Google Ads MCC: Create, Link and Manage Client Accounts
June 18, 2026
Author: Shusaku Yosa
A Google Ads manager account, also called an MCC, lets you manage several advertising accounts from one place. It is useful for agencies handling multiple clients and businesses that separate advertising accounts by brand or business unit.
The basic workflow is to create a manager account, request a link to an existing advertising account, and have the client approve it. Creating an MCC does not necessarily require a new Google login. This guide covers the requirements, linking process, access levels, and common problems.
What is an MCC account?
MCC stands for My Client Center. Google now uses the term manager account. Campaigns belong to individual client accounts, and the manager account provides access to them according to the user's permissions.
Account type | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
Google Account | A person's sign-in identity | An employee signs in with their work email |
Google Ads account | Holds campaigns, ads, and performance data | Client A's advertising account |
Manager account / MCC | Connects multiple advertising accounts for management | An agency monitors clients A, B, and C |
For example, an agency MCC can link to separate accounts for Client A and Client B. Clients can retain their own logins, and linking does not automatically give one client access to another client's account. See Google's manager account overview.
Check the requirements before creating an MCC
- Choose a Google Account that you can continue using for work.
- Decide the manager account's name, purpose, country, time zone, and currency.
- For existing accounts, collect the customer ID and identify the administrator who will approve the request.
You can use an email address already associated with Google Ads. You must create a separate manager account because an existing advertising account cannot be converted into an MCC. Reusing a sign-in email and converting an advertising account are different operations.
A single email address can be associated with up to 20 Google Ads accounts, including manager accounts. That is a different limit from the number of client accounts a manager can manage.
How to create a Google Ads manager account
- Open Google's manager account page and start the setup.
- Sign in with the Google Account you intend to use.
- Enter a recognizable manager account name, such as your company name plus “Ads Management.”
- Select whether you will manage your own accounts or other people's accounts.
- Confirm the country, time zone, and currency, then finish setup.
The time zone and currency are permanent choices. Choose them to match your reporting needs. The manager's currency does not replace the billing currency of every linked client. Consult Google's setup instructions if the interface differs.
How to link an existing Google Ads account
1. Send the request from the MCC
- Open Accounts, then Sub-account settings.
- Use the plus button and choose Link existing account.
- Enter the client's Google Ads customer ID.
- Review the preview and send the request.
2. Have the client approve it
An administrator of the client account opens Admin → Access and security → Managers, checks the requesting manager, and accepts the link request. They can also follow the invitation email.
3. Confirm that the link is active
A sent request is not a completed link. After acceptance, verify that the correct customer ID appears in the MCC and that the required work is possible. See Google's linking and approval instructions.
Keep a handover sheet with client name, customer ID, responsible person, request date, and acceptance date. This helps avoid confusing similarly named accounts or leaving requests unattended. Use individual user access instead of recording shared passwords.
Creating a new client account from an MCC
For a new engagement, use the plus button in Sub-account settings and select Create new account. The new account is linked to the MCC. Before doing this, check whether an account with existing campaign history already exists.
If a person needs to sign in to the new client account directly, invite them to that account. Creating the account and arranging direct access are separate steps. See Google's guide to creating client accounts.
Choose access levels by responsibility
Access level | Main use | Suggested responsibility |
|---|---|---|
Admin | Account, user, and hierarchy management | People responsible for the management structure |
Standard | Campaign editing and operation | People who change advertising settings |
Read only | Performance review | Analysts who do not need to edit settings |
Email only | Receive notifications | People who do not need interface access |
Billing | View and edit payment information | People responsible for billing |
A user's MCC access level and the MCC's administrative ownership of a client account are different. Linking does not automatically allow every administrative action. Check Google's access-level documentation.
Before adding someone to an agency-wide MCC, consider whether they only need one client. Assign access at the account or hierarchy level that fits their work, and review it during staff changes and contract handovers.
Troubleshooting links and missing accounts
Problem | What to check |
|---|---|
The request cannot be found | Match the customer ID, requesting MCC, and client account currently open |
The request remains pending | Ask the client administrator to review link requests in Access and security |
A permission error appears | Check user access and any administrative ownership required for the action |
A hierarchy or limit error appears | Review existing links, limits, and duplicate links within the same hierarchy |
An accepted account is missing from the list | Check the selected MCC, customer ID, and list filters |
Record the exact error and affected customer ID. Consult Google's linking and unlinking error guide before removing working links or creating a duplicate client account.
Prepare before unlinking or changing agencies
Unlinking is different from deleting an advertising account. Review shared measurement and billing arrangements first. Confirm who will take over, how the client will retain administrative access, and how conversion tracking and payments will continue. See Google's explanation of unlinking effects.
From the MCC, select the client in Accounts → Sub-account settings, then use Edit → Unlink. Read the impact preview before completing the change. A client administrator can also remove the manager's access from the Managers section of Access and security. See the official unlinking steps.
Use the MCC for useful account reporting
The MCC helps compare Google Ads accounts, but a lower CPA does not necessarily mean better performance when clients define conversions differently. Align reporting periods, conversion definitions, currencies, and measurement assumptions, and document differences that affect comparisons.
Start with the account overview, then investigate the campaigns behind a change. For placement analysis, see our guide to reviewing and excluding advertising placements.
If you also need to compare Meta ads, GA4, or other channels, consider a reporting environment that covers those sources. NeX-Ray brings together supported advertising, social, and web analytics data. Check the supported platforms and plan, then assess whether it covers the comparisons needed in your monthly reports.
Frequently asked questions
Is an MCC free?
There is no additional fee to create and use the manager account itself. Advertising spend, external software, and agency services are separate costs.
Do I need an MCC for one advertising account?
It is not required simply to start advertising in one account. Consider it when you need multiple-account management or a clearer agency access structure.
Does an MCC automatically combine billing?
No. Creating the manager and linking accounts does not automatically consolidate invoices. Consolidated billing has its own requirements and setup; check the options for your payment arrangement with Google.
Official information reviewed: September 22, 2026.
