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Merchant API
- the official successor to the Content API for Shopping.
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on new features, bug fixes, and release updates of the Merchant API.
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Summary
You can authenticate with an MCA to manage sub-accounts without setting up
authentication for each sub-account. MCAs can’t have product information
themselves, so you need to create sub-accounts for merchants that have their
product information.
You can create sub-accounts manually or through the Content API for Shopping as
described in the following sections.
By default, MCAs can manage a maximum of 50 sub-accounts. If you need more than
50 sub-accounts, you can request more with the quota form.
Choose the Terms of Service for the merchant's country and language.
The Terms of Service links don't work in an iframe. You may need to send the
merchant a stored copy of the Terms of Service and have a way to keep your
copy up to date.
Keep a record of the acceptance of the Terms of Service and be prepared to
provide these records to Google if requested.
[null,null,["Last updated 2025-08-28 UTC."],[[["\u003cp\u003eMulti-Client Accounts (MCAs) can manage sub-accounts for merchants to handle their product information, but MCAs themselves cannot have product information.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eSub-accounts can be created either manually through the Merchant Center interface or automatically using the Content API for Shopping.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eBefore creating a sub-account, ensure the merchant accepts the Google Merchant Center Terms of Service.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eMCAs can manage up to 50 sub-accounts by default, with the option to request a higher limit through a quota form if needed.\u003c/p\u003e\n"]]],[],null,["# Create sub-accounts for merchants\n\nSummary\n-------\n\n| **Caution:** Before you can manage sub-accounts, you need to have an [MCA](//support.google.com/merchants/answer/188487).\n\nYou can authenticate with an MCA to manage sub-accounts without setting up\nauthentication for each sub-account. MCAs can't have product information\nthemselves, so you need to create sub-accounts for merchants that have their\nproduct information.\n\nYou can create sub-accounts manually or through the Content API for Shopping as\ndescribed in the following sections.\n\nBy default, MCAs can manage a maximum of 50 sub-accounts. If you need more than\n50 sub-accounts, you can request more with the [quota form](//support.google.com/merchants/contact/additional_items).\n\nManual steps\n------------\n\n1. Sign in to your [Merchant Center](https://merchants.google.com) account.\n2. Click **Accounts**.\n3. Click the **+** plus button.\n4. Accept the [Google Merchant Center Terms of Service](//support.google.com/merchants/answer/160173).\n5. Enter a name for the new account.\n6. (Optional) Enter a URL for the account.\n7. Click **Save**.\n\nAutomatic steps\n---------------\n\n| **Warning:** Ask the merchant to accept the [Google Merchant Center Terms of Service](//support.google.com/merchants/answer/160173) before you create a merchant account on their behalf.\n\n1. Choose the [Terms of Service](//support.google.com/merchants/answer/160173) for the merchant's country and language.\n\n The Terms of Service links don't work in an iframe. You may need to send the\n merchant a stored copy of the Terms of Service and have a way to keep your\n copy up to date.\n2. Keep a record of the acceptance of the Terms of Service and be prepared to\n provide these records to Google if requested.\n\n3. Use the [`accounts.insert`](/shopping-content/reference/rest/v2.1/accounts/insert) method of the [`accounts`](/shopping-content/reference/rest/v2.1/accounts) service to create a\n new sub-account.\n\nSee the [Shopping samples](//github.com/googleads/googleads-shopping-samples) for other uses of the `accounts.insert` method."]]