How much does SEO cost? That depends on how much competition there is in your industry, the state your website is in now and how much work is needed on copy, technology and links. A local painter in a small town usually needs less work than an online shop that wants to rank nationally for popular keywords.
SEO, search engine optimisation, isn't a one-off job. You often pay a monthly fee or a number of hours per month, sometimes with a set-up project first. In this article you'll read what drives the price, which pricing models exist and how to assess a quote. What SEO actually involves is covered in what is SEO.
Why does SEO cost vary so much?
You'll see SEO offered for a few tens of euros a month and for thousands. That difference comes down to a few factors:
- Competition: if you want to be found for keywords where lots of strong websites rank, more work is needed.
- Region: being found locally in your own town is usually less work than nationally.
- Starting point: a slow website with technical errors has to be fixed first. A healthy website can move straight on.
- Size: a website with ten pages needs less than an online shop with thousands of products.
- Content: do new pages and articles need writing, or do you supply them yourself?
- Reporting and meetings: monthly calls and detailed reports take time too.
How do SEO agencies charge? The pricing models
There are three common ways to pay for SEO:
- Monthly package: a fixed amount per month for an agreed amount of work. Predictable and usually the standard for ongoing SEO.
- Hourly rate: you pay for the hours worked. Flexible, but less predictable. Always ask for an estimate up front.
- Project: a one-off job at a fixed price, such as a technical audit, keyword research or a migration to a new website.
Many engagements combine these: first a project to get the basics in order, then a monthly package to grow. With a package, look carefully at the term. Some agencies ask for a one-year contract. That's not necessarily wrong, but you do need to know what you're tied into.
What's in an SEO package?
A price says little without knowing what you get for it. A good SEO engagement usually consists of these parts:
- Keyword research: what do your customers really search for?
- Technical SEO: speed, mobile display, indexing and errors. See the technical SEO checklist for what that involves.
- On-page optimisation: titles, descriptions, headings and internal links.
- Content: new or better pages that answer your customers' questions.
- Local SEO: your Google Business Profile, reviews and listings in your region.
- Links: mentions on other relevant websites.
- Measuring and reporting: what does it deliver in visitors and enquiries?
In a quote, ask what happens for each part and how much time goes into it. If it only says 'SEO optimisation' with no explanation, ask for more detail.
Also ask these questions before you sign: who does the work, how often will we be in touch, which goals are we agreeing on and what happens to the copy and improvements if we stop? Good SEO work stays on your website, even after the partnership ends. Be wary if a supplier works with pages or links that disappear as soon as you cancel.
Local SEO cost: often lower than you think
For many small businesses, being found locally matters most. A hairdresser, installer or physiotherapist gets most customers from their own town and the villages around it. That usually needs less work than national visibility. The basis is a well-completed Google Business Profile, a website that clearly shows where you work, and a steady flow of reviews.
With a bit of guidance you can keep much of that up yourself, which keeps costs low. How to go about it is covered in our article on local SEO.
Cheap SEO: what should you watch out for?
A low monthly fee can be fine if the work is small and clear. But be careful with these warning signs:
- A guarantee of first place on Google. Nobody can promise that, because Google decides the order.
- Hundreds of links for a fixed fee. Bought links from poor websites can actually harm you.
- No insight into what's happening. You get a report full of numbers, but nobody can explain what's been done.
- Automatically generated copy without checks, which adds little for your customers.
- Long contracts without interim reviews.
Good SEO takes time before results show. It usually takes months. Exactly how long is covered in how long SEO takes to work. Anyone promising quick results is often taking risks with your website.
How to keep SEO costs under control
- Start with a one-off check. Then you know what's really needed before you agree a monthly fee.
- Focus on a few keywords that bring in customers, rather than on everything at once.
- Do what you can yourself: ask for reviews, keep your business profile up to date, add photos.
- Share your knowledge for the copy. You know what customers ask; the SEO specialist knows how to write it up.
- Agree in advance how you'll measure success: enquiries and phone calls, not just rankings.
- Choose a contract you can cancel monthly, so the supplier has to deliver value every month.
How much does SEO cost at Violexa?
At Violexa, SEO is part of online marketing. That starts at €599 excl. VAT (€725 incl. VAT) per month. There's no minimum term: you can cancel monthly with one month's notice. We explain in plain English what we do and why, and we look at what it delivers in enquiries, not just rankings.
For WitFix, an appliance repair company working across the Netherlands, we built pages per service area for local searches, for example, with Google reviews on the site. We also take care of technology and speed, so your website has a solid foundation.
Want to know how much SEO work your website needs? Book a free quickscan. In 30 minutes, online or on site, we look at your website and your competition. Afterwards you get short written advice with a price indication, with no obligations.
Frequently asked questions
How much does SEO cost per month for a small business?
That depends on your competition, your region and the state of your website. Local SEO for a small business usually needs less work than national SEO for an online shop. Always ask exactly what happens for the monthly fee.
Can I do SEO myself to save money?
Partly, yes. Asking for reviews, keeping your Google Business Profile up to date and writing about customers' questions are things you can do yourself. For technology, keyword research and strategy, help is often more efficient.
Is an SEO agency that guarantees first place trustworthy?
No, be careful with that. Google decides the order of search results itself and nobody can guarantee a fixed position. Such a promise often goes hand in hand with risky techniques like bought links.
How long do you have to pay for SEO before it works?
It usually takes a few months before you see clear results. With little competition it can go faster, with a lot of competition it takes longer. Look at enquiries and traffic along the way, not just rankings.
