Ask ten agencies what local SEO costs and you’ll get ten answers between $300 and $5,000 a month. Here’s what’s actually behind those numbers, so you can tell a fair price from a rip-off.
What does local SEO cost per month?
For a local service business, monthly local SEO typically runs $300–$2,000+. The wide range is mostly about who’s doing the work and how much of it: a cheap package is often one junior person doing a little; a premium retainer is a team doing a lot. More money doesn’t automatically mean more results — it means more hours, which only helps if they’re spent on the right things.
What the price tiers actually get you
$300–$500/mo — profile management basics: some optimization, occasional posts, light review help. Fine for a business that just needs the fundamentals kept alive.
$500–$1,000/mo — the sweet spot for most local service businesses: profile fully run, weekly posts, an active review system, citations, a local page or two, and real reporting.
$1,000–$2,000+/mo — heavier content and link building, multiple ranking pages a month, competitive metros. Worth it when the market is crowded and each ranking position is worth serious money.
Is there a setup fee?
Usually. A one-time setup (often $300–$1,000) covers the initial profile build, citation cleanup, and baseline — the heavy first-month work. Some providers waive or discount it to win the client. Ours is $500, and new clients who sign on this month get their first three months free.
Why is local SEO cheaper than you’d think?
Because for a local business, the levers are focused: your Google Business Profile, reviews, consistency, and a few good pages. You’re not competing nationally. That’s the whole reason we productized it at a working-crew price instead of the $3,000 retainers big agencies charge — more on that in about.
What should you avoid paying for?
Promises of a specific ranking (impossible — and a red flag; see local SEO scams), long lock-in contracts, and “SEO” that’s really just automated directory spam. Pay for deliverables you can see, not promises no one can keep.
How do you know if it’s worth it?
Simple math: if local SEO brings you two extra jobs a month and your average job is worth more than the monthly fee, it pays for itself. For most trades, that bar is low. Track calls and direction requests from your profile — that’s the number that matters, not vanity metrics.
The work itself is no secret — here’s the profile checklist we run and what ships each month. Our plans are flat and public — Get Found $349/mo and Get Ahead $549/mo, deliverables guaranteed or the month’s free. Want to see what your market would take? Get a free analysis.