Should You Run Your Own Facebook Ads or Hire an Agency? Here’s How to Decide.
One of the most common questions I get is: Should I outsource my Facebook and Instagram ads to an agency, or should I learn how to run them myself?
The answer isn’t black and white. It depends entirely on you and your business.
I’ve worked with eCommerce business owners who start learning ads and quickly realize they don’t love the process—or simply don’t have the time. On the flip side, I’ve also seen brands outsource to an agency before they were ready, leading to wasted money, frustration, and missed opportunities.
So, how do you decide?
There are three key factors to consider before making the call:
Turnover – Can you afford to hire an agency?
Time – Do you have the time to learn and manage ads yourself?
Temperament – Do you enjoy working with numbers, testing strategies, and analysing data?
Let’s break these down so you can make the right decision for your business.
1. Turnover
Hiring an agency isn’t cheap—and it shouldn’t be. A good agency will not only manage your ads but also test, tweak, and optimise them to scale your business.
As a general rule, if your business isn't making at least $20,000 per month in revenue, hiring an agency could be a financial strain. Here’s why:
Agency fees: Our agency, Lume Marketing, starts at $1,850 per month. Many agencies charge more.
Ad spend: You’ll need at least $100 per day (around $3,000/month) for testing and optimisation.
Results take time: Ads don’t instantly double your revenue. There’s a learning curve, and you need the budget to test what works before scaling.
The Sleepless Nights Test
Ask yourself: If I had to pay agency fees and ad spend every month, would I lose sleep over it?
If the answer is yes, you should learn to run your own ads first.
If the answer is no, and you have the budget to invest without stress, outsourcing might be a good option.
2. Time
Facebook and Instagram ads aren’t just about setting up a campaign and walking away. They require continuous testing, optimisation, and analysis.
If you choose to run ads yourself, you need at least 5–10 hours per week to:
Set up campaigns correctly
Monitor performance and adjust strategies
Analyse data to improve results
Many business owners start learning ads with great enthusiasm but quickly realise they don’t have the bandwidth. If you’re already wearing 10 different hats in your business—managing stock, handling customer service, creating content—learning ads might stretch you too thin.
When You Should Learn Ads Yourself
You have time to dedicate to learning and testing.
You want to keep ad management in-house.
You prefer full control over your marketing efforts.
When You Should Outsource to an Agency
You’re already overwhelmed with other business tasks.
You don’t have time to constantly analyse data and make adjustments.
You want experts handling your ads so you can focus on growth.
3. Temperament
Do You Enjoy Data and Testing?
Running Facebook ads is not a “set it and forget it” process. It’s all about data, numbers, and testing.
If you’re going to manage your own ads, you need to be comfortable with:
Looking at numbers and drawing conclusions
Treating ads like a science experiment—testing, tweaking, and repeating
Learning new strategies and staying updated on platform changes
I always tell my clients:
It’s either data or drama.
If your ads aren’t working, it’s not about “Facebook ads don’t work for me”—it’s about what the numbers are telling you. Some business owners love this analytical process, while others find it frustrating and overwhelming.
Ask Yourself:
Do I enjoy learning new skills and figuring things out?
Am I comfortable analysing data and making decisions based on numbers?
Do I have the patience for testing and optimising campaigns?
If the answer is yes, running your own ads might be a great choice. If not, outsourcing may save you stress and frustration.
So, Should You Learn Ads or Hire an Agency?
Like I said, the answer isn’t black and white, but here’s a general rule of thumb:
Learn to Run Ads Yourself If:
✔ Your business is making less than $20K/month, and you can’t comfortably afford an agency.
✔ You have at least 5–10 hours per week to dedicate to learning and optimising ads.
✔ You enjoy testing strategies, analysing numbers, and tweaking campaigns.
Hire an Agency If:
✔ Your business is making $20K+ per month, and you can afford the cost without stress.
✔ You don’t have the time to manage ads yourself and need expert support.
✔ You prefer to focus on product development, content creation, or other business areas.
My Final Advice
If you’re not ready to outsource, learning how to run your own ads is one of the best investments you can make. Not only will it save you money, but it will also give you the knowledge to make better decisions when you eventually hire an agency. Come check out The ROAS Lab.
On the other hand, if you’re stretched for time and your business is in a position to invest, outsourcing could be the best move to scale faster—just make sure you work with an agency that educates you along the way, so you’re never left in the dark. Apply to work with Lume Marketing.