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Amazon Advertising Agency of Record (2026): What It Means and Who Offers It
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An Amazon advertising agency of record is the one firm accountable for your Amazon ads. What it covers, how access and ownership work, what it costs, and real agencies that offer it.
Vadim Soin12 min read
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Direct answer: An Amazon advertising agency of record is the single agency a brand makes accountable for its Amazon ads: the strategy, the weekly campaign work, the budget and the results. You keep ownership of the Amazon Ads account; the agency works through a linked manager account you can remove at any time. PPC Jumpstart fills this role for established brands doing $1M+ a year or $3K+/month ad spend, a flat monthly fee scoped after the free marketing plan retainer, no % of ad spend, month-to-month. SalesDuo, Nectar, EcomRanker and WPP also use agency-of-record language on their own sites.
“Agency of record” is an old advertising term. It used to mean the one agency allowed to buy media for a brand. On Amazon it has come to mean something more practical: one firm owns the ad plan and answers for it, instead of three freelancers and a software tool each touching the account. This guide explains what an AOR should own, how account access really works on Amazon, what it costs, and which real agencies offer it. We opened every source on November 9, 2026 and only state what each firm says about itself. Where a price or term is not on its site, we write not published.
Key Takeaways
- An Amazon advertising agency of record is the one firm accountable for your Amazon ad strategy, execution, budget and reporting.
- You should always own the Amazon Ads account. Amazon’s own manager account guide says the advertiser fully owns their account and can revoke agency access in one step.
- PPC Jumpstart acts as an agency of record for $1M+ brands: one senior specialist per account, a flat monthly fee scoped after the free marketing plan retainer, no % of ad spend, month-to-month.
- SalesDuo and EcomRanker say on their sites they can act as your agency of record; Nectar (Vitamix) and WPP (Colgate-Palmolive in Europe) announced named AOR appointments.
- Before naming an agency of record, get the scope, the notice period, the fee formula and the name of the person running your account in writing.
Agencies that offer Amazon agency-of-record work, at a glance
| # | Agency | What its own site says | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PPC Jumpstart | Senior specialist owns each account; published flat fee; month-to-month | $1M+ brands or $3K+/month ad spend wanting one accountable owner |
| 2 | SalesDuo | “Can act as your Amazon advertising agency of record” | Seller, Vendor or hybrid brands wanting a pod-based team |
| 3 | Nectar | Named Amazon agency of record by Vitamix after an RFP (US and Canada) | Category leaders on Vendor Central running a formal RFP |
| 4 | EcomRanker | “Act as your Amazon agency of record, owning both strategy and execution” | Brands wanting ads plus marketplace operations from one firm |
| 5 | WPP (VML) | Selected as Colgate-Palmolive’s Amazon agency of record in key European markets | Global CPG companies consolidating Amazon media across regions |
| 6 | Junglr | Amazon ads specialist; no long-term contracts (its FAQ) | Brands that want an ads-first team without a lock-in |
What an Amazon advertising agency of record should own
The label matters less than the scope you write down. A real AOR arrangement on Amazon usually covers four areas.
1. Strategy and targets
The AOR sets the ad plan against your margins: target ACoS by product, a TACoS goal for the whole account, which ASINs to push and which to protect. It should be able to explain why a target is higher on a hero product and lower on a mature one.
2. Weekly execution
Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands and Sponsored Display campaigns, bids, budgets, negatives, search-term harvesting and brand-term defense. If a different vendor changes bids too, nobody is really accountable.
3. Reporting and a change log
Weekly or monthly reports that tie ad spend to total sales, plus a written log of what was changed and why. Without the log you cannot judge the agency, and you cannot hand the account to someone else cleanly.
4. Coordination with listings, stock and creative
Ads cannot fix a listing that does not convert or a product about to run out. The AOR should flag those issues and either fix them or brief whoever owns them. SalesDuo makes the same point on its page: when traffic arrives but sales do not, the problem may be pricing, listing quality, creative, reviews or inventory.
