What is a Google Ads MCC Account & How to Use It?

What Exactly is an MCC Account?

A Google Ads MCC account is a “manager” account that lets you access and manage multiple individual Google Ads accounts from one dashboard. Instead of logging in and out of separate accounts, everything lives under one roof.

Whether you’re an agency, a freelancer with several clients, or even a business with multiple brands, an MCC account simplifies your workflow.

Why You Should Use One

Here’s why marketers and media buyers love MCCs:

• Centralized control - You can jump between accounts without needing to log in/out or remember dozens of passwords.

• Efficient reporting - Pull cross-account reports fast without exporting from each account one by one.

• Better permissions - Add or remove team members with different access levels across accounts.

• Seamless billing - If you want to consolidate billing, MCC can help with that too.

• Easier optimization - You can manage budgets, monitor performance, and run scripts across accounts.

Basically, MCCs are designed for speed and scale.

How to Set One Up

Creating an MCC is free and easy. Here's the quick version:

1. Go to ads.google.com/home/tools/manager-accounts

2. Click Create a Manager Account

3. Choose your account name, set your time zone and currency

4. Start linking accounts or create new ones under the MCC

That’s it. You now have a control center for all your campaigns.

Linking Existing Accounts

Let’s say you already have a few Google Ads accounts. You can link them to your MCC like this:

• Get the Customer ID (10-digit number) from the top of each account you want to link

• In your MCC, click Accounts > Performance > +

• Choose “Link existing account” and paste the Customer ID

• The other account’s admin will get a request - once approved, you’re in

You’re not taking over ownership. You’re just managing it through your MCC.

When to Use an MCC

If any of these sound like you, an MCC is probably a smart move:

• You run or work at an ad agency

• You have multiple clients, each with their own Google Ads account

• You run ads for several businesses or brands under one company

• You’re testing different ad strategies using separate accounts (safely)

Even if you're just starting out, setting up your structure early makes it easier to scale without chaos later.

Can You Use MCC to “Bypass” Suspensions?

Quick reality check - no, an MCC doesn’t magically protect you from account suspensions. If your individual accounts violate Google’s policies, they’ll still get flagged. And if too many accounts under your MCC get hit, your manager account can also come under scrutiny.

So don’t treat MCCs like a shield. Use them to manage accounts cleanly - not to dodge the rules.

Tips to Use Your MCC Like a Pro

• Name your accounts clearly - Use a naming system like ClientName - CampaignType to keep things organized

• Set up shared labels - Great for tracking campaigns or assets across multiple clients

• Use account-level scripts - Automate repetitive tasks, like pausing low-performing ads or monitoring spend

• Take advantage of Recommendations - You can scan optimization tips across all your linked accounts

• Leverage the Google Ads API - If you’re technical or using a dev team, you can use the API to scale even more efficiently

The Bottom Line

Google Ads MCC accounts are made for serious media buyers and agencies. They give you control, flexibility, and structure - without clutter. If you're managing more than one Google Ads account and you're not using an MCC, you're probably making your life harder than it needs to be.

Set it up once, link your accounts, and start working smarter.