Cofoundr vs spreadsheets and manual checks
Spreadsheets and manual account checks are how most agencies start. Here is where they work, where they stop working, and what changes with Cofoundr.
Spreadsheets and manual checks work well for one or two accounts. Beyond a handful, the daily checking, diagnosing and reporting become most of the job. Cofoundr does the morning review, flags waste and drafts the reports, so your team spends its time on decisions. If you only run a couple of accounts, a spreadsheet is fine.
At a glance
Statements about other approaches are general. Check the details for the tool you use.
Where spreadsheets and manual checks works well
- You run one or two ad accounts and know them well.
- You need a custom analysis that no tool offers.
- You want one sheet that mixes Meta numbers with other channels.
Where it starts to break down for agencies
- Checks get skipped on busy days, and a problem runs for days before anyone sees it.
- Formulas drift, tabs multiply and numbers stop matching what Ads Manager shows.
- Reports take days of copying that adds nothing the client values.
- Handovers are painful, because the real process lives in one person's habits.
Choose spreadsheets and manual checks if
- You have very few accounts.
- Your reporting needs are unusual.
- You enjoy the work of building your own system.
Choose Cofoundr if
- You run Meta Ads for several clients.
- Checking and reporting are eating your team's week.
- You want problems found the same day, whoever is on shift.
How Cofoundr fits
Cofoundr connects to your Meta ad accounts and runs the checks you would otherwise do by hand. In the scenario behind our time calculator, four ad accounts take about 94h a month of checking, diagnosing and reporting. That figure is an illustration, not a promise, so use the calculator with your own numbers.
Common questions
Can I keep using spreadsheets alongside Cofoundr?
Yes. Many agencies keep a sheet for custom analysis. Cofoundr replaces the routine checking and reporting, not your own analysis.
How many accounts before a spreadsheet stops working?
There is no fixed number. When daily checks start getting skipped, or reports take days, you have outgrown it.
Does Cofoundr cover Google Ads?
No. Cofoundr works with Meta Ads only today.
Related
Stop losing 12 days a month to manual work
Where the 12 days go, for an agency running 4 Meta ad accounts
Scenario: 15 minutes of checking and 30 minutes of diagnosing per account per day over 22 working days, plus 2 reports per account at 3.5 hours each. Your numbers may differ.
Cofoundr is the operating system for performance marketing agencies. Connect your Meta ad accounts and get health scores, wasted spend detection, automation, white-label reports and AI in one workspace. 14-day free trial, no card required.