In this blog, you’ll find the Meta Ad Account Setup Checklist you need to properly set up your ads for better results and to avoid getting banned.

Introduction

Worried about Meta disabling your ad account again?

You’re not alone. Many advertisers launch campaigns without properly setting up their Meta ad accounts—and end up banned, flagged, or stuck in review loops.

In 2025, Meta’s ad systems are stricter than ever. If you’re running campaigns—especially in sensitive or high-restriction niches—a strong setup is essential for success.

This step-by-step Meta ad account setup checklist will help you:

Avoid bans and payment holds
Set up a scalable business structure
Stay compliant with evolving Meta policies

Whether you’re an agency, freelancer, or brand owner—this guide is your blueprint.

Step 1: Create Your Business Manager Account

Why this matters in 2025:

Creating a Business Manager account is the first and most essential step in setting up your Meta ad account properly in 2025. Meta increasingly prioritizes centralized and transparent setups, especially for advertisers running campaigns at scale. A Business Manager not only helps you organize assets like ad accounts, pages, and pixels—it also boosts your credibility with Meta’s systems.

In today’s environment, where policy enforcement is stricter than ever, having a verified Business Manager is a strong trust signal. It shows Meta that you’re a legitimate advertiser, which can help reduce the risk of sudden account bans. In many industries, Business Manager access isn’t just recommended—it’s required in order to run any ads at all. Setting this up correctly from the beginning can save you a lot of headaches down the road.

Steps:

Go to business.facebook.com
Click Create Account
Enter your business name, email, and name

Step 2: Verify Your Business & Domain

Verifying your business and domain is no longer optional—it’s a critical part of earning Meta’s trust. Meta strongly favors verified entities, and accounts that skip this step often face delays, restrictions, or outright rejections when trying to run ads.

By verifying your business through Business Manager and confirming ownership of your domain, you signal to Meta that you’re a real, legitimate advertiser. This process helps prevent impersonation, protects your assets, and ensures smoother campaign delivery. If you don’t complete verification, you may find yourself limited in ad functionality or stuck in review loops that stall your campaigns indefinitely. Taking the time to verify now sets the foundation for long-term account stability.

What you’ll need:

Government-issued business document (license or tax record)
Domain-based email (e.g., [email protected])
Company website

Verify your domain:

To verify your domain with Meta, you have two main methods to choose from, depending on what’s easier for you or your team to manage. The first method is through your domain host, where you’ll need to add a specific TXT record to your DNS settings. This confirms to Meta that you have ownership and administrative access to the domain.

The second method involves uploading a small HTML file directly to the root directory of your website. Meta provides the file, and once it’s uploaded, they’ll scan your domain to confirm it’s there. Both approaches are straightforward, but whichever method you choose, make sure you follow Meta’s instructions carefully—successful domain verification plays a big role in ad delivery and asset control.

Step 3: Add Your Ad Account (Safely)

Avoid using:

❌ Old personal accounts
❌ Untrusted or previously restricted accounts

Avoid using old personal accounts or previously restricted ones because they carry negative history, low trust signals, and are more likely to trigger Meta’s automated bans—putting your entire setup at risk.

Do this instead:

Create a new ad account inside Business Manager
Set clear timezone, currency, and naming conventions
Assign access only to verified team members

Pro Tip: Let your new account age 2–5 days before launching conversion campaigns.

Step 4: Create & Link a Facebook Page

You must have a Page to advertise. Set it up correctly to avoid unnecessary review delays.

For best results:

Use a clear, brand-compliant Page name
Fill out the About section fully
Link to a website with Privacy Policy, Terms, and Contact info

Step 5: Set Up Secure Payment Methods

Meta bans are often triggered by bad payment setups.

To avoid issues, use:

Virtual business cards (Wise, Revolut, etc.)
PayPal Business (linked to your verified company)
Billing info that matches your business profile

Avoid:

Prepaid cards
Mismatched country data
Reusing cards from disabled accounts

Backup Tip: Add a secondary payment method to reduce the risk of billing pauses.

Step 6: Strengthen Account Security

Hacked accounts are a common reason for bans and lost access. Protect yours by enabling two-factor authentication for all users, assigning at least one backup admin, and using strong, unique passwords that aren’t reused across platforms. Taking these simple steps can save your entire setup from being compromised.

🚫 Don’t:

Share login credentials
Access Business Manager on public Wi-Fi

Step 7: Assign Proper Roles and Permissions

Only give team members the level of access they truly need—avoid assigning full admin rights unless absolutely necessary. Limiting permissions helps reduce risk, maintain better control, and keep your account secure and well-organized. Below is an overview of the different roles and types of access available.

Role	Access
Admin	Full control
Advertiser	Create/edit campaigns only
Analyst	View-only access

Only grant higher-level access based on experience and accountability.

Step 8: Install Meta Pixel + Events Manager

Track what matters. Without accurate tracking, your campaigns won’t optimize properly.

Steps:

Go to Events Manager
Create or access your Meta Pixel
Install it via partner integration or manual code
Use the Test Events Tool to confirm it’s firing
Set up Custom Conversions early on

Multi-niche advertisers? Separate domains by ad account.

Step 9: Review & Bookmark Meta Ad Policies

Common reasons for ad rejection in 2025:

Use of restricted keywords (e.g., “get rich,” “instant cure”)
Poor landing page experience
Non-compliant industries like CBD, crypto, and gambling

Check Meta Ads Policy monthly. Bookmark it.

Step 10: Warm Up the Account

Meta trusts accounts that build activity gradually.

Start with:

Page Like campaigns
Post Engagement ads
Click-to-Message or Click-to-WhatsApp ads

Then move to:

Website traffic
Lead generation
Conversions

Timeline: 3–7 days of warm-up before pushing budgets.

Bonus: Advanced Setup Tips for High-Risk Niches

If you’re in finance, supplements, adult, or lead-gen verticals:

Use separate Business Managers per niche/offer
Don’t reuse Pages or domains across unrelated offers
Monitor Page Quality Score and Ad Account Quality regularly
Use Click-to-WhatsApp when landing page restrictions apply
Backup everything (Page, Ad Account, Domain)

FAQs

1. What’s the best way to set up a Meta ad account in 2025?
Use Business Manager, verify your domain and business, and never launch from a personal profile.

2. Can I run ads without business verification?
You can—but it limits reach, delays approvals, and increases ban risk.

3. What payment methods are safest?
Virtual business cards and PayPal Business accounts. Avoid prepaid cards or reused cards.

4. What’s the warm-up period?
Minimum 3–5 days. Start with low-budget engagement ads.

5. How do I avoid bans?
Follow setup steps, stay compliant, monitor quality scores, and review Meta policies monthly.

6. What are common mistakes advertisers make?