Business owners planning their digital marketing budgets or looking to engage in SEO services frequently ask about SEO costs. The reason is clear – the top Google result attracts 28.5% of all clicks, and all but one of these users stay on the first page of search results.
Our analysis of the latest data reveals the expected SEO pricing trends for 2025. Small businesses should budget between $1,200 to $2,500 monthly for SEO services. Medium-sized companies typically spend $1,600 to $7,500 each month. Larger businesses need to allocate $2,500 to $10,000 monthly, while enterprise SEO packages start from $7,500 per month. Professional SEO consultants charge between $100 to $180 per hour based on their expertise.
This piece explains the components of these costs and shows how pricing changes with business size. You’ll learn the key factors that affect your total investment and understand the true value behind these numbers to make smart decisions about your SEO budget.
How much does SEO cost in 2025?
The SEO marketplace in 2025 has many pricing options. Costs vary by a lot based on several factors. Businesses can plan their digital marketing budgets better by knowing these price points.
Typical monthly SEO cost range
Monthly retainers are the most popular way to price SEO services. About 53% of agencies prefer this over other methods. Businesses that want ongoing SEO services pay between AUD 1,528.99 and AUD 3,822.48 each month, according to industry surveys.
Here’s what different sized businesses pay:
- Small business SEO: AUD 1,400–2,500 per month
- Medium business SEO: AUD 1,600–7,500 per month
- Large business SEO: AUD 2,500–10,000+ per month
- Enterprise SEO: AUD 7,500+ per month
SEO providers usually offer tiered packages. Standard packages cost around AUD 1,911.24 monthly. Mid-level packages are about AUD 2,675.73, while premium packages for competitive industries cost AUD 3,822.48 per month.
Some businesses prefer hourly rates, which range from AUD 76.45 to AUD 152.90. Experts with specialized skills charge between AUD 191.12 to AUD 382.25 per hour. Location matters too. USA-based SEO professionals charge 3-5x more than those from emerging markets.
Project-based pricing is another option. One-time SEO projects usually cost between AUD 1,528.99 and AUD 7,644.95. These include site audits, keyword research, and optimization strategies.
One-time setup fees explained
Many SEO providers charge setup fees along with monthly retainers. These one-time costs cover analysis, audits, and basic SEO setup.
Standard SEO packages start with a setup fee of about AUD 1,528.99. This covers site analysis, audits, and SEO account setup. Mid-level packages have setup fees around AUD 2,293.49, which includes detailed website audits and competitor analysis.
Top-tier SEO packages have setup fees of about AUD 3,057.98. These providers do extensive audits, analyze competitors, and create custom SEO plans for competitive markets.
Some businesses choose standalone SEO setup packages. These cost between AUD 1,834.79 and AUD 2,064.14. The package includes technical SEO audits, metadata optimization, better navigation structure, and content suggestions.
What affects the total cost?
Here are the main factors that change SEO pricing:
- Industry competition is the biggest factor in SEO costs. Finance, legal services, and health insurance are expensive because they are highly competitive.
- Website size and complexity affects prices a lot. Large websites with thousands of pages cost more to optimize than small sites. E-commerce sites are usually more expensive because of their complex structure.
- Target market size changes the price. Local SEO costs less (AUD 2,293.49 to AUD 5,351.47 monthly) than national campaigns (AUD 3,822.48 to AUD 15,289.90+ monthly).
- Provider expertise and track record relate to pricing. Agencies with proven results charge more but often work faster and better.
- Content requirements affect the final cost. Small businesses pay AUD 764.50 to AUD 2,293.49 monthly for content creation. Large companies pay AUD 7,644.95 to AUD 15,289.90+.
- Technical complexity of websites changes the price. Custom-coded platforms or unique features cost between AUD 15,289.90 and AUD 38,224.76 monthly because they are harder to optimize.
- Previous SEO work affects starting costs. Sites with penalties or technical issues cost more because they are harder to fix.
