What Is an MCC Account? How to Create One in Google Ads and the Benefits

When you run multiple Google Ads accounts, switching logins for each project and aggregating reports one by one can become a significant management burden. The solution to these challenges is the "MCC account." This article clearly explains what an MCC account is, how to create one in Google Ads, and the benefits it brings to your operations.

What Is an MCC Account?

An MCC account is a "parent account" that lets you manage multiple Google Ads accounts from a single dashboard. MCC stands for "My Client Center," and it is now also called a "manager account."

In terms of structure, you link multiple child accounts that handle the actual ad delivery underneath one parent account (the MCC account). You can access each child account from the parent, controlling ad delivery status, billing information, access permissions, and more in a centralized way.

For example, it is useful when an advertising agency manages the accounts of multiple clients collectively, or when a single company separates ad accounts by brand or service while overseeing the whole. Because a single login gives you access to all accounts underneath it, you no longer need to repeatedly log back in.

Difference From a Regular Google Ads Account

A regular Google Ads account is used for the actual ad operations themselves, such as creating campaigns, delivering ads, and adjusting bids. Each ad account manages its delivery through its own dashboard.

An MCC account, on the other hand, does not deliver ads directly. It is positioned as a higher-level account for bundling, managing, and supervising multiple ad accounts. Note that you cannot convert an existing account already running Google Ads into an MCC account as is. An MCC account must be newly created, and you link existing ad accounts to it as needed.

How to Create an MCC Account in Google Ads

Creating an MCC account takes just a few minutes if you have one Google account. Proceed with the following steps.

1. Prepare a Google account: Creating an MCC account requires one Google account that has not yet opened Google Ads. Accounts that already have an ad account opened cannot be used, so prepare a new one as needed.
2. Access the MCC creation page: Open the Google Ads manager account (MCC) creation page and click "Create a manager account (MCC)."
3. Log in: Log in with the Google account you prepared.
4. Enter basic information: Enter an account name that indicates its management purpose (such as a company or department name), and select the country, time zone, and currency. Since the time zone and currency cannot be changed later, choose carefully to match your organization.
5. Creation complete: The manager account is created in a few minutes, and you can access the dashboard.

How to Link Child Accounts

Once you have created an MCC account, you link the child accounts that actually deliver ads. There are mainly two methods: creating a new ad account directly from the MCC account dashboard, or sending a link request to an existing Google Ads account that the other party approves to establish the association. Note that when you create a new account from the MCC, that account has no users, so a separate user invitation is required to log in to it directly.

Benefits of Using an MCC Account

Centralized Management of Multiple Accounts

The biggest benefit is being able to manage multiple Google Ads accounts together in one place. Because a single login gives you access to all accounts underneath it, you avoid repeatedly logging in and out for each account. The efficiency gains are especially large for agencies managing many accounts or companies running multiple businesses.

Grasp and Analyze Delivery Status Together

In the MCC dashboard, you can check the delivery status and figures of each account underneath it in a list. Because you can compare performance across multiple accounts, it becomes easier to grasp overall trends and to analyze and improve by comparing results between accounts.

Set Access Permissions in Detail

With an MCC, you can set access permissions for each registered user. Permissions are divided into levels, so you can control the "scope of what can be managed" according to each person's role. This helps when operating as a team or organizing the division of permissions with clients.

Consolidate Payments With Consolidated Billing

With an MCC account, you can use "consolidated billing" that combines the advertising costs incurred by each account underneath it into a single invoice. This is a convenient mechanism that greatly reduces the billing workload for agencies handling many accounts. Note that to use invoiced (monthly) billing, you need to meet conditions such as the usage track record set by Google, so check the latest conditions in Google Ads Help.

Points to Note When Using an MCC Account

While MCC accounts are convenient, there are also points to keep in mind before using them.

• Existing ad accounts cannot be turned into an MCC: You cannot convert an account already running Google Ads into an MCC as is. An MCC requires new creation.
• Time zone and currency cannot be changed: The time zone and currency set at creation cannot be changed later. Because they affect reports and billing, you need to set them correctly at the start.
• The MCC itself cannot deliver ads: The MCC is a higher-level account for management, and the actual ad delivery is done in the child accounts.
• Logging in to child accounts created from the MCC requires an invitation: Because child accounts newly created from the MCC have no users, a user invitation is required to log in directly.

Summary

An MCC account (manager account / My Client Center) is a mechanism that lets you centrally manage multiple Google Ads accounts from a single parent account. Through benefits such as cross-account management with a single login, collective grasp of delivery status, permission settings, and consolidated billing, you can greatly improve operational efficiency.

Creation takes just a few minutes if you have one Google account, but be careful that existing accounts cannot be turned into an MCC and that the time zone and currency cannot be changed later. If you plan to run multiple Google Ads accounts going forward, preparing an MCC account early will help you set up a smooth operational structure.