Short answer
The advertiser creates the Ads Manager account and invites the agency; OpenAI does not let agencies create advertiser accounts on a client's behalf. Give the agency Member access so it can build and edit campaigns while the client stays admin and owner of billing and data.
Steps
- The client creates the account at ads.openai.com and completes verification and billing
- The client invites agency staff under Settings > Users > Invite, using the email they sign in to OpenAI with
- The client assigns Member (or Admin if the agency must manage users)
- The agency confirms it can see the account and builds campaigns
What to agree in writing
- Who approves ads before submission
- Who owns the account, data and pixel if you part ways
- Budget limits and who may change them
- How quickly the agency must report policy rejections
Questions
Can the agency pay for media?
Billing sits with the account's billing profile, normally the advertiser's card. Many agencies prefer this: the client sees every dollar.
Facts checked against the sources below on 12 October 2026. Platforms change quickly: if something here no longer matches what you see, tell us and we will update it.
