Cheap SEO is usually expensive later. Good SEO costs more because it includes strategy, technical cleanup, real pages, and consistent execution.
Typical ranges
Small local SEO retainers often start around $1,000 per month. Competitive markets, content-heavy sites, and multi-location strategies cost more.
For a local service business, the practical test is simple: does this help the right customer trust you faster, contact you easier, or help you spend money with better information? If not, it is probably noise.
What drives cost
Competition, current site condition, page count, content depth, GBP issues, technical cleanup, and reporting needs all affect scope.
For a local service business, the practical test is simple: does this help the right customer trust you faster, contact you easier, or help you spend money with better information? If not, it is probably noise.
What to avoid
Avoid packages that sell a fixed number of backlinks or blogs without explaining how they support leads.
For a local service business, the practical test is simple: does this help the right customer trust you faster, contact you easier, or help you spend money with better information? If not, it is probably noise.
What Techpros would check first
- Your current site structure, speed, mobile experience, and conversion paths.
- Your Google Business Profile, reviews, categories, service areas, and local competitors.
- Your Google Ads tracking, search terms, landing pages, and wasted spend.
- Your best-fit service and location pages, plus the resources needed to support them.
FAQs
Is $300/month SEO worth it?
Rarely for a competitive service business. It usually cannot cover meaningful strategy, content, technical work, and reporting.
Can I do SEO as a one-time project?
Some technical and content work can be project-based, but local SEO usually benefits from ongoing execution.