4 Red Flags That Your Marketing Agency Is Wasting Your Budget

At some point, every founder asks the question: ‘Are we actually getting what we’re paying this agency for?’

Not likes. Not impressions. Actual results.

It’s a question most business owners ask too late. After the leads stop, the numbers drop and the agency starts avoiding calls.

We’ve worked with businesses across Australia who’ve been burned. 

Locked into long contracts. 

Locked out of their own ad accounts. 

Given reports that say a lot but explain nothing. 

And often, they didn’t realise the problem until leads had dried up or budgets had been blown.

If something feels off, pay attention to that. Here are four signs your agency might be wasting  our budget and what you can do to stay in control.

Red Flag #1: You Don’t Own Your Accounts

You paid for the ads. You funded the campaigns. But your agency created the ad account under their own name.

You ask for access and hear excuses: ‘Don’t worry, we manage it all for you’ or ‘It’s just easier this way’.

Then one day, the contract ends. And so does your access. Years of campaign history, audience data and performance insights? Gone.

According to Meta, your business should own the assets. That means pages, ad accounts, and tracking setups.

Agencies should be added as partners. Not owners.

But it’s not just about convenience. It’s also about control.

The ACCC has called this out. Businesses need control over their own data. Doesn’t matter if it’s ad spend or sales metrics. Either way, you should have it. You paid for it.

If the agency keeps everything inside their own setup, you’re flying blind. No visibility. No control. No way to scale.

What to do:

• Set up your own Meta Business Manager

• Add the agency as a partner

• Get full admin access to all assets—ad accounts, pixels, audiences, analytics

• Double check who the account owner is on Meta and Google platforms

If your agency controls the access keys to your data, you don’t own your results. And that means you can’t scale them.

Red Flag #2: You Can’t See the Real Numbers

You’re told your campaigns are ‘doing great’ but the reports are vague. A few screenshots. Some high-level stats. 

But where’s the actual breakdown?

You still don’t know what you’re spending… or what it’s bringing in.

This kind of selective reporting creates a power imbalance. You’re left with just enough data to feel reassured but not enough to make decisions.

What to ask for: 

• Live dashboards

• Full access to the ad account

• Weekly exports with real data

Still getting vague answers from the agency? Ask why.

Red Flag #3: The Reports Look Good… But The Sales Don’t

Click-through rate is up. Impressions are massive. Reach looks phenomenal.

So why is your sales team empty-handed?

It’s simple: surface stats aren’t performance. They’re a distraction.

Some agencies pad reports with vanity metrics and skip the numbers that actually count: cost per sale, return on ad spend, revenue earned.

If they’re still running Traffic campaigns, hiding the account and avoiding tough questions… you’ve got a problem.

What to ask for: 

• Leads generated (not clicks)

• Revenue tied to ad spend

• Cost per acquisition (CPA)

Ask for the numbers that reflect sales, not just activity.

Red Flag #4: You’re Locked Into a 12-Month Contract

Twelve months. No exit clause. No performance review. 

The retainer stays the same whether you're growing or struggling. No adjustments. No exit.

We’ve seen businesses spend months trying to escape these agreements. Others give up and bleed cash until the term runs out.

But here’s the thing: good agencies don’t need contracts to retain clients. Results do that.

What smart businesses expect:

• Month-to-month billing

• Regular performance reviews

• Simple, flexible terms

If it works, great. If it doesn’t, you can walk away. No strings.

What Smart Businesses Are Doing Instead

We work with Australian businesses who’ve outgrown the fluff. They want clarity, control and campaigns that convert.

Here’s how they work:

• Full account ownership. If you’re paying, it’s yours. No debate.

• Real reporting. Live dashboards, not PDFs. Raw data, not summaries.

• No long lock-ins. Month-to-month. If it’s not working, you walk out.

• Every campaign tied to sales. No vanity metrics. No wasted spend.

Don’t Wait Until It’s a Mess

If something feels off, it’s worth investigating. You don’t have to wait for your contract to expire… or for another quarter of disappointing results.

Sometimes, all it takes is a second set of eyes.

Want an honest audit of your current setup? Let us take a look. No pressure. Just honest feedback on what’s working, what’s wasting your budget and what to do next.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I have access to my ad accounts and data?

Yes. If you’re paying for the ads, you should own and control the data. Your agency should be a partner, not the owner.

How do I know if my agency is showing me the full picture?

Is it normal to be stuck in a 12-month contract?

What metrics should I be looking at?

Can I get help reviewing my current marketing setup?

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For more insights on effective digital marketing strategies, read our blogs at JRNY Digital.