The way you pay—monthly, hourly, or by project—affects your total investment. Each payment option has benefits depending on your business goals.
SEO pricing by business size
Different sized businesses need different SEO approaches, and this affects pricing. Budget isn’t the only factor – scope, market reach, and competition levels all play a vital role in determining the right SEO investment. Let me break down what businesses usually pay based on their size.
Small business SEO: $1,400–$2,500/month
Small businesses that focus on local markets usually invest between AUD 2,140.59 and AUD 3,822.48 monthly for SEO services. This investment level gives small business owners:
- Local/regional focus with keyword research that covers 50-100 keywords
- Simple on-site optimization with title tag and meta tag creation
- Internal link building and content optimization
- Monthly strategy talks and performance reviews
Small operations with limited target areas might pay as little as AUD 764.50 monthly when they target less competitive local keywords or specific niches. But businesses in competitive local markets should expect to pay more.
Local campaigns cost less because they target geographically restricted terms instead of broader national keywords. Small businesses that serve local customers can see great ROI even with modest SEO budgets.
Medium business SEO: $1,600–$7,500/month
Medium-sized businesses with larger service areas or regional reach invest between AUD 2,446.38 and AUD 11,467.43 monthly for complete SEO services. This mid-tier pricing reflects more complex campaigns that target competitive keywords across multiple locations.
This investment level includes expanded services like:
- Keyword research for 500+ search terms
- Technical SEO implementation (robots.txt, sitemap, etc.)
- Speed and image optimization
- Content creation and editing beyond simple optimization
- Advanced on-site/code optimization
- Off-site link building activities
Medium business SEO blends both local and national strategies. Price variations depend on competition levels, service area size, and growth goals. Companies that serve multiple locations or compete in moderately competitive industries need this level of investment for meaningful results.
Large business SEO: $2,500–$10,000+/month
Large businesses in competitive markets with big digital footprints invest between AUD 3,822.48 and AUD 15,289.90+ monthly for complete SEO services. These higher investments match the complexity and competitiveness of large-scale operations.
Premium SEO packages at this level offer:
- Conversion optimization strategies
- A/B testing of various page elements
- Heat map and usability reports
- Advanced competitive intelligence tracking
- Complete off-site link building campaigns
Large businesses that target nationwide audiences need more sophisticated strategies than regional companies. Industry competition, website complexity, and growth objectives create the wide price range. E-commerce businesses usually pay toward the upper end because of their complex site structures and product page needs.
Enterprise SEO: $7,500+/month
Enterprise SEO begins at AUD 11,467.43 monthly and can reach AUD 36,313.52 or more for complete enterprise services. This represents the highest tier of SEO investment, built for organizations with complex websites in highly competitive national or global markets.
Enterprise SEO packages offer specialized services such as:
- Custom quarterly content and link strategy
- Dedicated senior SEO specialists and implementation teams
- Proprietary AI-powered algorithm tracking tools
- Cross-functional access to various specialized teams (content, development, analytics)
- Enterprise-grade technical implementations
Enterprise SEO needs more resources and specialized expertise than standard SEO services. Large organizations see this investment as worthwhile given their broader customer base and higher average transaction values.
Building an internal SEO team costs much more than outsourcing. Average salaries range from AUD 91,739.41 to AUD 290,508.14 per team member yearly, plus extra expenses for specialized tools and technologies.
What influences SEO cost the most?
Businesses need to know what drives SEO costs to make smart decisions about their digital marketing investments. SEO pricing isn’t fixed like other products. It changes based on several key factors that determine how complex and resource-intensive successful campaigns will be.
Industry competition
Competition in your industry has the biggest effect on SEO pricing. Companies in high-competition markets like finance, real estate, or insurance pay much more for SEO than those in less crowded niches.
