How to Give Agency Access to Facebook Ad Account
Hiring a marketing agency is an exciting step toward growing your business, but they can't create amazing Facebook ad campaigns without one key thing: access. Getting them connected to your ad account can feel confusing, but it doesn't have to be. This guide will walk you through the secure and professional way to grant an agency access to your Facebook ad account using Meta Business Suite, step-by-step and without ever sharing your password.
Why You Should Always Use the "Partner" Method
Before we get into the "how," it's crucial to understand the "why." You might be tempted to take a shortcut, like adding an agency contact as a "friend" on Facebook and making them an admin of your Page, or even sharing your login credentials. Please don't do this. Not only are these methods insecure, but they also create messy situations down the line.
The correct method is granting "Partner" access through Meta Business Suite (formerly Facebook Business Manager). It’s the official and safest way to collaborate with external teams. Here’s why it’s non-negotiable:
It keeps your personal account private. Your agency doesn't need to see your personal profile, and you don’t need to connect with their employees as friends. Partner access keeps professional boundaries clear.
You grant access to business assets only. You can share specific assets like your Facebook Page, Ad Account, and Pixel, without giving them access to everything else in your business portfolio.
You have complete control over permissions. You decide exactly what the agency can and cannot do. Need them to run campaigns but not manage your billing? You can set that. You stay in the driver's seat.
Offboarding is clean and simple. When your contract ends, you can remove the agency partner's access with a single click. No need to hunt down individual users they added or worry about lingering access from former agency employees.
In short, using the partner system protects your security, gives you granular control, and makes managing the relationship much more professional.
Before You Begin: Getting Your Ducks in a Row
To make the process go smoothly, you'll need three things ready before you start clicking buttons. Taking a minute to confirm these will save you a headache later.
1. You’re an Admin of Your Meta Business Account
Only people with full admin privileges in Meta Business Suite can assign Partners. To check your role, navigate to business.facebook.com, go to Business Settings, and look under "People." If you see your name there with "Admin access," you're good to go. If not, you'll need to ask an existing admin on your team to either grant you admin rights or to complete these steps for you.
2. The Ad Account Belongs to Your Business
The Facebook Ad Account you want to share must be officially owned by your Meta Business Account. If you created the ad account personally before setting up a Business Manager, you might need to "claim" it first. You can check this by going to Business Settings → Accounts → Ad Accounts. If you see the ad account listed there, you're all set.
If it’s not there, click the blue "+ Add" button and choose "Add an Ad Account." You will need the Ad Account ID to claim it.
3. The Agency's Business ID Number
This is the most critical piece of information you'll need. To grant access, you don’t use a person's name or email, you use their agency’s unique Business ID. Your agency should know what this is and be able to provide it to you easily.
If they need help finding it, you can share these simple instructions with them:
How an Agency Can Find Their Business Manager ID
To find your Business Manager ID, log into business.facebook.com and follow these steps:
Go to Business Settings (often found under the gear icon or in the "All tools" menu).
In the left-hand navigation menu, click on Business Info.
Your Business Manager ID is the number displayed directly below your business name.
Once they've sent you this number, copy it and you’re ready to proceed.
Step-by-Step: How to Give an Agency Access to Your Ad Account
With the prep work done, it's time to grant access. The process takes just a few minutes if you follow these steps precisely.
Step 1: Navigate to Business Settings
Go to business.facebook.com. On the main dashboard, look for the Settings gear icon on the left sidebar. If you don't see it, you might need to click "All tools" (the hamburger menu) and find Business Settings in the menu that appears.
Step 2: Go to the "Partners" Section
Once you’re in Business Settings, look at the navigation menu on the left side of the screen. Under the "Users" dropdown, click on Partners. This page is where you manage all external companies you collaborate with.
Step 3: Add a New Partner
You’ll see two buttons. One is to "Add" a new partner and the other is to "Request" assets from a partner. Since you are giving access to an agency, click the blue + Add button. In the dropdown, choose the option: "Give a partner access to your assets."
Step 4: Enter the Agency's Business ID
A pop-up window will appear asking for the "Partner business ID." This is where you paste the unique ID number your agency provided. Double-check that it’s correct, then click Next.
