How much does SEO cost? Professional SEO costs anywhere from:
- $1,500–$5,000 per month
- $100–$300 per hour
- $5,000–$30,000 per project
The cost will vary depending upon which payment model you use, the provider, how much SEO work you need, and more.
Let’s dive more into the costs of SEO.
A breakdown of SEO costs based on model type
| Pricing Model | Cost | Who provides it |
| Hourly | $75–$200 per hour | Freelancers, consultants |
| Monthly | $1,500–$5,000 per month | Agencies, consultants |
| Project-based | $1,000–$30,000 per project | Agencies, consultants, freelancers |
Why SEO costs vary so greatly
SEO costs vary greatly because of a few factors:
- The provider: SEO agencies charge different prices, which causes SEO to vary greatly in price. Some agencies may charge more than others, while some will charge less to try and gain quick clients.
- The model: The model payment option influences the cost. The typical model is monthly costs, but some companies will hire a freelancer per hour or hire an agency to handle a specific SEO project.
- Your website size: The size of your website impacts how much your SEO costs. Websites that are larger require more SEO work than, say, a website with only 10 pages. So, if you have a lot of pages, you can expect to pay more for SEO.
- Timeline: How quick of a turnaround you need with your SEO strategy impacts your costs. If you’re looking for quick work to be done, it will cost you more to have it done.
- The deliverables: Each SEO company offers different deliverables. The cost will vary depending upon what kinds of deliverables are included in your package. More deliverables typically leads to increased costs.
- Outsourcing needs: If you have an in-house team, you may not need as much SEO support as someone who’s fully outsourcing their SEO to an agency. Your outsourcing needs will depend upon how much of your strategy you need to outsource.
What factors influence the cost of SEO services?
There are numerous factors that influence the cost of SEO services. Not only does the provider, model, and website size impact costs, but these factors can as well:
1. Industry competitiveness
The competitiveness of your industry will influence the cost of SEO. Highly competitive industries call for more aggressive SEO, which comes at a cost. Businesses in industries like law, home services, or healthcare will likely pay more for SEO than businesses in more niche industries or specialties.
If you’re in a highly competitive industry, you can expect to potentially pay more for your SEO to help you get to the level of competitiveness you need in search.
2. Type of SEO you want to do
The type of SEO you want to do influences how much you’ll pay for SEO. There are three main types of SEO that businesses focus on:
- Local SEO: This strategy is for people looking to reach people within the local community.
- Traditional SEO: This strategy is for businesses looking to reach people in search results based on key terms or questions they search.
- International SEO: If you’re trying to reach people in other countries, international SEO is the strategy that helps you reach people across the globe.
Local SEO tends to cost a little less than other SEO strategies because it’s more finite, while international SEO tends to cost more because the work is more complex.
When businesses invest in SEO, they typically invest in traditional SEO. Many businesses will also invest in local SEO as well to help them connect with people in their area.
3. Technical health of your website
The cost of SEO will vary depending upon the technical health of your website. Having a technically sound website is crucial for ranking in search results — if your website is slow, has a lot of errors, or is difficult to navigate, you won’t rank well.
If your website has a lot of technical issues, your SEO will cost more because your SEO agency will need to do additional work to get your website up to par.
4. Generative engine optimization (GEO) support
AI search is continually growing, with more people using AI engines like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini to find information. So, if you’re trying to adapt your search strategy for all the different engines, you may need GEO support to help you get into these engines.
If you’re looking to get support with getting into AI search responses, this may come at an extra cost.
5. Goals
The goals you have will influence how much your SEO costs. If you have really aggressive goals and want to achieve a lot with your SEO, you may end up paying more to try and meet shorter deadlines.
So, consider your goals and how aggressive you want to be with them, as it’ll influence the cost of your SEO.
6. Level of services needed
How much help you need will influence the cost of SEO. Every business has different needs when it comes to SEO support, which influences the cost. If you just need help with a couple of tasks, your SEO won’t cost as much. On the other hand, if you need full support, your SEO will cost more.
7. Geographic scope
The geographic scope of your SEO strategy impacts your costs. A company that just focuses on local search optimization won’t pay as much as a business focused on an international SEO strategy.
You’ll also see increased costs if you’re investing in multiple SEO strategies. If you invest in local SEO and traditional SEO, you’ll pay more than a business that just invests in local SEO.
8. Content needs
Content is a critical component of your search strategy. If you don’t have high-quality content, you will struggle to rank in search results. You need content that’s helpful, informative, and useful for you audience.
If you’re relying on your SEO company to do it for you, it may impact your costs. Some agencies include a certain amount of content per month in their SEO packages, while others charge a separate fee.
Who are the best SEO providers for the cost?
Balancing cost with quality of services is crucial for your SEO success. So, how do you find the best providers for the cost?
Here are some of the best SEO agencies you can partner with:
| Company Name | Investment | Services Provided | Rating |
| Intero Digital | $1,000+ per project | SEO, PPC | 4.8/5 |
| Ignite Visibility | $10,000+ per project | SEO, Local SEO, AI SEO | 4.8/5 |
| WebFX | $3,000+ per month | SEO, AI SEO, GEO, Local SEO, Enterprise SEO | 4.9/5 |
| Searchbloom | $1,000+ per project | SEO, AEO, Link Building |
4.9/5 |
| Jives Media | $1,000+ per project | SEO, AI SEO, local SEO, ecommerce SEO | 5/5 |
| Thrive Internet Marketing Agency | $1,000+ per project | SEO, AI SEO, Local SEO, Enterprise SEO | 4.6/5 |
| SmartSites | $1,000+ per project | SEO, PPC | 4.9/5 |
Additional Reading: The Best SEO Companies in the USA →
FAQs on SEO costs
How much does SEO cost for small businesses?
SEO typically costs anywhere from $500–$5,000 per month. The cost will vary depending upon the provider and how much SEO work you’re looking to have done.
Are cheap SEO services good?
No. Many businesses make the mistake of investing in cheap SEO services to try and save a few dollars, but it actually ends up being a waste of an investment. Cheap SEO services often cut corners and use unethical tactics (like black hat SEO) to help you gain rankings in search.
How much does SEO cost for mid-sized businesses?
SEO costs anywhere from $1,500 to $15,000 per month for professional SEO services. The cost will vary depending upon how much you’re outsourcing to your SEO agency, how much support you need, and other factors.
How much does enterprise SEO cost?
Enterprise SEO costs anywhere from $10,000—$100,000+ per month for professional services. The cost varies depending upon the provider, what tasks you’re having them handle, the size of your website, and more.
Is the cost of SEO worth it?
Yes. SEO is worth the investment because it helps you reach people where they’re spending their time researching, exploring options, and making decisions.
Get custom SEO pricing for your business
When outsourcing your SEO, you’ll find immense value in working with a provider that builds a custom solution for your company. If that’s what you’re looking for, we speak your language. Contact us today to see how SEO services from the team backing SEO.com (WebFX) can elevate your business’s performance in search!
SEO Services That Aren’t Cookie Cutter
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SEO Services That Aren’t Cookie Cutter
Get an SEO strategy that’s tailored for your business, industry, and revenue goals.
SEO Services That Aren’t Cookie Cutter
Get an SEO strategy that’s tailored for your business, industry, and revenue goals.
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