Your market’s competition level directly affects the work needed to achieve rankings. Research shows that high-competition industries need more:
- Advanced keyword research and strategic planning
- Premium content that outperforms competitors
- Strong link-building campaigns to build authority
- Regular technical updates and optimizations
Real-world costs reflect this reality. Companies in competitive markets pay between AUD 7,644.95 to AUD 22,934.85 monthly for SEO services that work. This higher cost comes from the extra effort needed to outrank strong competitors.
Target market size
The size of your target audience affects SEO costs heavily. Local SEO campaigns that focus on specific communities cost AUD 2,752.18 to AUD 8,409.45 monthly. These campaigns cost less than wider-reaching efforts.
National SEO campaigns that cover larger regions cost AUD 7,644.95 to AUD 22,934.85 monthly. International SEO needs multi-language optimization and geo-targeting across global markets. These campaigns often cost more than AUD 18,347.88 monthly.
Price differences show varying complexity levels. Local campaigns focus on area-specific keywords and community engagement. International strategies need cultural awareness, content in multiple languages, and complex backlink profiles across different markets.
Number of service areas
The number of locations or service areas you target affects your SEO pricing. Multi-location businesses usually invest AUD 3,057.98 to AUD 12,231.92 monthly. This reflects the extra work needed.
Each location needs its own optimization strategy, including:
- Location-specific keyword research and implementation
- Individual Google Business Profile management
- Unique NAP (Name, Address, Phone) citations
- Area-specific content creation
Companies with 10+ locations need more complex strategies than single-location businesses. This leads to higher costs from most service providers.
Content and page requirements
Your website’s size and content needs affect SEO pricing structures. Large websites with many pages need more optimization work. Sites with 100+ pages might pay AUD 12,231.92 to AUD 21,405.86 monthly.
Content creation takes up much of SEO investments. Industry data shows content costs range from AUD 458.70 per article for simple content to AUD 3,057.98+ for premium content. E-commerce sites with thousands of product pages face much higher SEO expenses due to content needs.
Technical complexity adds another cost factor. Websites with custom code or unique features need specialized SEO expertise. This can push monthly costs to AUD 15,289.90 – AUD 38,224.76.
Past SEO work
Previous low-quality SEO work can increase current costs a lot. Fixing algorithmic penalties or manual actions needs expert knowledge and more work than starting new.
Sites with bad backlinks, over-optimized content, or technical problems from previous SEO attempts pay more upfront for fixes. SEO experts charge premium rates to clean up poor-quality work. Cheap SEO ends up costing more in the long run.
Even websites without penalties but with outdated SEO need extra setup work. This foundation work must happen before optimization campaigns can begin.
Comparing SEO pricing models
The right SEO pricing model matters just as much as how much you invest. Different approaches have their own benefits and drawbacks based on your business needs and campaign goals.
Monthly retainer vs hourly rate
Monthly retainers lead the SEO industry, with 53% of survey participants choosing this pricing structure over other options. This model requires a fixed monthly fee for ongoing optimization services. Simple packages typically cost between AUD 382.250 and AUD 764.500 per month.
Monthly retainers help promote a partnership mindset between businesses and agencies. Rather than seeing SEO providers as task-completing vendors, retainers help build long-term collaboration that focuses on results. One agency explains, “having a retainer engagement shifts the mindset around SEO from hourly labor to value-driven, integrated process”.
Hourly rates provide flexibility for specific projects or consultations. Australian professionals charge between AUD 152.90 and AUD 275.22 per hour, depending on their experience. This billing method works best for one-time technical projects, strategy sessions, or specialized audits.
Hourly models can incentivize inefficiency, which is their main drawback. One agency points out, “charging hourly reduces the risk taken on by the agency and increases the risk to the client… billing hourly incentivizes slow work”. Clients often face charges for every interaction—from phone calls to emails—leading to unexpected costs.
Why per keyword pricing is outdated
SEO cost per keyword used to be a common pricing method, but the industry has largely abandoned it over the last decade. Clients paid a set fee for each keyword they wanted to target.
