How to create a Pinterest ads account
This guide walks through getting a Pinterest business account, claiming your website, creating an ad account in Business Manager, adding billing, and sharing access. At the end you will have an account ready for a first campaign.
Pinterest ads run from a business account. Inside it, Business Manager holds your ad accounts and controls who can access them. Each ad account has its own country, currency, billing, and Pinterest tag, and that is where your campaigns live.
Advertisers in some countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan, can set up ad accounts directly with Pinterest. In other markets Pinterest works through local partners, so check Pinterest’s list of ad markets before you start.
Get a business account
On desktop, go to pinterest.com, click Sign up, then Create a business account. Enter your email, a password, and your age, and click Create account. If you already have a personal account, you can convert it instead: open Settings, go to Account management, find Convert to a business account, and click Convert account. A private account must be made public first.
TipThe email for a new business account cannot already belong to another Pinterest account.
Complete your business profile
Pinterest then asks you to fill in Build your profile and Describe your business, clicking Next after each. You will also be asked whether you want to run ads. Use your real business name and a profile image people will recognize, because ads display your profile alongside the Pin.
Claim your website
Open Settings, choose Link to Pinterest, and click Claim next to Websites. Pick a method: an HTML tag in your site’s head section, an HTML file uploaded to your site’s root folder, or a DNS TXT record. Enter your site URL and click Verify. Claiming links Pins from your site to your profile and is needed for some tag setup options.
Watch outDNS changes can take up to 72 hours to take effect, so start this step early.
Create the ad account
Open the menu at the top left and, under Manage business, choose Business Manager. Select Ad accounts, then click Create ad account. Enter an Ad account name, choose your Country, and click Create. Pinterest says that if you choose the wrong country or currency, you will need to create a new account, so check both before you continue.
TipOne business account can hold up to 50 ad accounts, but Pinterest recommends keeping the number small.
Add business and billing information
Under Manage business, select Billing, then Payment settings. Add your business name and address under Business information first, then open Billing information to enter your billing address, a primary credit card, and a backup card. Click Save. Depending on your country you may also need VAT or GST details.
Watch outPinterest may place a small temporary charge to verify your card; it is not a payment for ads.
Understand how you will be billed
Pinterest charges for accumulated spend on the first day of the following month, or sooner when you reach your billing threshold. Pinterest’s example threshold for a new advertiser is $50, and it rises as payments succeed. Ad accounts billed in USD can choose a lower custom threshold. Eligible advertisers can apply for monthly invoicing instead of card billing.
Give teammates and partners access
In Business Manager, click Employees, then Add employee, choose a role, and enter their business email. Select the ad account and permissions, such as Admin, Campaigns, Analyst, or Finance (read), and click Send invite. For an agency, use Partners and Add partner with the partner’s business ID. Access starts once they accept.
Plan a tag for each ad account
Conversion tracking and audience targeting are set up separately for each ad account, so each one needs its own Pinterest tag and audiences. If you run several brands or regions, decide now which ad account each website belongs to. That keeps conversion data and audiences from getting mixed together later.
Before you move on
- You are working in a business account, not a personal one
- Your website shows as claimed
- The ad account country and currency are correct
- Business and billing information is saved, with a backup card
- Teammates and partners have accepted their invites
Official resources
- Pinterest Help: Get a business account
- Pinterest Help: Create an advertiser account
- Pinterest Help: Update business and billing information
- Pinterest Help: How billing works
- Pinterest Help: Business Manager roles and permissions
Ad platforms update their tools often. This guide was last reviewed against the official documentation above in October 2026. If your screen looks different, the official help pages have the latest steps.
At a glance
- Level
- Beginner
- Time
- About 30 minutes
- What you need
- A desktop computer, since several steps are desktop only
- An email address not already used by another Pinterest account, or an existing personal account to convert
- Your business name, address, and website
- A credit card, plus a backup card if you have one
- Access to your website code, DNS, or platform settings to claim the site
Rather have it done for you?
Active Digital Marketing builds and manages Pinterest ad accounts for businesses doing $25,000+ a month in revenue.
Apply to work with usOr get an ad account auditWhere DIY setups go wrong
The most common problems with self-built Pinterest Ads setups, and what they cost.
Wrong country or currency
It is chosen at setup and Pinterest's fix is a new ad account. Picking a currency that does not match your store makes reporting harder from day one.
Skipping the website claim
Without a claimed website, Pins from your site are not tied to your profile, and some tag install options may not be offered.
Sharing one login
Business Manager lets you give each person their own access and permission level. Shared logins make it impossible to see who changed what or to remove one person cleanly.
Mixing several businesses in one ad account
Tags and audiences belong to the ad account. Combining unrelated sites in one account blends their data and weakens targeting.
What this guide doesn't cover
An ad account is the foundation. Results on Pinterest depend on what you build on it: a product catalog feeding shopping ads, keyword and interest strategy matched to how people plan purchases, creative made for the platform, and tag plus Conversions API data you can trust.
ADM runs Pinterest as a secondary channel for eCommerce brands alongside Meta, so the two share clean data and a consistent plan.
- Catalog and shopping campaign setup
- Keyword and interest targeting strategy
- Pinterest tag and Conversions API with deduplication
- Creative built for Pinterest formats
- Budget allocation across Pinterest and other channels
Common questions
Do I need a business account to run Pinterest ads?
Yes. Pinterest ads are created from a business account, and you can either create a new one or convert a personal account.
Can I create a Pinterest ad account on my phone?
No. Pinterest says advertiser accounts currently cannot be created from a mobile device, and billing details can only be updated on desktop.
When does Pinterest charge my card?
On the first day of the following month for accumulated spend, or earlier when your spend reaches your billing threshold.
Are Pinterest ads available in my country?
Pinterest lets advertisers in a list of countries set up directly and uses local partners in some other markets. Check Pinterest's ads overview page for the current list.
Keep learning
How to Create a Pinterest Ads Campaign
Build a first Pinterest ads campaign: pick an objective, set up the ad group, targeting and placements, choose Pins, and publish for review.
Read the guideHow to Set a Pinterest Ads Budget
How Pinterest ads budgets work: daily vs lifetime, Performance+ vs fixed daily pacing, bidding options, spend limits, and changing budgets safely.
Read the guideHow to Install the Pinterest Tag
Install the Pinterest tag, add conversion events, connect the Conversions API or Shopify app, and confirm events work with Test events.
Read the guideHow to Create a Meta Ad Account
Set up a Meta business portfolio, create an ad account, add a payment method, and give your team the right access, step by step.
Read the guideHow to Create a Google Ads Account
Step-by-step: sign up for Google Ads without a forced campaign, set billing and time zone, add users, and complete advertiser verification.
Read the guideHow to Create a TikTok Ads Manager Account
Set up TikTok Ads Manager step by step: sign-up, business details, payment method, account approval, Business Center, and team access.
Read the guideRather have it built right the first time?
If your business does $25,000+ a month in revenue, apply and Mitch will review your accounts personally. Earlier than that? An ad account audit gives you a senior-level fix list you can work through yourself.