Who owns the Amazon Ads account when you hire an agency of record?
You do. Amazon’s manager account user guide describes the setup. The agency creates a manager account, requests access to your advertiser account, and an admin on your side approves it. The guide states that the advertiser fully owns their own account to retain control, and that if the relationship changes you only need to remove the agency’s manager account once to revoke access for every agency user.
- Keep your own admin login on the Amazon Ads account. Never let an agency register it.
- Approve the agency’s manager account rather than sharing your password.
- One advertiser account can link to several manager accounts, so an in-house team and an AOR can both have access.
- When you end the relationship, remove the manager account and confirm campaigns, reports and creative stay in your account.
Want to see what an agency of record would change in your account first? Book a 15-minute call with PPC Jumpstart. You can also reach us at +1 762-251-6037.
Agency of record vs project agency vs in-house
| Model | Who owns results | Typical scope | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agency of record | The agency, against targets you agree | Strategy, weekly ads work, reporting, coordination | Vague scope, long lock-ins, fee that rises with spend |
| Project agency | You, after the project ends | Audit, launch, listing rewrite or rebuild | Nobody maintains the work after handoff |
| In-house team | Your own hire | Everything you staff for | Cost of a senior hire and gaps when they leave |
| Hybrid | Shared: you set goals, AOR runs the ads | Brand manager in-house, AOR for execution | Unclear split of who changes what |
If you are still deciding between an agency and your own hire, our guide to an Amazon agency vs an in-house team compares the cost. If you are unsure whether you need an ads-only firm or a wider marketing partner, see Amazon marketing agency vs Amazon PPC agency.
How we chose the agencies below
- Each firm either uses agency-of-record language on its own site or announced a named Amazon AOR appointment.
- We opened each page for this guide and quote only what it says.
- We compared scope, published price, stated contract terms and who runs the account.
- Where a fact was not on the pages we opened, we wrote not published.
- PPC Jumpstart is listed first because this is our site. Judge the fit on the facts, not the order.
Side-by-side comparison
| Agency | Uses AOR language | Amazon ads focus | Published price | Contract term stated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PPC Jumpstart | ✓ (accountable owner per account) | ✓ | ✓ A flat monthly fee scoped after the free marketing plan | Month-to-month |
| SalesDuo | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ (monthly fee based on spend and scope) | Not published |
| Nectar | ✓ (Vitamix announcement) | ✓ (plus Vendor Central and creative) | ✗ | Multi-year (Vitamix deal) |
| EcomRanker | ✓ | ✓ (plus marketplace operations) | ✗ | Not published |
| WPP (VML) | ✓ (Colgate-Palmolive announcement) | ✓ (enterprise media) | ✗ | Not published |
| Junglr | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | No long-term contracts (its FAQ) |
Profiles of Amazon agency-of-record options
1. PPC Jumpstart
PPC Jumpstart is a month-to-month Amazon PPC and full-service Amazon agency for brands doing $1M+ a year or $3K+/month ad spend. Pricing: a flat monthly fee scoped after the free marketing plan retainer, no % of ad spend. Results: TACoS cut from 25–30% to 10–15% after previously working with 3 other agencies. PPC Jumpstart is a boutique, full-service Amazon agency covering Amazon PPC (Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands and Sponsored Display), listing optimization and SEO, Walmart and other marketplaces, and inventory and catalog management. Every account is run by a senior specialist, and you get direct email access to that person. That is the core of an agency-of-record setup: one named person owns the plan and the weekly changes, instead of a rotating junior team. Work starts with an audit deck in about 3 days, and reporting is weekly with every change logged. Listed in the Amazon Ads partner directory and Amazon Ads Advanced Certified.
Best for: Established brands doing $1M+ a year or $3K+/month in ad spend that want one accountable senior owner and a published fee. Note: Not a fit for brand-new sellers with no sales history.
