The short answer
Choose an Australian marketing agency on what it will do and how it will report, not on its pitch. Ask for a written monthly scope, confirm you will own the ad accounts and data, check how results are measured and how much notice you need to leave, and make sure ads and follow-ups meet the Australian Consumer Law and the Spam Act 2003. Location matters less than responsiveness and clear reporting.
Last updated 19 October 2026
Australia has no shortage of marketing agencies, and most of them pitch well. The difference shows up months later, in what you actually received, who owns it, and whether anyone can explain what your money did. These ten questions sort that out before you sign.
1. What exactly do I get each month?
Ask for a written scope: which channels, how many campaigns and creative pieces, whether websites and landing pages are included, and how often you meet. “Full-service” means nothing until it is written down.
2. Who owns the ad accounts, pixel data and CRM?
You should. Ad accounts, tracking data, the CRM and your website should be in your business name, so you keep everything if you leave. Our own terms put every asset we build in the client’s name once fees are paid.
3. How will results be measured?
Agree the numbers that matter before you start: enquiries, booked appointments, sales and the cost of each. Reach, impressions and clicks are signals, not results.
4. Who will actually do the work?
Ask who runs your account day to day, and whether any of it is passed to subcontractors. You want to talk to the people doing the work, not only a salesperson.
5. Is ad spend included, and is the fee plus GST?
Usually ad spend is not included. Confirm whether it is billed through the agency or paid by you directly to Meta and Google, and whether any margin is added. Check GST too: Australian GST is 10%, and a business must register once its GST turnover reaches $75,000 (business.gov.au), so some quotes include it and some add it on top. Ask for an ABN on the proposal so you know which business you are contracting with.
6. Will the ads and follow-ups follow Australian rules?
Advertising claims are covered by the Australian Consumer Law. If the agency follows up your leads by SMS or email, the Spam Act 2003 applies: commercial messages need the person’s permission, and anyone who unsubscribes must be removed within 5 working days (business.gov.au). An agency should be able to show you how consent is captured on your forms.
7. What happens to my website and domain?
If the agency builds your website, check who owns the domain and hosting. A com.au is for businesses with a connection to Australia, most commonly through an active ABN or ACN (auDA), so it should be registered to your business, not the agency.
8. How long is the contract, and how do I leave?
Look for a clear notice period and an initial term short enough to judge results without being locked in. Ours is 30 days’ written notice, by email, with every asset you own handed over within 14 days. Remember that the consumer guarantees under the Australian Consumer Law, such as services being carried out with due care and skill, cannot be excluded by a contract where you count as a consumer, which since 1 July 2021 includes a business buying services up to $100,000 (Queensland Government).
9. Can I see work you have done?
Ask for live websites and campaigns you can check yourself, and for results that come with a date and a source. Our case studies link to every live site, and each figure has a “How we know” note.
10. Does location matter?
Less than it used to. Most agency work happens on video calls and shared dashboards, so responsiveness and clear reporting matter more than being in the same city. Australia spans several time zones, so ask when calls can be booked and how quickly enquiries are followed up, and make sure meetings fit your business hours, not the agency’s.
Working with OneAdsphere in Australia
OneAdsphere is a New Zealand and Australian marketing agency, founded in Auckland in 2024. Australian clients contract with ONEADSPHERE (ABN 59 645 963 842), registered for GST, with its office in South Brisbane, and prices are in AUD plus GST. One team runs strategy, creative, Meta and Google ads, websites, SEO, CRM and reporting, and you own every account. We work with businesses across Australia by video call, in your business hours. Call us on 0421 311 308, or see how we work in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and our website design for Australian businesses.
Choosing a marketing agency in Australia: common questions
What should I ask a marketing agency before hiring them?
Ask what you get each month in writing, who owns the ad accounts and data, how results will be measured, who does the work, whether ad spend and GST are included, how ads and follow-ups meet Australian rules, who owns the website and domain, and how much notice you need to leave.
Do Australian marketing agencies have to follow advertising rules?
Yes. Advertising claims are covered by the Australian Consumer Law, and the Spam Act 2003 requires permission before commercial emails and SMS are sent, with unsubscribes actioned within 5 working days.
Should I own my ad accounts when I use an agency?
Yes. Ad accounts, pixel data, the CRM and your website should be in your business name so you keep them if you change agency.
Do I need an agency in my own city?
No. Most agency work happens on video calls and shared dashboards. What matters is that calls are booked in your business hours and enquiries are followed up quickly.
Is ad spend included in an agency fee?
Usually not. Most agencies bill ad spend separately or have you pay Meta and Google directly. Confirm how it is handled, and whether the fee is shown plus GST, before you sign.