How to Figure Out SEO Expenses for Your Business

by 10 Best SEO Team

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a complex form of managing your online content. You want your audience to be able to reach you, and you need to appear in the top search results for your business. Hiring a SEO professional or agency can be intimidating. Especially if you're not sure what you're paying for. Here's what you can expect to pay for SEO:

Monthly retainer
Many SEO professionals and agencies charge a monthly retainer for SEO services. This is because SEO management is not a one-time setup. It's an ongoing effort to maximize your website or business's visibility online. The average monthly retainer varies by provider. But the general range is between $750 and $5,000 per month.
Hourly consulting rates
Your monthly retainer may include a certain number of consulting hours. Anything above and beyond that will be billed. Hourly consulting rates are typically between $100 and $300 an hour. You may encounter these consulting fees when developing a new SEO campaign or building a new project.
Contracting costs
Some SEO firms are full-service. Others rely on contractors or vendors to complete jobs outside the SEO firm's expertise. These costs are usually for web designers or programmers, and the fees will range depending on vendor. You may be billed as a "pass through" cost from your SEO firm. Some SEO firms will pay the vendor in advance, and then you will be responsible for reimbursing your SEO agency.
Project-based pricing
If you truly want to hire an SEO professional or company for a one-time project, you can do so. Although it's not recommended for long-term strategy, the choice is up to you. A lot of companies need initial SEO setup when they first start their websites. You'll be subject to project-based pricing, which usually comes at a premium well above the average cost for a professional or firm. This is due to the nature of the single work order.

Be wary of any SEO professional or firm that seems cheap. Often it's too good to be true and can actually do damage to your SEO.