SerpApi Client Workspace Setup (Onboarding)

SerpApi Client Workspace Setup (Onboarding)

1. 01

   Register the agency SerpApi account and generate a dedicated API key per client

   Keep one key per client so usage on the Production plan ($150/month, 15,000 searches) can be attributed back to a single retainer instead of pooled across the agency.

2. 02

   Confirm the plan tier against the client's monthly search ceiling before quoting

   Free is $0 for 250 searches/month at 50 throughput/hour, Starter is $25 for 1,000 searches/month at 200 throughput/hour, and Production is $150 for 15,000 searches/month at 3,000 throughput/hour. Size the tier to the keyword count, not to the client's headcount.

3. 03

   Pick the SDK your delivery team will standardize on

   SerpApi ships Python, Ruby, JavaScript, Go, PHP, Java, Rust, .NET, Swift, C++, and CLI libraries. Lock one per client workspace so handoffs between agency developers do not require a rewrite.

4. 04

   Map the first endpoint to a real client question

   Choose Google for organic rank tracking, Google Maps for local pack positions, Amazon or Walmart for e-commerce price monitoring, or AI Overview for LLM grounding. One endpoint per onboarding sprint keeps scope defensible.

5. 05

   Configure the query and location parameters for the client's target market

   The search query plus location parameter is what makes a SERP result client-specific. Store both in the client workspace config so weekly runs are reproducible rather than manually retyped.

6. 06

   Verify the JSON response shape against the deliverable template

   Run one live query and confirm the structured SERP JSON carries the fields your report needs before building the reporting layer. Catching a missing field here costs minutes; catching it after a client sees the dashboard costs the retainer.

7. 07

   Document the key, plan tier, endpoint, and query set in the client handoff file

   Include the billing console rate you confirmed at setup. Whoever inherits the account needs the usage ceiling and the endpoint list in one place, not scattered across chat threads.