How to Add an Agency to Facebook Business Manager

Bringing a marketing agency into your Facebook and Instagram ecosystem shouldn't feel like handing over the keys to your house. This guide provides the exact, step-by-step process for securely granting an agency access to your assets using Facebook Business Manager's Partner feature. We'll cover everything from entering their Business ID to assigning the right permissions for your Pages and Ad Accounts, ensuring you maintain full control while empowering your agency to do its best work.

Why You Should Add an Agency as a Partner (Not an Employee)

You might be tempted to add your new agency's social media manager as an "employee" to your Business Manager. It seems faster, right? But this is risky and inefficient for several reasons. Adding someone as an employee ties your business assets directly to their personal Facebook profile. If that person leaves the agency, untangling their access can become messy. Worse, it gives them individual control that isn't transparently managed by the agency's leadership.

The "Partner" feature was built specifically for this business-to-business relationship. When you add an agency as a Partner, you connect your Business Manager to their Business Manager. This is the professional, secure, and correct way to collaborate. Here's why it's better:

• Better Security: Your assets are connected to the agency's verified business entity, not an individual’s personal account. The agency manages its own team’s access, keeping your Business Manager clean and secure.
• Clear Ownership: You remain the ultimate owner of your Page, Ad Account, and Pixel. Your agency has permission to work on them, but they can never remove you as the owner or claim the assets as their own.
• Centralized Management: The agency can assign its own team members (their graphic designer, copywriter, ads specialist, etc.) to work on your account from their own Business Manager. You don’t need to add and remove every single person on their team individually.
• Professionalism: It signals a clear and professional relationship. When you part ways, removing that single Partner connection revokes access for their entire team in one click. No loose ends, no lingering admin permissions.

Before You Begin: What You'll Need

To make this process as smooth as possible, have these two things ready before you start clicking. The process is a two-way street, you need something from your agency, and they'll need to act on the request you send.

What You Need From Your Agency:

• Their Facebook Business Manager ID: This is a unique number that identifies their official Business Manager account. It is not their Ad Account ID or Page ID. An experienced agency will know exactly what this is and can provide it to you immediately. Tell them you’re ready to grant Partner access and need their Business Manager ID to proceed.

If they struggle to find it, they can locate it by logging into their Business Manager and going to "Business Settings" >, "Business Info." It will be listed clearly at the top of the page under their business name.

Business Info >, Business Manager ID: 123456789012345

What You Need on Your End:

• Admin Access to Your Business Manager: Only an Admin can add Partners. If you are not an Admin, you will need to ask the person who set up your Business Manager to either give you Admin access or to complete these steps themselves.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Add Your Agency as a Partner

Once you have the agency's Business ID, granting them access takes just a few minutes. Follow these steps carefully.

1. Navigate to Your Business Settings

First, log in to the Facebook Business Manager account that owns your business assets.

• Go to business.facebook.com/settings.
• If you manage multiple Business Manager accounts, make sure you've selected the correct one from the dropdown menu in the top left corner.

2. Go to the Partners Section

In the left-hand navigation menu, look for the "Users" dropdown. Underneath it, you will see a section called Partners. Click on it. This page will show you any existing partners your business works with.

3. Add a New Partner

You’ll see a blue “+ Add” button. Click this button. A dropdown menu will appear with two options:

• Give a partner access to your assets
• Ask a partner to share their assets

You want to select the first option: “Give a partner access to your assets.” This signifies that you are the client granting access to an agency.

4. Enter the Agency’s Business ID

A new window will pop up asking for the partner’s information. Here is where you’ll paste the Business Manager ID that your agency gave you. Copy and paste it into the "Partner business ID" field and click "Next."

Facebook will then find the agency's Business Manager and show you its name to confirm you've entered the correct ID. This is a great sanity check to make sure you're connecting with the right company.

5. Assign Assets and Permissions

Now comes the most important part: deciding what the agency can access and what they can do. You’ll see a list of asset types on the left (Pages, Ad Accounts, Catalogs, Pixels, etc.). You must assign assets one by one.

Let's walk through the most common ones: your Facebook Page and your Ad Account.

Assigning Your Facebook Page

• In the "Select Asset Type" column, choose "Pages".
• In the middle column, a list of your Facebook Pages will appear. Select the checkbox next to the Page you want the agency to manage.
• In the right-hand column, you define their permissions. Do not give them "Full Control" (Admin Access) unless absolutely necessary and you trust them implicitly. This gives them the power to manage everything, including settings and permissions.
• Instead, toggle on specific permissions based on their scope of work. Common permissions for agencies include:
  • Content: Create, manage, or delete posts, Stories, and more. This is almost always needed.
  • Community Activity: Review and respond to comments, remove unwanted comments, and manage Instagram DMs. Essential for community management.
  • Messages: Respond to messages as the Page. If they handle customer service via Messenger, this is necessary.
  • Ads: Create, manage and view ads from the Page. Vital if they are running any ad campaigns for you.
  • Insights: View Page performance and access Audience Insights. A must-have for reporting and strategy.

