Every agency gives a different number
One says $300 a month. Another says $1,500. A third wants $5,000 and a 12-month contract. Who is right? They all might be. The difference is what you get at each level — and whether that matches what your business actually needs.
What you are paying for at each level
Starter — around $300/month
For small businesses starting SEO from scratch. This gets you the fundamentals: Google Business Profile optimization, on-page SEO for your core pages, citation cleanup so your NAP is consistent everywhere, basic monthly reporting, and review response management. This is the right level if you are a single-location local business in a moderately competitive market. It covers the basics. It does not include content creation or aggressive link building.
Growth — around $600/month
For businesses ready to invest in actual lead generation. Everything in Starter, plus: 2 to 4 pieces of content per month (service pages, blog posts, location pages), active review generation and management, link building from relevant local and industry sources, and community landing pages for each city you serve. This is the level where SEO stops being maintenance and starts being a growth channel. Most of our clients at this level see leads within 3 to 6 months.
Scale — $900+/month
For competitive markets where multiple businesses are fighting for the same keywords. Everything in Growth, plus: a dedicated strategist managing your account, aggressive content production, advanced link acquisition from high-authority domains, and conversion rate optimization on your key landing pages. Law firms, multi-location MSPs, and national ecommerce brands typically need this level.
What you should expect to pay by industry
| Industry | Typical Range | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Home services (HVAC, plumbing, garage doors) | $400–$900/mo | Moderate competition, high lead value per job |
| Dental | $600–$1,500/mo | High patient lifetime value, competitive local market |
| Med spas & wellness | $500–$1,200/mo | Visual-driven, high LTV, competitive in metro areas |
| IT / MSP | $600–$1,500/mo | B2B, high contract values, national + local keywords |
| Law firms | $1,000–$5,000/mo | Most competitive local niche. High CPC in ads too |
| Ecommerce | $800–$2,500/mo | Higher complexity, product volume, technical demands |
Why agencies charge different prices
Three things determine the real cost of SEO: content volume (how much are they actually writing for you?), link building quality (are they earning real links or running automated tools?), and who does the work (a senior strategist or a junior following a checklist?). A $300/month agency is almost certainly using automation and junior staff. That does not mean it is bad — for a small local business with simple needs, that might be exactly right. But if you are in a competitive market, $300/month will not move the needle because the required work cannot be done at that price point.
Is local SEO cheaper than national SEO?
Almost always. Local SEO targets a smaller geographic area with fewer competitors. Most local businesses get solid results at $300 to $600 per month. National SEO means competing with funded companies across the entire country. The content volume, link requirements, and timeline all increase accordingly.
Should you pay monthly or one-time?
Monthly is right for most businesses. SEO is not a fix-it-and-forget-it project. Your competitors keep optimizing. Google keeps changing its algorithm. Your content needs to grow and stay fresh. A one-time project followed by no ongoing work produces one-time results that fade as the market moves past you. The businesses that win are the ones that treat SEO as an ongoing investment, not a one-time expense.
How to know if you are getting ROI
Track organic conversions, not just rankings. If you pay $500 a month and get three new customers worth $600 each, your ROI is positive. If you pay $2,000 a month and cannot point to a single new customer from organic search after six months, something is wrong. The math is simple. The execution is where most agencies fall short.
Plans at Digixfly
Plans start at $300 per month. Pricing depends on your industry, your competition, and whether you need AI visibility work alongside traditional SEO. We give you a clear number after understanding your situation. No hidden fees. No surprise invoices. Month to month, cancel anytime.