Per-keyword pricing fails because modern SEO emphasizes overall site performance and user experience rather than isolated keywords. Search engines now understand topic relevance and user intent, making single-keyword targeting obsolete.
Keywords vary too much in value and competition level for flat per-keyword pricing to work. One expert notes, “SEO is holistic… modern SEO focuses on overall site performance and user experience, not just rankings for specific keywords”.
Reputable agencies have replaced this outdated model with detailed approaches that address search optimization’s many aspects.
What’s included in SEO packages pricing?
Standard SEO packages combine several essential services under one monthly fee. Simple packages (around AUD 535.15 monthly) include metadata optimization, on-page elements for key landing pages, and vital technical SEO adjustments.
Mid-tier packages (AUD 764.50-1,500 monthly) add content strategies, internal linking restructuring, and more technical improvements like schema markup implementation. Premium packages (AUD 2,000+ monthly) feature advanced elements such as conversion rate optimization, competitive analysis, and structured link building campaigns.
Technical SEO creates the foundation for most packages. It ensures search engines can properly crawl and interpret your site through XML sitemap creation, robots.txt optimization, and fixing critical errors that might affect rankings.
Content optimization remains a core component, with service levels varying by package tier. Simple packages optimize existing content, while detailed plans offer regular content creation—from blog articles to service pages.
Well-structured packages should provide regular reporting and strategy sessions. One agency suggests clients should “know exactly what you are getting each month” before investing in SEO services.
Business objectives should guide your SEO package evaluation rather than price comparisons alone. Satisfaction ratings show that businesses spending more than AUD 764.50 monthly are substantially more satisfied than those spending less.
Agency vs in-house SEO: Cost and value
The choice between building an in-house SEO team or partnering with an agency can make a huge impact on your budget and results. Let’s examine how these options stack up financially and what value each brings to the table.
In-house SEO salary expectations
Creating an internal SEO team takes more than just paying salaries. Australian SEO specialists earn between AUD 91,739.41 – AUD 134,551.14 per year. Senior roles like Global SEO Directors command AUD 168,188.93 – AUD 282,863.19, though these executive positions usually fit larger companies.
The salary is just the beginning. Companies must add about 35% more for benefits, taxes, and equipment. Professional growth, SEO tools, and workspace needs pile on another 25%. Administrative expenses bump up the cost by 18%. The first year cost for an in-house SEO specialist ended up at roughly AUD 211,061.81.
What agencies offer that you can’t get from individuals
Agencies bring unique benefits that make their pricing structure worthwhile. We relied on entire teams of experts – content creators, technical specialists, link builders, and analysts who work together. This combined expertise often surpasses what even talented individual hires deliver.
Most agencies have subscriptions to several premium SEO tools, which adds great value without extra investment. Their experience in a variety of industries gives them exceptional insights. A newer study published by shows how agencies successfully adapt strategies from different markets to help their clients.
Agency contracts eliminate worries about employee turnover, hiring costs, and training investments. Monthly agency fees of AUD 27,521.82 – AUD 55,043.65 often cost less than internal teams that run AUD 137,609.12 – AUD 175,833.88 yearly.
At times when in-house makes sense
Higher costs aside, some situations call for in-house SEO teams. Companies that want uninterrupted integration between SEO and other operations benefit from internal specialists who know the company’s culture, products, and audience inside out.
Some businesses just need quick responses to market shifts or complete control over SEO strategies. Large enterprises with complex websites might save money by building internal teams.
Companies with enough resources to build complete SEO departments can develop strong internal capabilities that match agency expertise while keeping everything aligned with their brand.
The real cost of cheap SEO
Businesses that chase after cheap SEO deals might save money at first, but this ends up costing way more than investing in quality services right from the start. The appeal of budget-friendly SEO fades quickly when companies face the harsh reality of cutting corners.
Risks of low-quality backlinks
Budget SEO providers often use dangerous backlink methods that lead to search engine penalties. These services buy links from third-party vendors, build large-scale private blog networks (PBNs), or take part in manipulative link schemes.
