Guide · Updated October 2026
How much does
SEO cost?
The pricing models SEO providers use, rough US market ranges for each, what moves the price and how to compare quotes without falling for guarantees.
Guide · Updated October 2026
The pricing models SEO providers use, rough US market ranges for each, what moves the price and how to compare quotes without falling for guarantees.
We do not publish our own prices; every engagement is quoted in writing. The ranges below are rough US market ranges, not our prices, collected to help you judge any quote, including ours.
Most US small businesses pay a monthly retainer for SEO. Rough US market ranges run from about $500 to $2,500 a month for local SEO, and $2,500 to $10,000 or more a month for competitive or national campaigns. One-time audits and projects are also common. The right number depends on your market, not on a package name.
What surveys found: an Ahrefs survey of 439 SEO providers found the most common monthly retainer was $501 to $1,000 (about 1 in 5 providers), an overall average of about $2,917 a month, and a clear gap between providers serving local clients (about $1,557 a month on average) and those serving national or worldwide clients (about $3,474). Other surveys report lower figures, so treat any single number as a rough guide.
| Model | How it works | Rough US market range | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly retainer | Ongoing work each month: technical fixes, content, local SEO, links and reporting | $500 to $10,000+ a month | Most businesses, because SEO compounds over months |
| Project | A fixed scope, such as an audit, a site migration or a set of new pages | $1,000 to $30,000 per project | A one-time fix or a starting audit |
| Hourly | Consulting or work billed by the hour | $75 to $250 an hour | Teams that do the work in-house and need guidance |
| Performance-based | Pay per ranking or per lead | Varies widely | Rarely a good deal; see below |
Nobody controls Google's rankings, and Google itself warns against companies that guarantee them. Guarantees usually mean one of three things: rankings for searches nobody uses, tactics that risk a penalty, or a contract that keeps billing until a vague target is hit. A good provider commits to the work, the plan and honest reporting instead.
Ask every provider for the same scope in writing and compare the work, not the package name. That is how we quote our SEO services, in US dollars. See also our pages on local SEO and SEO for contractors.
FAQs
Rough US market ranges are about $500 to $2,500 a month for local SEO and $2,500 to $10,000 or more for competitive or national campaigns. Your price depends on competition, site condition and how much content and link work is needed.
A package is only as good as the work inside it. Compare what each package actually includes each month, and make sure it targets searches with real volume for your business.
Usually not. It tends to reward rankings for low-value searches and can push providers toward risky tactics. Pay for clear work and transparent reporting instead.
Most businesses see early movement in two to four months and stronger results in six to twelve. Highly competitive markets take longer.
Tell us your business and market. You will get a written scope of the work and a monthly price in US dollars.
Get a quote