Pricing and quotation guide
Paid search reporting cost
Paid search reporting costs depend on how much work goes into each report and the set-up behind it. Checking conversion definitions, agreeing a template and connecting sources is usually a one-off cost. Each regular report then needs data collection, reconciliation with your enquiries or sales, a search terms summary and recommendations. Frequency, the number of accounts and whether a dashboard tool is used all affect the price. Reporting is often included in search management, so check before paying twice.
This guide sets out what drives the cost, one-off and monthly work, tools, fee models and how to judge value. No prices are given, because they depend on scope and provider; LetGetGrow sets out the cost for your project in a custom quotation.
Illustrative diagram
What drives reporting cost
- Conversion checks
- Testing and defining each action.
- Reconciliation
- Comparing with your records.
- Frequency
- Weekly costs more than monthly.
- Accounts
- More accounts or brands, more work.
- Calls
- Walking through each report.
Costs paid to third parties (separate from our fees)
- Dashboard subscriptions
- Call tracking tools
- Your time exporting records
Check whether your search manager already includes reporting.
Options compared
| Option | What it covers | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|
| Platform summary | Ad platform figures only | Lower, less useful |
| Reconciled monthly report | Platform plus records, search terms, actions | Moderate |
| Weekly with dashboard | Frequent updates, combined sources | Higher |
Fee models
Set-up plus monthly
Suits you when
- Custom definitions and template
Watch out for
- What set-up covers
Within management
Suits you when
- Same provider runs ads
Watch out for
- Whether reports reconcile
Per report
Suits you when
- Occasional independent checks
Watch out for
- Consistency
Set-up
Testing conversion actions, agreeing definitions, adding source fields or campaign tags so your records show which customers came from search, and building the template takes time once. It makes every later report quicker and more trustworthy.
Phone-led businesses
If customers mostly phone, reporting needs calls tracked and matched to outcomes. Call tracking tools add a subscription and some set-up, but without them reports may miss many results.
Example: adding reconciliation
Illustrative example — not a client case study
Situation: A garage's search manager sends monthly dashboard exports.
- The garage asks for reconciliation with bookings in its booking system instead of a separate reporting provider.
- A one-off fee covers adding a source field and checking conversion definitions.
- The monthly fee rises slightly to cover the extra analysis.
What this shows: The garage got reconciled reports without a second provider. This example is illustrative.
Comparing quotes
Check conversion checks, reconciliation, search terms summaries, frequency, accounts, tools, calls, ownership of templates and notice periods.
Keeping costs down
Record enquiry sources consistently, export records yourself, choose monthly reports with an alert for problems and avoid dashboards you do not need.
Judging value
Reporting is worth paying for when it changes decisions: waste stopped sooner, budget moved to campaigns that bring customers, conversion problems found. If nothing changes after reading, reduce frequency or rethink content.
Several accounts or brands
Each extra ad account, brand or country adds data to gather and reconcile, and combined reports need agreement on how results are split. Ask how the fee changes per account. Businesses with several brands can sometimes share one template, which reduces set-up.
Search terms summaries
Including what the search terms report revealed, such as waste removed and new keywords added, takes a little time each month but makes reports far more useful than figures alone. If someone else manages the account, ask them to supply this summary.
Review calls
A call to go through each report helps turn recommendations into action, but adds time to every cycle. Calls for the first few months, then written questions, keep the cost down.
Keeping your reports
If you pay for set-up, agree that templates, definitions and past reports remain yours, in a format you can open. A new provider can then continue the series without repeating the work.
Alerts between reports
An automatic alert for overspend or a sudden drop in tracked conversions costs less than extra full reports and catches broken tracking quickly.
Frequency
Weekly full reports cost more than monthly ones and, for accounts with modest volume, mostly show noise. Choose the frequency that matches how quickly decisions can sensibly be made, and use alerts for anything urgent.
Independent reporting
An independent reporting service checking an agency's work adds a cost on top of management. It can be worth it where the spend is significant or trust is low; for small accounts, asking the agency for reconciled reports may be enough.
Your time
Exporting enquiry or sales records each month, and answering questions about unusual results, takes some of your time. Setting up automatic exports where your systems allow keeps both your time and the fee down.
Questions about paid search reporting cost
What affects paid search reporting cost?
Conversion checks, reconciliation, frequency, accounts and calls.
Is set-up a separate cost?
Often; it covers definitions, sources and templates.
Do phone-led businesses need more?
Call tracking adds set-up and a subscription.
Is reporting part of management?
It may be; check before paying twice.
How can reporting costs be reduced?
Record sources consistently and report monthly.
When is reporting worth it?
When it changes decisions.
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