Search engine optimization (SEO) services pricing can vary a lot. Some agencies quote a few hundred dollars per month, while others charge several thousand.
These figures can be confusing. Why is one price so low and another so high? How much does SEO actually cost?
The answer depends on your goals, your business size, your industry, the scale of the SEO campaign, the services included, and other factors.
This guide breaks down how much SEO costs and what affects pricing. You'll also see example pricing models and SEO packages below.
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The average monthly cost of SEO services is $1,000–$2,500, based on a Backlinko survey of over 300 SEO professionals.
According to Clutch, which surveyed 65,550 SEO companies and their client project reviews, hourly SEO rates can range between $100 and $149.
However, these are just average SEO costs. You can pay less than $500 per month, or you could invest more than $5,000 every month.
Pricing can look very different from one business to another.
Refer to these tables for the average SEO costs based on common pricing models and business size.
SEO professionals and agencies charge clients in different ways. The pricing model you choose affects how you’re billed and what type of work is included.
SEO pricing also depends on the size of your business.
Many factors affect SEO pricing. Let's discuss them below:
You can pay for SEO services per month, hour, project, or based on performance.
The pricing model you choose can significantly impact your total SEO investment. Each model works differently and fits different goals.
Before you decide, think about your SEO budget and the services you need.
Here's a closer look at the four different SEO pricing models.
The monthly retainer is the most common option because SEO is an ongoing marketing strategy.
You pay a fixed fee every month for content creation, on-page optimizations, link building, and technical fixes, among other services.
This makes budgeting easier since you already know your monthly SEO costs upfront.
However, not all monthly plans are the same. Some SEO agencies sell "fixed" packages that promise a set number of blog posts, backlinks, or optimized pages each month. This sounds clear and structured on the surface.
The problem is that these SEO packages focus on output instead of results. The SEO agency may be more concerned with hitting a quota than improving your search engine rankings or revenue.
Choose SEO agencies that tailor monthly plans to your business goals and produce compounding growth, not just deliverables.
With hourly pricing, you pay for the time an SEO expert spends on specific tasks.
Below are the average hourly rates for common SEO services.
Hourly rates give you flexibility. You can get help when you need it without being locked in a monthly plan.
But costs can quickly add up if the work becomes ongoing. This model only works for short-term support rather than long-term SEO campaigns.
Project-based pricing covers a set task with a clear start and end. For example, you might hire an SEO specialist or agency for a comprehensive SEO audit, a website migration, or a Google Business Profile setup.
Basic SEO projects (simple site audits or small-scale optimization) cost less than $1,000. Standard projects (comprehensive audits, keyword research, or content creation packages) range from $1,000 to $5,000.
On the other hand, premium SEO projects (extensive technical overhauls, full-scale strategy development, or competitive market analysis) cost more than $5,000.
In this pricing model, you agree on the price and deliverables before the project begins. This gives you clear expectations from the start.
However, SEO requires ongoing efforts to maximize results. After the project ends, you may realize that you still need monthly support.
Performance-based SEO services pricing ties your payment to results. You pay based on traffic growth, leads, or sales.
This option sounds appealing since you only pay for outcomes, but it comes with risk.
Organic search rankings depend on many factors outside an agency’s control. Some SEO providers may focus on quick results instead of long-term growth. Always review the terms carefully before choosing this pricing model.
The size of your business can directly affect SEO services pricing.
Larger companies often manage websites with hundreds or even thousands of pages. They may operate in multiple cities or countries.
To compete on search engine result pages (SERPs), they need ongoing content, technical support, and strong link building. All of this leads to higher SEO costs.
Ranking for high-value keywords takes more time and resources because the competition is tough. Their marketing budget is usually larger, which allows them to invest more aggressively in SEO.
Small businesses have different needs. Many own simple websites with fewer pages. They may focus on local keywords and a smaller target audience. This often means less content and fewer technical issues to fix.
As a result, the total SEO costs for small businesses are usually lower.
Think about what you want to achieve with search optimization. Do you want more website traffic, higher rankings, or more online sales?
Each goal requires a different level of work, which affects SEO pricing.
If you only want to rank for a few branded keywords, the investment may be lower. But if you want to compete for high-intent industry terms, the effort required increases. You need to invest in more high-quality content, comprehensive keyword research, and stronger backlinks.
For example, a SaaS company that wants to increase demos may need long-form blog content, comparison pages, and landing pages built around buyer-focused keywords.
Clear goals help set the right SEO budget. Share these objectives when evaluating different SEO agencies so they can give you a more accurate quotation.
Scale describes how large your SEO effort is. Meanwhile, scope defines the specific tasks and services included in the plan.
The larger the scale and the broader the scope, the higher the SEO investment.
For example, if you want to rank for many keywords and gain steady organic traffic, you may need comprehensive SEO services. These usually include technical SEO audits, ongoing content creation, keyword optimization, link building, and monthly reporting.
In contrast, you might hire an SEO consultant for a one-time audit or a content refresh strategy session. That smaller scope costs less upfront.
That said, paying for one-off SEO services over time can become expensive. A full-service SEO agency may deliver stronger results and better value in the long run.
Industry competition affects SEO services pricing. Some markets are easy to rank in, while others are highly competitive.
If you operate in industries such as SaaS, legal, finance, or insurance, you are likely competing against large companies with strong online presences. These businesses invest heavily in content and backlinks to dominate search results.
To keep up, you will need more resources and a stronger SEO strategy. That leads to higher SEO costs.
In less competitive niches, ranking may require fewer backlinks and less content. That significantly lowers the overall investment.
The location where you want to rank also impacts SEO services pricing. Targeting one city is very different from targeting an entire country.
