VortiHQ vs. Traditional Google Ads Agency
Performance-based vs. retainer — what your budget actually buys
Traditional Google Ads agencies charge a monthly retainer whether campaigns perform or not. You pay for their time and overhead — not their results. VortiHQ flips the model: we earn when you close more patients. Here's exactly what that difference looks like in practice.
Performance-based — we earn a % of closed revenue from ad leads
Flat monthly retainer ($1,500–$5,000+) regardless of results
None — we build everything at our expense
$1,000–$3,000 onboarding fee before a single ad runs
You pay Google directly — 100% of your budget goes to ads
Often bundled; some agencies take a 15–20% ad spend markup
Healthcare & aesthetics only — we know your industry deeply
Generalist agencies serve all industries; healthcare is a small slice
No lock-in contracts — stay because results are good
6–12 month contracts standard; early exit fees common
Full CPL, CPA, and closed-patient attribution reporting
Click and impression reports; revenue attribution rare
Your account, your data — full access always
Some agencies retain account ownership; you lose data if you leave
Dedicated specialist — direct access, no account managers in the way
Account managed by junior staff; senior talent on larger accounts
Our revenue depends on yours — fully aligned incentives
Retainer paid regardless of results — misaligned incentives
HIPAA-aware tracking, LegitScript guidance, healthcare ad policies
Variable — compliance knowledge depends on individual team member
The Verdict
Traditional agencies are built around time, not results. VortiHQ is built around performance.
When you pay a retainer, the agency's revenue is secure whether your campaigns perform or not. They have less incentive to push hard for results after the initial honeymoon period. VortiHQ's performance model creates alignment: we only grow our revenue if yours grows first. Every optimization we make, every negative keyword we add, every landing page we improve — it all comes back to our shared bottom line.
More comparisons
See if the performance model works for your practice
Book a free strategy call. We'll audit your current setup and show you what a performance-based engagement would look like — with projected patient acquisition costs.