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SEO Pricing Guide: How Much Does SEO Cost in the UK?

Confused by SEO costs? Uncover how much SEO service costs in the UK. Understand typical SEO cost in the UK, per month pricing & more.

SEO FOR UK BUSINESSES

Ardene Stoneman

4/14/20258 min read

How Much Does SEO Cost? The Only SEO Pricing Guide You Need

If you're wondering how much SEO really costs, you're not alone.

Whether you’re a small business owner, marketing lead, or hiring an SEO provider for the first time, understanding the true cost of SEO services can be difficult.

This article outlines how SEO is priced, what influences the final bill, and how to budget properly - without overspending or wasting time on the wrong type of SEO.

Outline

What does SEO actually cost in the UK?
What factors affect the cost of SEO services?
How should small businesses budget for SEO?
What’s included in a typical monthly SEO package?
Why are SEO prices so inconsistent?
Is cheap SEO worth the risk?
What do different SEO pricing models look like?
Should you pay for SEO by the hour, project, or retainer?
How does local SEO pricing compare to national campaigns?
What can you expect to pay for a successful SEO campaign?
Why should you invest in an SEO service instead of handling it yourself?
What do you get from a good SEO pricing guide?
How do SEO pricing models vary across different providers?
What’s the impact of SEO work over time?
Why is it important to have a clear SEO plan?

1. What does SEO actually cost in the UK?

SEO costs in the UK range widely depending on who you hire and what you need. On average:

Hourly SEO rates: £50 to £150
Monthly retainers: £500 to £5,000+ per month
One-off SEO projects: £1,000 to £30,000

These figures are only general benchmarks. The cost of SEO depends on how competitive your market is, the current state of your website, and how comprehensive the SEO service is.

For instance, technical SEO fixes and site migrations tend to be higher-cost projects.

If you’re comparing quotes, make sure to look beyond the headline number. Cheap SEO might look attractive, but it often lacks depth.

A comprehensive SEO service that includes technical SEO, content strategy, and local SEO support is likely to have a higher base price, but can deliver far better long-term value.

2. What factors affect the cost of SEO services?

Several elements drive the cost of your SEO project:

Scope of work: Are you just fixing technical SEO issues or running a full campaign?
Site size: A 10-page website is very different from a 5,000-page ecommerce platform.
Competition: SEO for 'plumber in Brighton' is a different cost challenge than 'insurance broker UK'.
Experience of your chosen SEO provider.
Existing SEO performance: Starting from scratch usually costs more.

The more SEO work needed, the higher your overall cost will be.

Local businesses with low competition may spend less than £1,000 per month, while larger companies targeting national terms could see monthly SEO costs well above that.

3. How should small businesses budget for SEO?

Setting a realistic SEO budget means thinking in terms of return, not just outlay. A good starting point is:

£300–£750 per month for very small businesses in low-competition niches
£750–£2,000 per month for growing businesses with local or regional targets
£2,000+ per month for national or aggressive SEO campaigns

Many small businesses make the mistake of either underestimating how much SEO costs or choosing a low-cost SEO service that fails to deliver.

A better approach is to start with clear SEO goals, define your SEO needs, and invest in an SEO provider who can show how the budget is spent.

Also consider if you need ongoing monthly SEO or if a one-off SEO audit is more appropriate to start with.

4. What’s included in a typical monthly SEO package?

Not all monthly SEO packages are the same, but most should include:

SEO audit and technical improvements
Keyword research
On-page SEO across key pages
Local SEO tasks like Google Business Profile optimisation
Content creation or optimisation
Link building or outreach
Monthly reporting

A complete SEO package should match the pricing model you're working with. If you're paying a monthly retainer, make sure you’re receiving monthly SEO outputs and transparent reporting that tracks your SEO performance.

Some SEO providers may charge extra for technical SEO audits or link-building campaigns, so always ask for a full breakdown before you commit.

5. Why are SEO prices so inconsistent?

SEO prices vary for valid reasons:

Different levels of experience (junior freelancer vs. SEO expert)
Range of services offered
Industry specialisation
Type of SEO (local, national, ecommerce, technical)
Time commitment

There’s also no standard pricing structure in the SEO industry. Some companies charge per page, others by results, and others with ongoing retainers.

This lack of consistency can be frustrating. That’s why it’s important to ask what you’re paying for, who’s doing the work, and how your SEO provider will report on success.

Pricing can vary - but so can quality.

6. Is cheap SEO worth the risk?

There’s no shortage of low-cost SEO offers. But cheap SEO can do more harm than good. Risks include:

Automated link building that violates Google’s rules
Content that's duplicated, spun, or irrelevant
Misleading SEO performance reporting
A lack of long-term SEO strategies

Low-cost SEO might suit short-term goals, but it's unlikely to support a sustainable SEO plan. If your budget for SEO services is limited, focus on specific tasks - like a technical SEO audit or keyword strategy session - rather than trying to get everything for less.

Paying less now often leads to spending more later to clean up the mess.

7. What do different SEO pricing models look like?

There are three main SEO pricing models used across the industry:

Hourly: Suitable for ad hoc tasks. Expect to pay £50–£150 per hour.
Monthly retainer: Common for ongoing support. Costs usually range from £750 to £5,000+.
Project-based: Good for fixed deliverables like SEO audits or migrations.

Each model suits a different type of business and level of SEO maturity. Hourly pricing gives you flexibility but can make costs unpredictable.

