How do I get access to a client's Google Ads account?

The fast way: send one Joiyn link

Joiyn handles the technical handoff that normally takes days of email back-and-forth. Here's the entire flow:

1. Create the connect link (30 seconds)

In the Joiyn dashboard, click New connect link. Pick Google Ads from the platforms list, choose the access level you need (Admin, Standard, Read-only, or Email-only — see below), and optionally add your agency logo and brand colour. Joiyn generates a short URL likejoiyn.ai/acme-agency/welcome.

2. Send it to the client

Email, Slack, WhatsApp, SMS — whatever channel they already check. The link works on mobile. No Joiyn account creation required; the client just clicks.

3. The client logs in with Google and confirms

They land on a branded page (your logo, your colour). They click Continue with Google — the same Google account they already use for ads. Google's OAuth flow runs; the client sees a plain-English summary of what they're granting (e.g. "Acme Agency wants Standard access to your Google Ads account"), and confirms.

4. Your MCC is linked, automatically

Joiyn discovers the client's Customer ID via OAuth, creates the MCC link request behind the scenes, and accepts it on the client's behalf using their authorization. Your agency dashboard shows the new account as connected in real time. You can start running ads on day one.

The slow way: manual MCC link request

What most agencies still do. It works, but it's a multi-day process with several places it breaks:

1. You log into your Google Ads MCC and navigate to Accounts → Add account.
2. You email the client asking for their 10-digit Customer ID (format 123-456-7890).
3. The client searches their Google Ads dashboard for the ID — many don't know where to look.
4. You enter the ID and send the link request.
5. Google emails the client. The client may miss the email, click reject by accident, log in with the wrong Google account, or accept under the wrong access level.
6. If anything goes wrong, you reset and repeat.

Median time to access: 1 to 7 days. Failure rate (first attempt rejected, wrong CID, wrong account): roughly 1 in 3 based on our internal data across 2,000+ agency onboarding sessions.

Which access level should I request?

Google Ads has four access levels. Request the minimum your team actually needs — clients notice when an agency overreaches.

• Admin — full control including billing and inviting other users. Right when your agency owns the account or is white-labelling for resale.
• Standard — manage campaigns, budgets, creatives, conversions. Cannot change billing or invite users. This is the right default for most paid media agencies.
• Read-only — view-only access to dashboards, metrics, and reports. Right for audits, fractional analysts, or consulting engagements where you don't actively run campaigns.
• Email-only — recipient gets email reports but cannot log into the dashboard. Right for stakeholders who need numbers, not access.

Common pitfalls (and how Joiyn avoids them)

• Client doesn't know their Customer ID. Joiyn discovers it automatically through OAuth — the client just picks which Google Ads account they want to share.
• Client logs in with the wrong Google account. Joiyn's portal shows which account they signed in with before they confirm; they can switch accounts in one click without restarting.
• Client accepts at the wrong access level. Joiyn requests the exact level you specified — the client doesn't pick.
• Multiple accounts under one Google login. Joiyn lists every Google Ads account the client has access to and lets them choose which to grant.
• You forget who you've sent links to. The Joiyn dashboard shows every link's status: sent, opened, started, granted, or stuck.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it actually take?

With Joiyn: under 60 seconds in the median, across thousands of agency onboarding sessions. With the manual MCC link request approach: 1 to 7 days.

Do I need a Google Ads MCC?

Yes — your agency needs a Google Ads Manager Account (MCC) to receive client access. If you don't have one, create one for free at ads.google.com/home/tools/manager-accounts. Joiyn then links the client's account to your MCC at whatever access level you request.

Can the client revoke access later?

Yes, at any time. The access is a direct Google permission — Joiyn never holds the keys. The client removes the MCC link in Google Ads → Admin → Account Access. If you cancel your Joiyn subscription, existing client connections remain active because they live inside Google, not on our servers.

Is this different for Google Analytics 4?

The flow is identical, but the access model differs: GA4 uses property-level roles (Viewer, Analyst, Editor, Administrator) instead of MCC linking. Joiyn supports both — see Google Analytics integration.