The Ad Account Trap: Why You Must Set Up Your Own Meta Business Manager (And How To Do It Right)

Here’s a common (and painful) story we hear all the time.

A business owner hires someone, maybe a marketing manager, maybe a freelancer, maybe a friend who “knows Facebook and Instagram advertising”, and lets them set up the company’s Meta ad account.

It works fine. Until it doesn’t.

One day, that person leaves. Or stops replying. Or things go sideways. Suddenly, the business can’t access the ad account. Or the pixel. Or the audience data. Sometimes, even the business page.

And just like that, thousands (and probably more) in ad history, performance data, and brand assets are gone.

It’s a fixable mistake. But it’s one that can easily cost you time, money, and momentum.

Let’s make sure it never happens to you.

Why You (Yes, You) Need To Own Your Meta Business Manager

If you’re here, you’re probably aware that Meta ads are not just about boosting posts or running a campaign here and there. When done right, they become core infrastructure in your marketing. That means who owns what matters a lot.

If your ad account is created under someone else’s Business Manager, THEY control it. Not you.

That means:

• They can remove your access.
• They can pause or change campaigns without your approval.
• You can’t transfer ownership without jumping through Meta’s hoops (and even then, it’s messy).
• If they get hacked, banned, or go rogue, you could lose everything.

   

Sound dramatic? We’ve seen it and it makes us weep.

Common Signs You Don’t Own Your Setup

Here’s how to know if you’re at risk:

• You don’t know who set up your ad account.
• You “log in” through someone else’s Business Manager.
• Your Facebook page is connected to an ad account you don’t recognise.
• You can’t add or remove users freely.
• Your ad account name looks like “John’s Ads” instead of your business name.

   

If any of that sounds familiar, please listen up and download our guide.

Who Should Set It Up (And Who Definitely Shouldn’t)

There’s only one right answer here: YOU, as the business owner, should be setting this up through your own account, or someone who is legally tied to your business, who passes the logins to that account if and when they exit the business.

It doesn’t have to be you personally clicking every button, but you must be the owner of all key Meta assets:

• Business Manager
• Facebook Page
• Ad Account
• Pixel
• Instagram Account (if connected)

   

Anyone else, whether it’s an agency, freelancer, intern or the office dog, should be added afterward with the right level of access.

If your Meta setup isn’t built on your own foundation, it’s not really yours. And if it’s not yours, you’re one password reset away from losing it all.

The good news? It’s easy to fix, especially if you start now.

Get the full setup guide and checklist to make sure your Business Manager is safe, clean, and yours to control.