How much does an SEO agency cost?

SEO agencies typically charge between $1,000 and $5,000 a month for small to mid-sized businesses. Enterprise-focused agencies charge $10,000 a month or more, often with a separate setup fee for the initial audit.

Pricing usually scales with content volume and competitiveness of the niche. A local service business pays far less than an e-commerce brand competing nationally against established players.

Contract length matters as much as price. Most agencies require a six to twelve month minimum because SEO results are not immediate, so the real cost is that multiplied by months, not the monthly figure alone.

For businesses priced out of that range, an SEO automation platform covers the same research-and-publish loop at a fraction of the retainer cost.