When considering PPC services for your business, one decision you will have to make on the way is choosing between a PPC agency and consultant (in fact, you most likely clicked on this article to help with that exact decision!).

While both agencies and consultants aim to drive profitable leads and revenue through paid advertising, their approach, structure, and relationship with clients differ significantly.

  • PPC agencies typically consist of multiple people skilled in PPC, account managers, developers, admin staff and directors.
  • PPC consultants on the other hand are just the person skilled in PPC, covering admin duties themselves.

To help you decide between the two, I’ll compare both against seven key factors that are important to businesses deciding between choosing an agency or a consultant:

  1. Variety of Skills
  2. Cost-Effectiveness
  3. Resources
  4. Adaptability
  5. Communication
  6. Personalised Service
  7. Quality of Work

1. Variety of Skills

Winner: Agency

PPC agencies bring together a broad team of professionals, including PPC experts, developers, strategists, content writers and more.

This range of talent enables them to manage multifaceted projects that demand collaboration across different specialisms.

For companies seeking comprehensive digital support, an agency often serves as an all-in-one partner.

That said, not every project requires the full suite of services. Sometimes only one or two disciplines, such as PPC or SEO, are needed.

2. Cost-Effectiveness

Winner: Consultant

While agency quotes can be cost-effective, they often build in expenses for physical premises, leadership staff, and admin personnel.

With consultants, you bypass all of that. You’re investing in their knowledge, not a corporate hierarchy.

Consequently, PPC consultants typically prove the more economical option.

3. Resources

Winner: Agency

Thanks to their team-based structure, agencies are often ideal for handling more complex or high-volume projects.

They have the capacity to assign various specialists to different areas of your PPC simultaneously.

So, if your campaign demands a coordinated team effort, an agency could be the more suitable option.

4. Adaptability

Winner: Consultant

By design, agencies often depend on structured systems and standardised ways of working to coordinate their teams.

Although individual team members might be flexible, updates to your account setup or approach can be slower to roll out.

A consultant, in contrast, can personalise their service and shift direction rapidly when your priorities change.

That responsiveness can be a real asset in the constantly evolving digital space.

For instance, if a new opportunity arises mid-campaign, a consultant can usually respond immediately, while agencies may be delayed by processes and multiple layers of sign-off.

5. Communication

Winner: Consultant

A key advantage of working with a consultant is having one consistent point of contact throughout the project.

This means you avoid the common agency experience of being handed from one account manager to another or dealing with staff changes mid-way through.

With a consultant, communication tends to be clearer and more direct, as you’re speaking to the person actually doing the work.

This kind of connection not only saves time but also helps foster a stronger, more collaborative relationship.

6. Personal Service

Winner: Consultant

Because their income and reputation are closely tied to performance, PPC consultants are usually highly invested in getting results for their clients.

Agencies tend to work within larger teams, which can sometimes dilute individual focus.

Consultants, on the other hand, are laser-focused on you and your success.

They often see your achievements as a direct extension of their own work.

7. Quality of Work

Winner: Equal

Both options – agencies and consultants – are capable of delivering quality PPC.

Agencies may have the benefit of larger teams, though this can also mean tasks are passed around and handled by less experienced staff.

With consultants, you get a single, dedicated professional managing the entire process with close attention to detail.

Final Score

  • Agency: 3
  • Consultant: 5

Conclusion

Both Florist PPC agencies and consultants have their strengths.

While agencies bring extensive resources and a variety of skills, consultants may offer a more cost-effective, adaptable, and personalised approach.

If you’re ready to experience the benefits of working with a Florist PPC consultant…read more