Step 5: Assign Assets and Permissions (The Important Part)
This next screen is where you choose exactly what your agency can access. You'll see two main columns: "Select asset type" and "Select assets." It’s best practice to share three core assets: Your Page, your Ad Account, and your Pixel.
Assign Your Facebook Page:
In the "Select asset type" column, click on Pages. Your company's Facebook Page should appear in the middle column.
Click the checkbox next to your page.
On the right, a list of permissions will appear. Your agency will typically need permissions to "Create ads" and "View Page performance." Some agencies may request full control (the "Manage Page" toggle) to handle things like community management or integrations. Grant the permissions they’ve requested and that you are comfortable with.
Assign Your Ad Account:
Now go back to the "Select asset type" column and click on Ad Accounts.
Check the box next to the ad account you want them to manage.
On the right, determine the permission level. For an agency running your ads, you should toggle on "Manage Campaigns." This allows them to create campaigns, build ads, and view performance reports. If they also need to handle billing or modify account settings, you may need to grant "Manage Ad Account" (full control).
Assign Your Meta Pixel:
Proper tracking is vital for success, so don't forget the Pixel! Select Pixels in the first column.
Check the box next to your Meta Pixel (it will be named whatever you called it during setup).
On the right, grant them the ability to "Manage Pixel." This allows them to install tracking events and set up conversions, which is essential for measuring results and optimizing your campaigns.
If you use other assets, like an Instagram account or a product Catalog for e-commerce, you would follow the same process for each one here.
Step 6: Review and Save Changes
Once you’ve assigned all the necessary assets and set the permissions, click the Save Changes button. A confirmation screen will appear showing what you’ve shared. The access is now officially "Pending" until the agency accepts on their end. It's a good idea to send your contact a quick message letting them know the invitation is on its way.
What Happens on the Agency's End?
The ball is now in the agency's court. The administrator of their Business Manager will see a notification and receive an email about your request. To accept, they’ll log into their own Business Manager, go to Requests in their Business Settings, and accept the invitation.
Once they accept, they can then assign specific team members from their own company to work on your account. This is a key benefit of the partner model - you grant access to the agency as a whole, and they manage their internal teams. You don't have to worry about adding or removing individual employees yourself.
Quick Answers to Common Questions
What do I do if my ad account doesn't show up on the list of assets?
This usually means the ad account isn't yet claimed by your Business Manager. Go to Business Settings → Accounts → Ad Accounts. Click the "+ Add" button and select "Add an Ad Account." You’ll need to input your ad account ID and follow the prompts to add it to your business assets. Then, you can go back and assign it to your partner.
What if I set the wrong permissions?
No problem. You can change permissions at any time. Just go back to Business Settings → Partners, click on the agency's name, and then click the "Edit Assets" button. From there, you can adjust the permission levels for each asset you've shared.
How do I remove the agency's access later?
When your contract is complete, removing access is just as easy. Head back to the Partners section, select the agency from your partner list, and click the "Remove" button. This will instantly revoke access to all the assets you've shared with them, securing your account immediately.
Shouldn't I just add their main contact as a person in my Business Manager?
You shouldn't. While technically possible, it’s not the proper or safest method. If that individual leaves the agency, a replacement needs to be manually added by you, and you have to remember to remove the departed team member. The partner method solves this by making the agency responsible for their own team's permissions, which keeps your management responsibilities cleaner and more secure.
Final Thoughts
Granting agency access through the Meta Business Suite partner system is the professional standard for a reason. It ensures your business assets and personal information are secure while giving you full, granular control over what your agency can do. It's a quick process that sets up your partnership for success and clear communication right from the start.
Once your agency has access sorted out and campaigns start running, the next challenge is understanding your true performance across all channels. While Facebook provides its own data, you'll need to combine it with insights from Google Analytics, your e-commerce platform like Shopify, or your CRM to see the complete picture. Instead of spending hours pulling disparate reports and wrangling spreadsheets, we built a tool to make this analysis instant. With Graphed, you connect your marketing and sales data sources one time, then ask questions in simple English to generate real-time dashboards that show what’s driving ROI, giving you and your agency a constantly-updated source of truth.