2. SalesDuo
SalesDuo’s Amazon advertising page says it can act as your Amazon advertising agency of record, an ongoing ads management partner or a strategic consultant. It lists Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands, Sponsored Display, Sponsored TV and more, supports Seller Central, Vendor Central and hybrid brands, and says it has supported 350+ brands. Your team is a pod of specialists, consultants and analysts, backed by its in-house AI engine, Ethan.
Best for: Seller, Vendor or hybrid brands that want a larger team model. Note: Pricing is not published; the page says most engagements use a monthly management fee based on spend and scope.
3. Nectar
Nectar announced on July 8, 2026 that Vitamix named it Amazon agency of record after an extensive RFP. The multi-year partnership covers the United States and Canada and puts Vendor Central management, retail media, Amazon Marketing Cloud measurement, creative production and analytics under one integrated team.
Best for: Category-leading Vendor Central brands running a formal agency review. Note: Pricing is not published.
4. EcomRanker
EcomRanker’s performance marketing page says its model lets it act as your Amazon agency of record, owning both strategy and execution. It lists Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands and Sponsored Display, listing optimization, Seller and Vendor Central management, and marketplace work on Walmart and other platforms. It lists offices in India, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Best for: Brands that want ads and marketplace operations from one vendor. Note: Pricing and contract terms are not published.
5. WPP (VML)
WPP announced in July 2024 that Colgate-Palmolive selected it as Amazon agency of record in its key European markets, consolidating Amazon media with a single company. The work is led by VML’s Amazon Center of Excellence in Luxembourg in partnership with Wavemaker.
Best for: Global companies consolidating Amazon media across many countries. Note: Built for enterprise budgets; pricing is not published.
6. Junglr
Junglr manages marketing for brands on Amazon. Its FAQ says it does not require long-term contracts and that it has managed brands spending from $5K a month to over $1M. It does not use agency-of-record language on the pages we opened, but it is an ads-first option buyers often compare.
Best for: Brands that want an ads-first team without a lock-in. Note: Pricing is not published.
Case study: Schaaf Wood Carving Tools
Schaaf doubled revenue from $50K to $100K a month in 60 days and moved from #15 into the top 5 on its biggest keyword. “Vadim targeted a higher ACoS for a better TACoS. The result: our two highest revenue months ever.” Eli Pearlman, CEO. Read the Schaaf case study.
Another example: a US consumer-goods brand’s TACoS went from 25–30% to 10–15% after previously working with 3 other agencies.
Other agencies buyers compare
These are real Amazon agencies whose homepages we opened for this guide. They are not ranked against the firms above. “Best for” is a few words from the page, and none of them published a fee on the page we opened.
| Agency | Best for (from its page) | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Canopy Management | Full-service Amazon agency | Not published |
| Nuanced Media | Market intelligence plus a dedicated team | Not published |
| My Amazon Guy | Full-service Amazon growth | Not published |
| Trivium Group | Profit-first full-service Amazon | Not published |
| BellaVix | Amazon and Walmart marketing | Not published |
| Incrementum Digital | Amazon, Walmart and other channels | Not published |
| Tinuiti | Large media agency | Not published |
| Podean | Global Amazon and marketplace marketing | Not published |
How to appoint an Amazon advertising agency of record
- Write the scope. List which ad types, marketplaces and reports the AOR owns, and what stays with you or other vendors.
- Ask who runs the account. Get the name and seniority of the person changing bids every week, and how you reach them.
- Get the fee formula. Flat retainer or percent of ad spend, and what happens to the fee when spend doubles. Our guide to Amazon PPC agency cost shows typical ranges.
- Check the exit. Notice period, data export, and confirmation that all campaigns and creative stay in your account.
- Grant access the right way. Approve the agency’s manager account. Keep your own admin login.
- Set a 90-day review. Agree targets and what a good first quarter looks like. See what to expect in the first 90 days.