Pro Tip: Start with the minimum necessary permissions. You can always come back and add more access later if their role expands.

Assigning Your Ad Account

• In the left column, now select "Ad Accounts."
• Check the box next to your main Ad Account in the middle column.
• On the right side, assign permissions. For most agencies running ads, you'll need to give them "Manage Campaigns" access. This allows them to create and edit ads, view ad performance, and access reports.
• Avoid giving full "Manage Ad Account" control unless required. This level allows them to change payment methods and manage ad account-level permissions, which is typically something the business owner should control.
• Repeat this process for other necessary assets:
  • Pixels: Give them "View Pixel" or "Manage Pixel" access so they can properly track conversions for your ad campaigns.
  • Instagram Accounts: Similar to Facebook Pages, assign permissions for Content, Ads, Insights, etc., for your linked Instagram account.
  • Catalogs: If you're an e-commerce business, grant them access to your product catalog to run dynamic product ads.

6. Review and Confirm

Once you've assigned all the necessary assets and set the permissions for each, click the blue "Save Changes" button. Facebook will show you a confirmation screen summarizing the invitation you’ve just sent. It will show the agency's name and the specific assets you have shared. If everything looks correct, you're done on your end!

What Your Agency Needs to Do Next

Your job is done, but the connection isn't active until the agency accepts the request. They will receive an email and a notification within their own Business Manager. They should:

1. Log in to their Business Manager.
2. Navigate to Business Settings >, Requests in the left-hand menu.
3. Find the pending request from your business and click "Approve."

Once they approve it, your shared assets will appear within their Business Manager. From there, the agency's administrator can assign their own team members to work on your Page and Ad Account, all without you ever needing to add another individual to your dashboard.

Best Practices for a Smooth Agency Partnership

• Perform Regular Audits: Every few months, go to your Partners section and review the permissions you have granted. Is the agency still managing everything you've given them access to? Can any permissions be scaled back for security?
• Communicate Clearly: Let your agency know which permissions you've granted and why. This sets clear boundaries and expectations from the start.
• Establish an Offboarding Process: If you decide to end your relationship with an agency, removing their access is simple. Just go back to the "Partners" section, select their name, and click "Remove." This single click revokes access for their entire company.

Final Thoughts

Adding an agency to your Facebook Business Manager using the Partner feature is the most secure, scalable, and professional way to collaborate. It protects your ownership of essential business assets while empowering your agency partners with the access they need to drive results. By following these steps, you can set your new partnership up for success from day one.

Once your agency is connected and ready to go, the real collaboration begins - planning campaigns, creating content, engaging with your community, and analyzing performance. This is where a shared, streamlined workflow makes all the difference. We built Postbase to eliminate the friction that agencies and clients often face when managing social media together. With a clear visual calendar for planning, easy scheduling across all platforms (including Reels and Shorts), and a unified inbox for comments and DMs, our platform ensures both teams are always on the same page without the clutter of outdated, complicated tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an agency's Facebook Business ID and where do I find it?

An agency's Facebook Business ID is a unique numerical identifier for their entire Business Manager account, separate from any specific Page or Ad Account ID. As the client, you will request this ID from your agency, they can find it in their own Business Manager under Business Settings >, Business Info. Providing this ID allows you to securely connect your assets to their official business account as a Partner.

Should I give my agency admin access to my Facebook Business Manager?

No, you should avoid giving an agency full "Admin" or "Full Control" access unless absolutely necessary. Granting Admin access gives them the ability to change business settings and manage permissions, which should remain under your control. Instead, use the Partner access workflow and assign specific task-based permissions - like "Manage Campaigns" for the Ad Account or "Content Creation" for the Page - to give them what they need without risking your assets.

How do I remove an agency from my Facebook Business Manager?

Removing an agency is simple and immediate. Navigate to your Business Settings, click on "Partners" in the left-hand menu, select the name of the agency you want to remove, and click the "Remove" button. This single action revokes their access, and the access for all of their team members, to every asset you had previously shared with them.

What's the difference between adding a 'Partner' and adding a 'Person' in Business Manager?

Adding a 'Person' links your Business Manager directly to an individual's personal Facebook profile, which is risky if that person leaves the agency. Adding a 'Partner' connects your Business Manager to the agency's official Business Manager account, creating a secure, business-to-business relationship where the agency manages its own team's permissions internally. The Partner method is the correct and professional way to collaborate with external companies.