.
Setup
Before any ads run, a manager should research the terms your customers actually search, check what local competitors are bidding on, group keywords into tight ad groups, write compliant ad copy in several versions, set location targeting to your real service area, and set up conversion tracking so every call and form is counted. This foundation decides how the account performs for months.
Ongoing optimization
Once the campaign is live, the work continues every month: reviewing the search terms report and adding negative keywords, shifting budget toward keywords that produce enquiries, pausing weak ads and testing new ones, and tightening or widening location targeting. Google’s automated bidding improves as conversion data builds up, but only if someone is checking what it’s doing.
Reporting
You should get a plain-English report each month covering calls, forms, bookings, spend and cost per enquiry, plus what’s being changed next month. A dashboard link on its own isn’t a report.
How Victoria agencies charge for management
Percentage of ad spend (usually 10–20%). The most common model. At $1,000 a month in ads, that’s $100–$200 in fees; at $3,000, it’s $300–$600. The agency earns more when you spend more, whether or not results improve, and many set a minimum ad spend that puts them out of reach for smaller businesses.
Flat monthly fee. One fee regardless of spend. We charge $199 CAD a month for setup and ongoing management, with no setup fee, no minimum spend and no contract. Your ad spend is billed by Google to your own account, so our incentive is your results, not your budget.
Hourly or retainer. Some freelancers bill by the hour. It can work, but monthly costs are unpredictable. Retainers are more predictable, but what’s included varies widely, so ask for it in writing.
For what ad spend plus management adds up to by industry, see our Victoria cost breakdown. New advertisers can sometimes also get a promotional credit from Google; terms vary, so check how the Google Ads credit works.
What to look for in a Victoria Google Ads manager
- You own the account. The Google Ads account should be in your name with your billing, and the manager added as a user. If an agency holds the account, you can lose years of data and conversion history when you leave.
- No lock-in contract. A good manager keeps clients with results. Month-to-month is reasonable to ask for.
- Experience in your industry. Healthcare and trades each have their own keyword patterns, compliance rules and ways people convert. Ask for examples from businesses like yours.
- Google Partner status. Google Partners meet Google’s requirements for performance, spend and certified staff. It isn’t a guarantee of quality, but it’s a useful signal.
- Clear reporting. Ask to see a sample monthly report before you sign.
Questions to ask before you hire anyone
- Who owns the Google Ads account?
- Is there a minimum ad spend?
- Is the fee flat or a percentage of spend?
- What’s the contract length, and how do I cancel?
- Who will actually manage my account day to day?
- What have you done for businesses like mine in BC?
- How do you handle the ad rules for my industry?
- What will my monthly report include?
If an agency is vague on the first four, keep looking.
Doing it yourself vs hiring a manager
| Doing it yourself | Professional management | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Hours of learning before launch | Usually live within a week |
| Compliance | Easy to miss healthcare or trade rules | Built into the ads from the start |
| Ongoing work | Often skipped when you’re busy | Done every month |
| Negative keywords | Often missing | Built from day one |
| Your time | Several hours a month | A short monthly check-in |
| Account ownership | Yours | Should still be yours |
Doing it yourself can work if you have the time and a small, simple campaign. If you’re already running ads, our Google Ads self-audit is a good place to start, whether or not you hire help.
Why Victoria businesses work with SEO Medics
We’re a small agency based on the Saanich Peninsula, working only with healthcare and trades businesses. Mike manages every account personally. Our clients include chiropractors, physiotherapists, massage therapists, dentists, counsellors, acupuncturists, plumbers, electricians and contractors across Victoria, Saanich, Sidney, Oak Bay, Langford and nearby communities. SEO Medics holds Google Partner status and Google Ads Search certification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a setup fee?
No. Research, campaign build, ad copy, conversion tracking and launch are included in the $199 monthly fee from the first month.
How quickly can my campaign go live?
Most campaigns are live within a week of onboarding. We start with a short call about your business and goals, then build and launch. Many businesses see their first enquiries within a week or two; it usually takes a few months of data to bring cost per enquiry to a steady level.
Do I need a big budget?
No. For most Victoria businesses, $300–$500 a month in ad spend is a practical starting point. Below that, there usually isn’t enough data to optimize. Our cost breakdown has ranges by industry.
Do you manage Local Services Ads too?
Yes, for businesses that qualify; it’s included in the same flat fee. Running Local Services Ads alongside search ads can give you more than one spot at the top of the page.
Do you also manage my Google Business Profile?
Yes. Google Business Profile optimization is included. People often check your reviews right after clicking an ad, so a strong profile helps your ads convert.
I already have Google Ads running. Can you take over?
Yes. We’ll review the account first, show you what’s wasting budget, and take over management if it makes sense. You keep the account and all its history.
Is there a contract?
No. Management is month to month and you can cancel any time. See our pricing.
Talk to us about your Victoria business
Get in touch for a free 30-minute consultation. We’ll look at your current setup, show you what a campaign would look like for your business, and tell you plainly what to expect at your budget. For more local detail, see our pages for Google Ads in Victoria and on Vancouver Island.