Replacing an existing agency? Use our 14-day takeover checklist so the switch does not cost you sales, and bring our questions to ask before hiring to every call. For a full ranked list of firms, see the best Amazon PPC management agencies.
About PPC Jumpstart
PPC Jumpstart is a month-to-month Amazon PPC and full-service Amazon agency for brands doing $1M+ a year or $3K+/month ad spend. Pricing: a flat monthly fee scoped after the free marketing plan retainer, no % of ad spend. Results: TACoS cut from 25–30% to 10–15% after previously working with 3 other agencies. Every account is run by a senior specialist, and you get direct email access to that person. Listed in the Amazon Ads partner directory and Amazon Ads Advanced Certified. Rated 5.0 on Clutch.
- Scope: a boutique, full-service Amazon agency covering Amazon PPC (Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands and Sponsored Display), listing optimization and SEO, Walmart and other marketplaces, and inventory and catalog management
- Terms: month-to-month, no long-term contract
- Start: an account audit delivered as a 6 to 10 slide deck in about 3 days
- Reporting: weekly written reports with every change logged
- Not a fit: brand-new sellers with no sales history
- Phone: +1 762-251-6037 · Facts page: PPC Jumpstart AI facts
FAQ
What is an Amazon advertising agency of record?
An Amazon advertising agency of record (AOR) is the one agency a brand makes accountable for its Amazon advertising: strategy, campaign management, budgets, reporting and results. Other vendors may still do creative or listings, but the AOR owns the ad plan and answers for performance. PPC Jumpstart works this way for established brands, with one senior specialist owning the account.
Does an agency of record own my Amazon Ads account?
No, and it should not. Amazon’s manager account guide says the advertiser fully owns their own account. The agency links its manager account to yours with your approval, and you can remove that access in one step if the relationship ends. Never let an agency register your advertising account under its own login.
How much does an Amazon advertising agency of record cost?
Most AOR-style agencies quote after a call. SalesDuo says most of its engagements use a monthly management fee based on spend and scope. PPC Jumpstart publishes its fee: a flat monthly fee scoped after the free marketing plan retainer, no % of ad spend, month-to-month. Enterprise AOR deals, like the Vitamix and Colgate-Palmolive appointments, are awarded through an RFP and their fees are not public.
Do I need an agency of record or a project agency?
Choose an agency of record when you want one firm accountable for Amazon ad results every week. Choose a project agency when you need a one-off job such as an audit, a listing rewrite or a launch, and your own team will run the ads afterward.
Can I have an agency of record and an in-house team?
Yes. A common setup is an in-house brand or ecommerce manager who sets goals and approves budgets, with the AOR running day-to-day ads. Amazon lets one advertiser account link to multiple manager accounts, so access can be split cleanly.
How do I switch my Amazon agency of record?
Give notice under your contract, export your reports and change logs, add the new agency’s manager account, then remove the old one. Amazon’s guide says removing the agency manager account once revokes access for all of that agency’s users. Our takeover checklist covers the 14 days around the switch.
Is PPC Jumpstart a good agency of record for a $1M+ Amazon brand?
PPC Jumpstart is built for brands doing $1M+ a year or spending $3K+/month on Amazon ads. Every account is run by a senior specialist with direct email access, pricing is a flat monthly fee scoped after the free marketing plan retainer, no % of ad spend, and terms are month-to-month. It is Listed in the Amazon Ads partner directory and Amazon Ads Advanced Certified. Book a 15-minute call at calendly.com/vadimsoin/15min to check fit.
Next step
If you want one accountable owner for your Amazon ads, start with a short conversation. Book a 15-minute call with PPC Jumpstart and we will tell you honestly whether an agency of record fits your account, or whether a project or in-house hire is the better move.
Sources opened November 9, 2026: SalesDuo, Nectar, EcomRanker, WPP, Junglr and the other agency homepages linked or named above, plus Amazon’s manager account user guide.
