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Statement of Work
Ref: 2026-001 • Standard Business Template
Monthly Retainer
The Client agrees to engage the Google Ads Specialist on a monthly retainer basis. This retainer guarantees dedicated professional availability to manage, optimize, and scale the Client's Google Ads account. The recurring monthly fee is decoupled from the actual ad spend budget, meaning fluctuating Google Ads platform spend does not affect the Specialist's monthly management fee.
Included Services
The monthly retainer covers the following core campaign management activities:
- Continuous search term analysis and negative keyword mapping.
- A/B testing of responsive search ads and asset groups.
- Bid strategy adjustments and budget pacing reviews.
- Conversion tracking monitoring and basic tag troubleshooting.
- One monthly performance report and 30-minute strategic review call.
Payment Due Date
Retainer payments are due in advance of the service month. The Client will be billed automatically via a recurring MicroFreelanceHub payment link on the 1st of each calendar month. Work on the campaign will pause immediately if the payment is not cleared by the 3rd of the month, and the Specialist is not liable for any drop in campaign performance during this pause.
Approval Workflow
To protect both parties, the Client must review and approve all proposed ad copy, target keywords, and budget changes. Approvals must be submitted through MicroFreelanceHub's written approval system. The Specialist will not launch any live campaign modifications without this recorded digital sign-off, protecting the campaign from unapproved budget expenditures.
Unused Time
This retainer functions on a strict "use-it-or-lose-it" basis. Any hours or standard deliverables allocated to the billing cycle do not roll over to the subsequent month. This policy ensures the Specialist can maintain predictable resource allocation for all clients.
Additional Work
Any requests outside the scope of "Included Services"—such as landing page development, conversion rate optimization (CRO) audits, multi-channel setup, or emergency weekend campaign rebuilds—will be scoped separately. This work will be billed at an additional hourly rate or a flat add-on fee, initiated via a new MicroFreelanceHub payment link and requiring client approval before work begins.
Cancellation
Either party may cancel this retainer agreement by providing written notice at least 14 days prior to the next billing cycle. No partial refunds will be issued for cancellations requested mid-month, and all campaign deliverables completed up to the date of cancellation will remain the property of the Specialist until final invoices are settled.
Ad Spend Fluctuations
Clients pausing or slashing Google Ads budgets mid-month and expecting a pro-rated reduction in your management fee despite ongoing strategy work.
Unapproved Asset Launch Liability
Launching ad copy, budget changes, or target keywords without documented client approval, leaving you liable for performance disputes.
Out-of-Scope Landing Page Demands
Clients demanding complex website updates, tracking script installations, or graphic design work under the guise of basic PPC campaign management.
What is a Google Ads Specialist Retainer Payment Agreement?
A Google Ads retainer agreement is a contract securing upfront recurring payments for ongoing PPC management. It outlines included deliverables, protects against ad spend fluctuations, prevents rollover hours, and uses secure payment links and built-in client approval workflows to guarantee you are paid on time, every single month.
Built from real freelance projects
This template is based on real-world scenarios across freelance projects where unclear scope, missing payment terms, and revision creep led to lost revenue. It is designed to protect your time, define expectations, and ensure you get paid.
Why Google Ads Specialists need a clear retainer payment agreement
For Google Ads specialists, cash flow volatility is a constant threat. Clients frequently pause ad spend due to supply chain issues or seasonal shifts, mistakenly assuming your management fees pause as well. A robust retainer agreement secures your income, ensuring you are compensated for your continuous optimization, bid adjustments, copy testing, and strategic planning—regardless of fluctuating daily ad budgets. Without a clear contract, you risk client scope creep where 'quick adjustments' to campaign assets, unexpected landing page audits, or emergency holiday promotions bleed into your weekends uncompensated. A dedicated retainer agreement establishes predictable recurring revenue, defines precise operational boundaries, and implements secure payment links that charge the client upfront. By automating these approvals and transactions via MicroFreelanceHub, you protect your expertise, maintain control over your working hours, and eliminate the exhausting cycle of chasing unpaid invoices after the clicks have already been delivered.
Real-world scenario
Imagine managing a highly competitive Google Ads campaign for an e-commerce brand. Midway through the month, the client encounters a massive inventory bottleneck and suddenly pauses their Google Ads account. Because you set up your retainer through MicroFreelanceHub, your $2,500 monthly fee was already processed upfront on the first of the month. Instead of scrambling to justify your value or facing an unpaid gap, your retainer agreement clearly states that your management fee is decoupled from active ad spend. Your time was locked in and secured. You utilize the active retainer period to conduct a deep-dive competitor analysis, optimize negative keyword lists, and draft fresh ad copy for their eventual relaunch. When the client resolves their inventory issues and unpauses two weeks later, your campaign is primed to outperform. No missed payments, no awkward negotiations, just structured, professional execution backed by secure billing.
🛡️ What this retainer payment agreement covers:
- ✓Keyword research, search term auditing, and negative keyword list curation
- ✓Ad copy drafting, testing, and responsive search ad asset optimization
- ✓Bidding strategy monitoring, manual bid adjustments, and budget tracking
- ✓Conversion tracking verification and Google Tag Manager troubleshooting
- ✓Monthly performance reporting and dedicated strategic review call
Best practices for Google Ads Specialists
Explicitly Exclude Ad Spend Responsibility
Never pay for a client's Google Ads spend out of your pocket. Require them to maintain their own active credit card on the billing profile.
Establish Campaign Micro-Approvals
Use MicroFreelanceHub to get formal client sign-off on ad copy and target keyword lists before launching live, preventing unauthorized spend claims.
Legal Disclaimer: MicroFreelanceHub is a software workflow tool, not a law firm. The templates and information provided on this website are for general informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if a client pauses their Google Ads campaign mid-month?
Under this agreement, your monthly retainer fee remains non-refundable and unchanged. Your fee covers your availability, competitor research, and strategic planning, which continue even when live campaign bidding is temporarily paused.
How are landing page design updates handled in this Google Ads retainer?
Website design and structural landing page edits are explicitly excluded from standard campaign management. Any requested optimizations to landing pages will be scoped separately as a flat-rate add-on via a new payment link.