How to Change Your Google Ads Account Type from Organisation to Individual (Spoiler: You Can’t)

If you’ve mistakenly set up your Google Ads account as an organisation when you’re actually operating as an individual — like a freelancer, sole trader, or self-employed professional — you’re probably wondering how to fix it.

Unfortunately, the answer is: you can’t.

Once a Google Ads account has been created as an organisation, you cannot change it back to an individual account. Even Google Support cannot manually change the account type. Your only option is to create a brand-new account and select the correct type during setup.

This guide breaks down exactly why this happens, what your options are, and how to avoid verification issues that can block your ads from running.

Why the Account Type Matters in Google Ads

When setting up a Google Ads account, you’re asked to choose between two account types:

• Individual: Intended for freelancers, self-employed marketers, consultants, or anyone not operating as a registered business. Verification is done using personal identification, like a driving licence or passport.

• Organisation: Intended for limited companies, charities, and VAT-registered businesses. Verification requires legal business documents, such as a certificate of incorporation, VAT certificate, or registration of charity.

This selection is important because it directly affects the identity verification process — and if you choose the wrong type, you won’t be able to verify your account properly.

What Happens If You Select “Organisation” by Mistake?

If you chose “organisation” during the initial setup, Google will expect you to submit official business documentation for verification. This might include:

• Company registration certificate (e.g. Companies House in the UK)

• VAT registration certificate

• Proof of charity status

If you're self-employed and operating without official business registration, you won’t be able to provide these documents, and your account will fail verification. This means your ads won’t be eligible to run.

Can You Change the Account Type Later?

No. Once the account type is set, Google Ads does not allow you to switch from organisation to individual. Even if you contact Google Ads support, they will not change this for you.

Here’s how the flow works:

• You can switch from individual → organisation if your business becomes registered later

• You cannot switch from organisation → individual under any circumstances

The Solution: Create a New Google Ads Account

To correct this, you’ll need to start again with a new Google Ads account. That’s the only way to change your account type to "individual" and ensure the correct verification path.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Log out of your existing Google Ads account

2. Go to https://ads.google.com and click Start Now

3. Sign up with a new email address (or create a new Google account)

4. When prompted, select “Individual” as your account type

5. Complete the rest of the setup

6. Begin creating your campaigns from scratch, or import from the original account if needed

7. When verification is triggered, submit a valid form of ID (e.g. passport or driving licence)

If you already have campaigns running in your original account, you’ll need to rebuild them manually or use the export/import function to transfer them over.

Will This Affect Billing or Payments?

No. If you’re paying with a credit card or bank transfer, creating a new account won’t cause any issues — but you’ll need to re-enter your billing details in the new account. Be sure to cancel or pause campaigns in your old account to avoid duplicate charges.

What About My Google Ads History?

Unfortunately, when you create a new account, your previous campaign history does not carry over. That means:

• No historical data

• No Quality Score carryover

• No account-level insights or optimisations

However, if your previous account was fairly new or underperforming, starting fresh with the correct setup can often lead to better results in the long term.

Tips to Avoid This in the Future

• Always double-check the account type before completing Google Ads setup

• If you're unsure, choose “individual” — you can always upgrade to an organisation later if needed

• Keep your personal and business accounts separate to avoid confusion

• If you're a web agency or freelancer running ads on behalf of clients, set them up in Google Ads Manager (MCC) to keep things clean

Final Thoughts

It’s frustrating, but Google Ads doesn't currently allow you to switch account types after setup — especially from organisation to individual. If you’re stuck in verification limbo because of this, the only fix is to start over with a new account and select the correct type.

It’s a hassle, yes — but worth it to avoid wasting time and ad budget on an account that will never be verified.