The usual market ranges
SEO pricing in 2026 spreads across a wide band. Roughly, this is what a local business will see quoted:
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Tool scan | 0 to 100 € (automated, surface level) |
| A real audit | 800 to 3,000 € one-off (with strategy and an action plan) |
| Ongoing retainer | 400 to 2,500 € per month, depending on scope |
| Freelance hour | 80 to 150 €, specialists more |
A small to mid-sized local business sits realistically at the lower to middle end of these bands. A company chasing national rankings in a hard-fought market pays far more than a practice or a trade business with a clear local niche.
One-off or ongoing?
Two models, and they do not exclude each other:
- Project (one-off): an audit with real measurements, a prioritised plan, and the fixes for the most important points. After that the work is yours, with no monthly tie-in.
- Retainer (ongoing): regular measuring and refining if you want to stay on it. Sensible in competitive fields or when a lot is moving, but not a must.
For most local businesses, starting with a one-off project is the more honest route: get the foundation clean first, then decide whether ongoing support is even needed.
How to spot an honest offer
Price alone tells you little. These signals tell you more:
- It measures, it does not promise. Real numbers from PageSpeed, Google Search Console and AI search, not "number one guaranteed".
- No guaranteed star quotas. Anyone promising "5 new 5-star reviews a month" is working against Google’s guidelines.
- No bought bulk links. Those are a risk, not a foundation.
- No lock-in terms. A fair offer does not bind you for two years with a hidden setup fee.
What it costs with us
We keep it transparent. The SEO and AI short check is free. A full audit with real measurements and a copy-paste kit starts at 690 euro; with implementation of the most important fixes, from 1,490 euro. Ongoing support starts at 149 euro a month, cancellable monthly and with no setup trap. No guarantees of rank, because no honest provider can give them, only measured, prioritised work.
Frequently asked questions
Is cheap SEO ever worth it?
A free or near-free tool scan can flag obvious issues, but it will not give you strategy or fixes. Treat it as a smoke alarm, not a plan. Real work needs a human reading real data.
Why not just guarantee a number-one ranking?
Because nobody controls Google’s or an AI’s ranking. Anyone guaranteeing position one is either misleading you or planning risky tactics that can get you penalised. Honest providers guarantee effort and measurement, not placement.
Do I need a monthly retainer?
Usually not to start. Most local businesses are better served by a one-off project that cleans up the foundation, then deciding whether ongoing support is worth it. Competitive markets benefit more from a retainer.
What makes an audit worth 800 € or more when a scan is free?
The scan is an automated list. A real audit reads your actual data, prioritises what matters for your business, and hands you a plan you can act on. You are paying for judgement, not a report.