If you Google “should agencies own ad accounts,” you’ll find plenty of advice saying agencies should never own client accounts. These arguments typically frame agencies as gatekeepers trying to lock clients in. In some cases, that may be true. But account ownership is not just about control. It is primarily a question of financial logistics, risk and legal responsibility. The real issue is not ownership. It is who carries the risk when something goes wrong. ## Two approaches to managing ad spend When it comes to paid media services, agencies are effectively financial advisors. They consult on what to spend and where, then execute with the client’s approval. There are two ways this is controlled: - Using the client’s existing ad account. - Using an agency-owned ad account. In the first model, the client grants the agency access and attaches their own payment information. The client is directly responsible for media spend. In the second, the agency owns the account and uses its own payment profile.…