Ask five agencies what SEO costs and you will get five very different answers, from $99 a month to $5,000. Here is how SEO is priced, what the different levels usually buy, and how to tell good value from a waste of money.
The short answer
Most small businesses in the US pay somewhere between a few hundred and a few thousand dollars a month for ongoing SEO. Commonly quoted ranges look like this:
| Who does it | Typical monthly price | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Freelancer | $100 to $1,000 | Depends entirely on the person. Can be great or can be one-off tasks with no plan. |
| Offshore agency | $150 to $1,000 | Lower cost because of lower overheads. Quality varies, so check what they actually do each month. |
| Local US agency | $1,000 to $5,000+ | More meetings and account management. Often a 6 or 12 month contract. |
These are typical ranges quoted across the industry, not fixed prices. What matters more than the number is what you get for it.
How SEO is priced
- Monthly retainer: the most common. A set amount each month for ongoing work. Good SEO builds over time, so this model fits best.
- One-off project: an audit, a website clean-up or a Google Business Profile setup. Useful as a start, but rankings fade if nothing continues.
- Hourly: common with consultants. Fine for advice, harder to budget.
What different budgets usually buy
Around $200 a month
Enough for the basics done properly for one location: your Google Business Profile kept complete and active, the main technical problems on your website fixed, a handful of target search terms, and a monthly report. For a local business in a market that is not very crowded, this can make a real difference.
Around $400 to $600 a month
Adds regular content (blog posts and new service pages), more search terms, and link building from relevant websites. This is the level most growing local businesses need.
$1,000 and above
For several locations, online stores, or very competitive markets. Expect more content, stronger links, competitor tracking and a dedicated account manager.
Red flags with cheap SEO
- "Page one in 30 days, guaranteed." Nobody controls Google. Real SEO usually takes three to six months to show strong results.
- Thousands of links for a tiny price. These are almost always spam links that can hurt your site.
- No report, or a report you cannot understand. You should always know what was done.
- They want to own your accounts. You should own your website, domain and Google accounts. An agency only needs manager access.
- A long contract before you have seen any work.
How to get good value
- Start with an audit so you know what is actually wrong.
- Ask exactly what will be done each month, in writing.
- Prefer month-to-month terms until you trust the agency.
- Judge progress at three and six months, not after two weeks.
What we charge
We publish our prices. Our SEO plans are $180, $420 and $900 a month for US businesses, with no setup fee and no contract. Our team is based in Lahore, Pakistan, which is why we can offer the same core work for less. Every plan includes Google Business Profile management and a monthly report in your own dashboard.
Frequently asked questions
Is $100 a month SEO worth it?
Usually only for very small, specific tasks. At that price there is little time for real work each month.
Can I do SEO myself?
Yes, especially your Google Business Profile. Our Google Business Profile checklist is a good place to start.
How long until SEO pays off?
Quick fixes can help within weeks. Most businesses see steady growth between three and six months.