You hired an agency to help with marketing, and they offered to set up Google Local Services Ads (LSA) for you. It sounds convenient, right? They take care of the technical setup, ad optimization, and management.
But here’s the problem: they may be creating your LSA account under their email address, not yours. That means they own the account, not you. This is a big deal and should not be overlooked, and should be understood.
What’s The Big Deal?
Letting an agency control your LSA account puts your business at risk in several key ways:
- Loss of Leads: If the agency owns the account, all calls, messages, and customer data live in their dashboard. If you ever stop working with them, you may lose access to your leads.
- Billing and Budget Transparency: When you don’t own the account, you’re in the dark about how your budget is being spent and whether disputes are being handled properly.
- Inability to Switch Agencies Easily: If you decide to move to a different agency, you can’t just keep your account. You’ll likely need to start from scratch, losing history, performance data, and reputation.
Create the Account Yourself, Then Grant Access
This problem is 100% avoidable!
As the business owner, you should create your Local Services Ads account under your own Google email or have the agency create the LSA under your own account. It only takes a few minutes, and it ensures:
- You retain ownership of your business’s online reputation.
- All leads, reviews, and history stay with you.
- You control billing, disputes, and performance transparency.
- You have the freedom to switch agencies anytime without losing momentum.
Once your account is set up, simply grant your marketing agency access as a manager. They can still run the ads and handle the technical side, but you hold the primary power.
Real-World Example
A home service contractor, an electrician in New York, hired an agency to run their LSA. The agency created the account under their own login. After a year, the contractor wanted to switch LSA management agencies, but the agency that created the LSA owned the LSA and had a policy of no transferring of LSAs. This poor contractor was left with the dilemma of either losing his LSA and starting from scratch or staying with an agency that’s been unfair and dishonest.
That mistake cost them leads, reputation, and a competitive edge.
Questions to Ask Your Agency Before Getting Started
- Will the LSA account be created using my Google account?
- Will I have full admin access to billing and performance reports?
- Can I revoke access or switch agencies without losing my LSA history?
- Who will be listed as the primary owner of the account?
Final Thoughts
Your Local Services Ads account is more than just an ad—it’s your digital reputation. Reviews, response history, and ad performance all build credibility over time. Don’t hand that over lightly.
When you’re ready to start LSAs and are shopping around for help, ask every agency how the account will be created:
- Will it be set up under your business’s Google account?
- Who will be listed as the primary owner?
- Will you retain full access if you part ways?
If an agency hesitates or insists on owning the account, consider it a red flag. The right partner will empower you, not trap you.
Protect your business. Stay in control. And build your LSA presence the smart way — starting with account ownership in your hands.