Poor backlinks usually come from:
- Directories filled with spam and zero credibility
- Websites that have nothing to do with your industry
- Link farms created just to manipulate rankings
Google’s algorithms now spot unnatural backlink patterns easily. These toxic links send red flags to search engines once detected and associate your website with spam. Your rankings and online reputation take a hit, making it tough to bounce back.
Content quality and penalties
Cheap SEO services pump out thin, duplicate, or keyword-stuffed content that breaks Google’s quality rules. Their substandard work lacks the depth, relevance, and originality that Google values.
Google might issue manual penalties when it spots machine-generated content, thin affiliate pages, copied content, or doorway pages. These penalties can tank your visibility or remove your site from search results completely.
AI-written content without human oversight, vague details, or wrong information can also trigger penalties because Google puts helpful, reliable, people-first content first.
Recovery costs from bad SEO
The money wasted on cheap SEO is just the beginning. A real business case showed that after spending AUD 18,347.88 on low-cost SEO over 18 months, the company’s organic traffic dropped 40% and they lost about AUD 229,348.53 in revenue.
Fixing cheap SEO mistakes usually needs:
- Penalty removal: AUD 12,231.92
- Content rewrites: AUD 18,347.88
- Link cleanup: AUD 10,702.93
The total recovery bill runs around AUD 38,224.76 and takes six months to get back to previous rankings. Building trust with Google after penalties takes months—maybe even years—while potential customers find their way to your competitors.
Conclusion
SEO represents a substantial investment for businesses of all sizes. This piece explores what you should expect to pay in 2025 and why these costs vary so dramatically between providers and service levels. Without doubt, your business’s ideal pricing structure depends on your specific goals, competition in your industry, and growth targets.
The cheapest option rarely gives you the best value at the time of evaluating SEO costs. Our research shows that cutting corners with low-quality SEO ends up costing far more than doing it right the first time. Companies often pay over $38,000 to recover from penalty-inducing tactics – this is a big deal as it means that quality services cost less from the start.
Monthly retainers start at $1,400 for small businesses, while complete enterprise packages can exceed $7,500 monthly. Your investment should line up with your broader business objectives. Many companies find that working with a 15-year-old agency provides budget-friendly access to specialized expertise without the heavy overhead of building an in-house team.
Quality SEO needs patience and steady investment. The initial costs might look high, but the returns – better visibility, quality traffic, and improved conversion rates – usually make the expenditure worthwhile many times over. Take time to think about both your immediate needs and long-term growth goals before finalizing your 2025 digital marketing budget. This will help you choose the right level of SEO investment for your specific situation.
FAQs
Q1. How much should I expect to pay for SEO services in 2025? SEO costs vary depending on business size and needs. Small businesses typically invest $1,400-$2,500 per month, medium-sized businesses $1,600-$7,500, and large businesses $2,500-$10,000+. Enterprise SEO packages start at $7,500+ monthly.
Q2. What factors influence the cost of SEO the most? The main factors affecting SEO costs include industry competition, target market size, number of service areas, content and page requirements, and past SEO work. Highly competitive industries and larger target markets generally require higher investments.
Q3. Is it better to hire an agency or build an in-house SEO team? Both options have pros and cons. Agencies offer diverse expertise and tools, often at a lower cost than maintaining an in-house team. In-house teams can be beneficial for businesses needing tight integration with other operations or immediate market responses.
Q4. What are the risks of choosing cheap SEO services? Cheap SEO often relies on low-quality tactics that can result in search engine penalties, damaged rankings, and a tarnished online reputation. Recovery from these issues can cost significantly more than investing in quality SEO from the start.
Q5. What’s typically included in SEO package pricing? SEO packages usually include services like technical SEO, content optimization, keyword research, and regular reporting. Higher-tier packages may also offer advanced elements such as conversion rate optimization, competitive analysis, and structured link-building campaigns.
