How to Create a Multi-Client Account (MCA)

Introduction

A multi-client account (MCA) is a powerful solution for businesses that need to manage multiple Merchant Center accounts at scale. With an MCA, you can centrally manage product data feeds, domains, and sub-accounts – all from one parent account.

In this article, we’ll explain what an MCA is, who it’s for, how to request one, and what to expect after your account is converted.

What is a multi-client account?

An MCA – also known as an advanced account setup – is a Merchant Center account structure designed for businesses that manage product listings across multiple websites, brands, or sellers. Instead of creating separate Merchant Center accounts for each entity, you manage everything from a single MCA dashboard.

Once your account is upgraded to an MCA, your current Merchant Center account becomes a sub-account, and you can create and manage additional sub-accounts as needed.

Who should use an MCA?

Most merchants don’t need a multi-client account. An MCA is designed for larger-scale setups. You should consider an MCA if:

• You are a marketplace, allowing multiple merchants to list and sell products
• You are a merchant with multiple brands and separate websites or domains
• You are an international retailer selling one or more brands across different countries and domains
• You are a channel partner providing listing, promotional, or integration services across multiple platforms

Note: If you simply want to access multiple Merchant Center accounts, you don’t need an MCA. Instead, ask to be added as a user on each account.

Should you start with an MCA?

If you’re just getting started with Google Merchant Center and exploring Google CSS, we recommend beginning with a single CSS partner or a standard account. This keeps your setup simple and helps you collect clear performance data.

Once your setup is running smoothly, you can always request an MCA to scale operations or add additional sub-accounts later.

How to request an MCA

Before you submit a request:

• You must be an admin of the Merchant Center account
• Your account must not already be an MCA or sub-account
• Your account must not have active policy violations

Step-by-step instructions

1. Log in to your Google Merchant Center account.
2. Click the gear icon (⚙️) and go to Settings > Account settings.
3. Scroll to the Advanced account setup section.
4. Click Request conversion.
5. Select the business type that best describes your situation (e.g. marketplace, store builder).
6. Click Submit.

You can track the status of your request from the Account settings page. Requests are typically processed within a few days.

What happens after your account is converted?

Once your account is successfully upgraded:

• You will receive a new MCA.
• Your existing Merchant Center account will become a sub-account of this MCA.
• You can start creating and managing additional sub-accounts, each with its own feeds, settings, and domains.

Verifying and claiming domains

Google recommends that the MCA owner (parent account) verifies and claims the top-level domain(s). This should be done using the login email of the parent MCA.

If your sub-accounts use sub-domains or specific paths (e.g. shop.example.com or example.com/shop), they can inherit verification from the parent MCA as long as they fall under the verified domain tree.

To verify or claim websites, follow the steps in this Google support article.

Summary

A multi-client account gives you a scalable way to manage multiple domains or merchants from a single Merchant Center setup. It’s ideal for marketplaces, international retailers, or platforms working with many sellers.

If you’re unsure whether you need an MCA, start small. Partner with a CSS or run a single Merchant Center setup and upgrade only when your business needs it.