See Profit on Ad Spend vs revenue-only reporting
Profit Bid connects store costs to ad spend so you bid on margin — not vanity Return on Ad Spend.
MerchantPro: Return on Ad Spend flat, Profit on Ad Spend improves after cost sync
Index- Return on Ad Spend (revenue)
- Profit on Ad Spend (profit)
Once cost_net feeds conversion values, Smart Bidding shifts spend toward margin-positive MerchantPro SKUs.
MerchantPro ad-attributed profit mix
- A — scale44%
- C — optimize31%
- X — exclude25%
A/C/X labels keep Shopping from scaling low-cost-coverage or thin-margin SKUs.
Connect MerchantPro via API — map cost_net / cost_gross and upload Profit on Ad Spend to Google Ads.
Why MerchantPro needs Profit on Ad Spend
MerchantPro catalogs carry purchase costs on products, but ad platforms only see revenue. A strong Shopping Return on Ad Spend can still lose money when cost_net, shipping subsidies, and fees compress contribution.
Profit on Ad Spend ties each attributed order to real acquisition cost so Smart Bidding scales margin-positive SKUs — not just high-revenue ones.
MerchantPro Profit on Ad Spend setup
Connect once, map costs, then let profit signals flow to ads.
- In MerchantPro create an API User (Settings → API and webhooks).
- In Profit Bid → Connect store, enter store URL, username, and password.
- Set COGS import to MerchantPro cost_net (prefer for EU/ex-VAT) or cost_gross.
- Sync the catalog, then spot-check COGS on Products for your bestsellers.
- Link Google Ads and enable Profit on Ad Spend conversion upload.
- Optional: paste the MerchantPro webhook URL and secret for live order sync.
- Turn on A/C/X labels after cost coverage is solid on ad-driven SKUs.
cost_net vs cost_gross
Use cost_net when your finance and ads reporting exclude VAT — that usually matches EU Profit on Ad Spend math. Use cost_gross only if acquisition cost is stored VAT-inclusive and your profit settings expect inclusive COGS.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this topic — tap to read answers.
How do I connect MerchantPro?
Create an API User in MerchantPro, then connect from Profit Bid Connect store with store URL + credentials. Webhooks are optional for live orders; scheduled sync works without them.
Which COGS field should I use?
Prefer cost_net (ex-VAT) for EU stores so Profit on Ad Spend matches finance. Switch to cost_gross only when books use VAT-inclusive acquisition cost.
Can I connect multiple MerchantPro stores?
Yes on Growth and above — each shop uses a store slot. You can also mix MerchantPro with WooCommerce, Shopify, or other platforms under one license.