A monthly retainer provides consistency but only works if you get clear deliverables.

Understanding the right pricing model for your SEO needs helps you spend smarter.

8. Should you pay for SEO by the hour, project, or retainer?

Here’s when each pricing structure makes sense:

Hourly: Great for limited SEO tasks like reviewing a page, adding schema, or a one-hour SEO consultant call.
Project: Best for time-limited work such as setting up technical SEO foundations or site migrations.
Retainer: Most useful when you need an SEO team working on your site monthly - ongoing content, link building, performance checks.

The hourly rate might sound more manageable, but if you need consistent progress, you’ll likely save money with a fixed monthly retainer.

Also, some SEO pricing models combine hourly tracking with a monthly scope, offering balance between flexibility and structure.

9. How does local SEO pricing compare to national campaigns?

Local SEO typically costs less than national SEO campaigns. Why?

The target audience is smaller
Keyword competition is lower
Less content may be needed

You might pay £500–£1,500 per month for a local SEO campaign, depending on your business type and local area.

National SEO or ecommerce campaigns require broader SEO strategies, stronger backlink profiles, and more technical SEO oversight.

These can exceed £3,000 per month, especially if the SEO provider is delivering all content, backlinks, and on-page work in-house.

If you're a small business focused on a specific area, investing in an SEO campaign tailored to local SEO will deliver the most cost-effective results.

10. What can you expect to pay for a successful SEO campaign?

A successful SEO campaign is one that increases visibility, rankings, and conversions. To achieve this, most businesses need to invest in an SEO service that includes:

Technical SEO
On-page SEO
High-quality content
Link building
Local SEO optimisation (where relevant)

If your goal is to move from page 3 to page 1 in a competitive industry, it’s unlikely you’ll get there spending less than £1,000 per month over several months of SEO work.

You don’t need to overspend, but you do need to pay for your SEO to be done properly.

SEO is an ongoing strategy - it’s not about quick wins. With the right plan, SEO is worth the investment and can outlast other marketing cost channels.

11. Why should you invest in an SEO service instead of handling it yourself?

Some business owners try to manage SEO internally to save money. While this might work short-term, long-term SEO success usually needs more experience and consistency than in-house teams can offer without training.

An SEO professional will understand how to align your SEO goals with your overall marketing objectives, conduct accurate technical SEO audits, and build an effective strategy.

Trying to piece together a plan using free tools and guesswork often ends up costing more in the long run.

If you want to invest in an SEO service that drives results, choose a provider who can explain what they're doing, why it matters, and how it will impact your rankings and conversions.

12. What do you get from a good SEO pricing guide?

A well-structured SEO pricing guide helps you:

Compare SEO providers more easily
Understand what each part of the SEO process involves
Plan your marketing cost effectively
Avoid vague SEO packages or misleading offers

When looking at any SEO pricing guide, check that it outlines the type of SEO being offered (technical, on-page, local), the pricing model (hourly, retainer, project), and what deliverables you’ll actually receive.

Without this, you won’t get an accurate estimate of SEO, and it becomes harder to assess whether you're getting good value.

13. How do SEO pricing models vary across different providers?

Some SEO providers offer fixed pricing structures, others operate entirely flexibly. You might see:

SEO companies with standardised packages based on your number of pages
Freelancers who charge an hourly rate depending on task complexity
Consultants who work on a monthly retainer with flexible task lists

There’s no one-size-fits-all model. The key is to align your SEO budget with the level of support you need.

If you're unsure, ask whether a provider will create a custom SEO plan for your site rather than slotting you into a preset package.

Experienced SEO providers are usually happy to explain their pricing structure in detail—if they aren’t, that’s a red flag.

14. What’s the impact of SEO work over time?

SEO is not a one-off project. It’s a process that develops over months. The first phase usually includes a technical SEO audit, fixing core issues and improving site structure.

After that, the SEO campaign moves into content, link building, and monitoring SEO performance.

If your SEO efforts stop after a few weeks, you likely won’t see a return. Many SEO strategies take 3–6 months before results become clear, depending on how competitive your niche is.

SEO is a long-term channel. If your current SEO provider suggests otherwise, it’s worth questioning their approach.

15. Why is it important to have a clear SEO plan?

Without a structured SEO plan, it’s difficult to prioritise tasks or measure progress. A good plan includes:

Defined SEO goals
A clear timeline for technical SEO fixes, content creation, and backlink acquisition
A reporting process that highlights results and flags issues early

SEO pricing without an SEO plan is guesswork. Whether you're spending £500 per month or £5,000, your SEO provider should show how that investment breaks down across workstreams.

Having a defined plan also protects you from vague promises and helps you hold your provider accountable.

Key Takeaways: What You Need to Know About SEO Costs

SEO costs in the UK range from £50/hour to £5,000+/month depending on services and provider.
Choose the right pricing model: hourly, monthly retainer, or project-based.
Small business SEO campaigns often start at £750/month for effective results.
Local SEO is generally cheaper than national campaigns.
Avoid low-cost SEO unless you fully understand the limits and risks.
Always request a clear pricing structure and defined deliverables.
A successful SEO campaign requires more than one task - it needs a complete strategy.

Looking for clarity on what SEO should cost your business? At SEOJet, we offer transparent pricing based on your actual needs. No sales talk, no bloated packages - just experienced SEO services that help your business grow. Ready to find out how much SEO should cost you? Get in touch.