Quick answer: Most small and mid-sized businesses pay between $500 and $1,000 a month for SEO, and that is the most common retainer across the industry. At SEO District, SEO plans cost $499, $699 or $999 a month. Competitive industries, multi-location businesses and national campaigns cost more. One-off SEO audits are often free or a fixed fee.
Below you will find our real prices, what the wider market charges, what changes the cost and how to work out whether SEO pays for itself.
What SEO District charges
These are our standard monthly plans. Every plan includes a dedicated account manager and a monthly report. See the full details on our pricing page.
| Service | Basic | Premium | Business |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEO | $499/month | $699/month (adds local SEO and competitor analysis) | $999/month (adds SEO audits and link building) |
| Google Ads management | $499/month | $699/month | $999/month |
| Social media marketing | $499/month | $799/month | $1,199/month |
| Full digital marketing | $599/month | $899/month | $1,299/month |
What the market charges
An Ahrefs survey of 439 SEO providers found that 78.2% charge a monthly retainer. The most common retainer was $501 to $1,000 a month. Averages are higher because large agencies pull them up: about $3,209 a month for agencies, $3,250 for consultants and $1,349 for freelancers. The most common hourly rate was $75 to $100, and the most common one-off project fee was $2,501 to $5,000.
| Pricing model | Most common price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly retainer | $501–$1,000 a month | Ongoing rankings and leads |
| Hourly | $75–$100 an hour | Advice, training, small fixes |
| One-off project | $2,501–$5,000 | Audits, migrations, site rebuilds |
What changes the cost of SEO
- Competition. Ranking for “personal injury lawyer Denver” takes far more work than “tile installer Aurora”.
- Local or national. Local SEO for one city usually costs less than a national campaign, because you compete with fewer businesses.
- Number of locations. Each office or clinic needs its own Google Business Profile, listings and location page.
- The state of your website. A slow site with technical problems needs fixing before content and links can pay off.
- Content and links. New pages, articles and outreach are the biggest ongoing costs in most campaigns.
SEO costs in Denver and London
Our Denver team works to the US prices above. Our London office on City Road quotes UK businesses in pounds, based on the same scope. In both cities, a local business that serves one area can usually start on a Basic or Premium plan. Law firms, clinics and businesses with several locations often need the Business plan or a custom quote.
How much does dental SEO cost?
A single dental practice can usually start on our $499 or $699 plan, which covers the Google Business Profile, treatment pages and local SEO. Multi-location practices and dental service organisations are quoted per location. Read more on our dental and medical SEO page.
How to work out SEO ROI
SEO return on investment is the profit from customers who found you through search, minus what you spent, divided by what you spent. For example, if SEO costs $699 a month and brings three new clients a month worth $600 profit each, that is $1,800 profit, or a return of about 157%. Track calls and form enquiries from organic search so you can measure this, and judge SEO over six to twelve months, not weeks.
Is cheap SEO worth it?
Be careful with plans under $200 a month that promise first-page rankings. They often rely on automated links or thin content that can harm your site. Ask any provider what work happens each month, how they build links and how they report on leads.
Not sure what you need? Start with a free SEO audit or ask for a free proposal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should a small business spend on SEO?
Most small businesses spend $500 to $1,000 a month, which is also the most common retainer in the Ahrefs survey. Businesses in competitive markets or with several locations usually spend more.
Is SEO a one-time cost?
An audit or a technical fix can be one-time, but rankings need ongoing content, links and updates. That is why most providers charge monthly.
How long before SEO pays for itself?
Local businesses often see map pack gains in the first few months. Most campaigns need six to twelve months to show a clear return.
Do you charge setup fees?
Our monthly plans are listed on our pricing page. Ask for a free proposal and we will confirm the full cost for your business before you start.