If you run a local business, you may only need local SEO campaigns. These usually include optimizing your Google Business Profile, building local citations, and targeting location-based keywords. In many cases, the local SEO cost is lower because the competition is limited to a specific area.
However, if you want to rank in multiple cities, nationwide, or globally, you should invest more because you need a broader SEO strategy and more resources. You should also create separate landing pages for each location, write more content, and build stronger backlinks.
Your current SEO performance also affects how much you will pay for search optimization.
If your website already receives steady SEO traffic and ranks for some keywords, the work may focus on improving and expanding what’s working. That often costs less than starting from scratch.
However, SEO services get expensive for a site with technical issues, thin content, or little to no online visibility. That's because the effort will be greater. An SEO agency may need to fix site errors, improve page speed, rewrite content, and build authority from the ground up.
An experienced SEO agency with a strong track record often charges higher fees. You are paying for proven results, tested strategies, and a team that understands how to rank in competitive markets.
Agencies that have worked with many clients for several years bring stronger insights to the table. They know what works and what to avoid. That experience can save you time and money in the long run.
The location of the SEO agency can also influence pricing. SEO companies based in major U.S. cities often charge more due to higher living costs and demand.
In contrast, some agencies outside the U.S. promote cheap SEO services. These lower prices may sound appealing at first.
However, cheap SEO providers may lack industry knowledge or strong English skills. Others rely on black hat SEO tactics that can harm your organic search rankings.
Always review the digital marketing agency's experience, communication skills, and SEO strategies before making a decision. Ask for case studies and client success stories for proof of their SEO work.
Many SEO agencies work with businesses across different industries. There's nothing wrong with that. But it helps to choose an SEO company that understands your specific market and audience.
After all, every industry has different search behavior, competition levels, and buying cycles.
For example, B2B SaaS requires a very different strategy than local SEO efforts. A SaaS company may need in-depth blog content, comparison pages, and buyer intent-focused keywords. The goal is to drive more demos, trials, qualified leads, and paid users instead of just traffic.
Meanwhile, local SEO campaigns may focus on location-based keywords and Google Business Profile optimization. The sales cycle is shorter, which requires less work compared to B2B SaaS.
Look for an SEO company with proven experience in your niche. That SEO expertise may come at a higher cost, but it often leads to stronger results.
Many agencies offer different SEO plans, and the services included in each plan can vary a lot.
Below are sample SEO package prices to help you understand the difference between a basic SEO plan and an enterprise-level campaign.
Basic SEO packages are designed for small businesses just starting organic search optimization.
Below are the typical SEO services included:
At ABHMedia, we call it our Starter plan. It's best for SaaS companies with under 10,000 monthly traffic. These could be businesses starting from scratch with no SEO or those already gaining traction and ready to scale.
A mid-size SEO plan suits growing businesses that want more website traffic and lead growth.
Here are the usual inclusions:
ABHMedia's mid-size SEO plan targets SaaS companies generating between 10,000 and 30,000 monthly organic visitors that have a large SEO market to capture.
Enterprise SEO packages are built for large companies in competitive markets.
Here's what you typically get from an enterprise SEO plan:
ABHMedia offers a full-scale enterprise SEO plan for SaaS companies with over 30,000 monthly organic visitors that want to scale aggressively and dominate their entire SEO market.
Book a strategy demo today and choose a plan that best fits your needs.
Search optimization is a significant financial commitment. Many businesses feel the impact right away and wonder why SEO is so expensive.
Several factors drive up the prices of SEO services.
First, SEO requires considerable upfront effort. SEO agencies conduct comprehensive site audits, perform keyword research, and develop content strategies, which take valuable time and skill.
After the basic setup, the work does not stop. Modern SEO requires ongoing updates, content improvements, and adjustments as search algorithms and competition change. All of these contribute to higher SEO costs.
There are also hefty operating costs. SEO agencies pay for advanced SEO tools to track rankings, analyze competitors, and monitor website performance.
Plus, many SEO campaigns require content writers, SEO specialists, and outreach experts, which can add to the overall SEO pricing.
Yes, SEO is worth the investment if you want consistent, long-term organic search growth.
SEO improves your visibility in search results. When your website ranks well, you attract qualified traffic without paying for every click, unlike paid ads.
Strong organic search rankings can continue driving leads over time, which helps you meet your marketing objectives. In fact, according to Conductor, 91% of users said that SEO positively impacted website performance and marketing goals.
SEO also helps you build online authority. As you publish more helpful content and earn quality backlinks, search engines and users begin to view your site as a trusted source. This trust makes it easier to compete for high-value keywords and dominate in your industry.
ABHMedia is a SaaS-focused SEO agency that turns search into organic acquisition machines.
We help B2B SaaS companies book 10–20 SaaS demos per week and outrank their competitors on conversion-driving keywords.
We do that by developing strategic content that captures buyers at every stage. We also fix the technical foundations of your site so you can actually rank in both traditional and AI search engines.
We make sure to target backlinks to low-hanging fruit keywords you are trying to rank for. This builds domain authority and boosts rankings on very specific keywords.
The result? You get qualified traffic that turns into qualified leads and customers.
The cost of SEO services depends on the pricing model, business size, goals, and other factors. On average, the monthly retainer cost of SEO is around $1,000–$2,500. Hourly SEO rates range from $100–$149.
The 80/20 rule for SEO means that roughly 80% of your results often come from 20% of your efforts.
For example, a few high-intent keywords may generate the majority of website traffic and conversions. You should focus on writing content around these keywords to maximize return on investment (ROI).
SEO typically costs anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars per month. Basic SEO packages for small businesses may fall between $500 and $1,500 monthly. Mid-size companies often invest $1,500–$5,000 every month. Meanwhile, enterprise campaigns can exceed $10,000 per month.
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