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This guide to SEO pricing has everything you need to know about SEO costs in 2024 and beyond.
If you’re wondering “How much SEO costs?” and…(is it worth it)?
This guide has everything you need.
Let’s dive in.
The average cost for a monthly SEO service ranges from $1,000-$5,000 per month, but you could pay as little as $100 or more than $50,000 monthly depending on the level of engagement.
The reason SEO costs vary depends on:
To give you a better idea of how much you can expect to pay for SEO. I’ve broken down typical SEO costs by common categories, so you have a better idea based on the type of business and website you want to optimize
On average, SEO costs range from $1,500-$5,000 per month but you could pay as little as $100 per month or more than $50,000 each month in some circumstances.
SEO costs vary depending on:
To give you a better idea of how much SEO will cost you, check out the table below with a simple breakdown of typical SEO costs by service type:
| Pricing Model (Service Type) | SEO Pricing |
| Monthly SEO Retainer (Agency) | $1,500 to $5,000 per month |
| One-time SEO Audit | $2,000 to $10,000 per audit |
| Hourly SEO Consulting & Coaching | $140 to $350 per hour |
| SEO Copywriting | $0.15 to $0.40 per word |
| Monthly Link Building | $1,500 to $10,000+ per month |
| Full-time SEO Employee | $5,000 to $15,000 per month |
SEO prices also change depending on what type of website have. For example and ecommerce store with 1000’s of products will cost more than a local business servicing a small area which might only have 1-2 services.
Here are the biggest factors to SEO costs broken down by business/website type:
| Pricing Model (Business Type) | SEO Pricing |
| Ecommerce Business (< 100 products) | $1,500 to $3,500 per month |
| Ecommerce Business (>100 products) | $2,500 to $10,000 per month |
| Local Service Business (1-10 areas) | $1,000 to $2,500 per month |
| Franchise Business (10+ Locations) | $2,000 to $8,000 per month |
| Multi-Location Business (10+ Locations) | $2,000 to $8,000 per month |
| Enterprise Business | $2,500 to $10,000 per month |
Similar to monthly SEO contracts. Hourly rates for most SEO services in Australia range from $80-$250 per hour.
Most SEO agencies charge between $140-$250 per hour while SEO consultants and freelancers can sometime charge less with their prices starting from as little as $80 per hour.
As with any product or service, it’s important to remember that cheaper doesn’t always equal better.
You need to do your due diligence when hiring an SEO expert to ensure that they deliver quality work and know how to design an SEO strategy that matches your business growth goals.
So should you hire an in-house SEO, an SEO agency or a freelance SEO consultant to help take your business to new heights?
While this might seem confusing or tricky here is a helpful table that summarises the best SEO talent to hire depending on what level your business is at:
| Business Stage | What SEO To Hire? |
| Revenue (< $1M) | Chances are your budgets are tight and hiring a full-time SEO is not the best allocation of funds at this stage. You will get a lot more value hiring an SEO consultant or agency. It doesn't matter if you choose between a consultant or agency - the important factor is that they get you results in terms of more sales during this crucial stage of business growth. |
| Revenue ($1-$10M) | At this stage you will work with a lot of different agencies & consultants to help you as you scale. I suggest mixing up different talents and you may also consider hiring a marketing specialist who can assist you with managing external SEO agencies & consultants. The key thing to remember is to always hold your employees and external partners to KPIs that are tied to monetary growth. |
| Revenue ($10M+) | This is where you want to focus on building an elite team with top talent in-house. Yes you will still hire various agencies & consultants to plug gaps but your main focus should be on having in-house SEO guns who know how to push your website and organic performance to new heights. |
If there’s one takeaway, it’s to invest in quality SEO rather than pick the cheapest option.
When you work with the right SEO partner you can experience some amazing growth with your business that will last for years. Think of SEO as an investment with long term gains and don’t simply choose a provider who offers the cheapest price. There are so many other factors to consider when hiring a quality SEO partner including:
The bottom line…
Do your due diligence as best you can. It won’t guarantee you hire the best SEO but it will increase your chances and if you’re not happy with their work then fire them quickly and give someone else a shot. You’ll soon find the right SEO partner, see some amazing growth and question yourself…”Why didn’t I invest in SEO sooner?”
That’s my guide to SEO pricing in 2024.
Now I’d like to hear about your experience:
Is your experience similar to the numbers I’ve shared? If not, what do you pay for SEO right now?
Let me know in the comments section below.
Jonathan Gorham is the co-founder of Engine Scout and a passionate online marketer, who specialises in ecommerce growth including SEO, paid ads & conversion rate optimisation. He's based in Melbourne, Australia, and when he's not working, you'll find him relaxing with family or hanging out with friends. Connect with him on Twitter or LinkedIn.
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One Response
I’d agree with what you’re saying here, although I’m no longer in Australia the numbers translate well to the UK.
There is really no point in spending less £1000/month because that just doesn’t give the SEO specialist enough to work with. And I’m speaking from experience.
I’ve been down that path and it was truly a waste of time and money. Disappointing yes, but the lesson is well and truly learnt!