How Much Does Local SEO Cost in 2024?

If you’re wondering how much local SEO costs or what typical local SEO prices are, you’re not alone. In 2024, the cost of local SEO services typically ranges from $450 to $3,000 per month, depending on various factors like your business size, industry competition, and the scope of the services you require.

So, how much should you pay for local SEO or, if you’re offering services, how much should you charge for local SEO? The answer depends on several key factors, including the level of competition in your industry, your geographic location, and your desired results.

On average, local SEO prices can be broken down into three tiers:

• Small businesses can expect to pay $450 to $750 per month for basic services.
• Medium-sized businesses typically invest between $750 and $1,500 per month for more comprehensive strategies.
• Larger enterprises or businesses in highly competitive industries may need to budget $1,500 to $3,000 per month for advanced SEO tactics.

Whether you’re trying to determine how much to charge for local SEO as a provider or figure out how much you should pay for local SEO as a business, this guide will help you understand the factors that influence pricing and what you can expect from different service packages.

What Factors Influence Local SEO Pricing?

The local search optimization pricing can vary significantly based on several key factors. Understanding these can help you budget more effectively for your SEO needs.

Factors Affecting Local SEO Pricing:

1. Business Size
2. Competition
3. Current Online Presence
4. Geographic Location
5. Desired Timeframe
6. Provider Expertise

Business Size and Scope

Are you a small local shop or a business with multiple locations? The size of your business greatly affects how much you’ll spend on local digital marketing. Smaller businesses might only need to invest between $450 and $750 per month. However, larger businesses or those with several locations will likely need a bigger budget, often between $1,500 and $3,000 per month.

Industry Competitiveness

Is your business in a crowded industry or a smaller, specialized market? The amount of competition in your field affects how much you’ll spend on local SEO. If you’re in a competitive industry, you might need to invest more, typically between $1,500 and $3,000 per month. But if you’re in a less competitive niche, a budget of $450 to $750 per month may be enough for your local marketing efforts.

Current Online Presence and Reputation

How visible is your business online? Your existing online presence significantly influences the cost of local SEO services. If your website is well-established, you may require less extensive work, resulting in lower costs. However, businesses with minimal online presence might face higher initial costs as foundational SEO work is required.

Geographic Location

Is your business in a major city or a smaller town? The cost of local marketing can vary based on geographic location. Big cities with more competitive markets often drive up prices, while smaller areas may offer more affordable options.

Desired Results and Timeline

Are you looking for fast results, or do you prefer a long-term strategy? The timeline for your desired results can also influence your local marketing costs. Faster results may require a more aggressive approach with a budget of $1,500 to $3,000 per month, whereas businesses aiming for long-term growth might spend between $750 and $1,500 per month.

Provider Expertise and Track Record

When you outsource your local SEO, the experience and success of the agency or consultant you pick can affect how much you pay. Well-established agencies might charge more, but they usually provide better results and a higher return on your investment.

Comparing Local SEO Pricing by Industry: Healthcare, Legal, Retail, and More

When it comes to local SEO pricing, you’ll notice that costs can change depending on the type of business. Different industries face different levels of competition, and each has its own SEO needs. For example:

• Healthcare Services (like Dentists and Clinics): If you’re in healthcare, you’ll need specific SEO strategies to follow regulations and build patient trust. This includes optimizing Google Business Profiles (GBP), keeping your business info consistent, and managing reviews. SEO costs for healthcare businesses are typically between $750 and $2,500 per month, depending on your location and competition.
• Legal Services (like Law Firms): For law firms, especially those in big cities, competition is tough. You’ll need advanced strategies that follow legal marketing rules and focus on building links. SEO costs for law firms usually range from $1,500 to $5,000 per month.
• Retail and Hospitality (like Restaurants and Shops): If you run a restaurant or store, it’s important to use local keywords, keep your business info up to date, and collect customer reviews. These businesses often see quick results through more foot traffic. SEO costs here usually range between $450 and $1,500 per month.
• Home Services (like Plumbers and Electricians): Home service businesses depend on trust. Reviews, local searches, and consistent contact info are key. SEO costs for these businesses generally range from $500 to $2,000 per month, depending on competition and your service area.

Breaking Down Local SEO Packages and Pricing Tiers

Let’s make it easy to understand you how Local SEO pricing works for both small businesses and larger companies:

• Basic package ($450 – $750 per month): This budget is best suited for small businesses that are just starting out with local SEO. It usually covers fundamental optimizations like keyword research, on-page optimizations, and basic citation building.
• Standard package ($750 – $1,500 per month): Growing businesses that are ready to take their local SEO to the next level often fall into this budget range. It allows for more comprehensive strategies, including content creation, link building, and regular tracking and reporting.
• Advanced package ($1,500 – $2,500 per month): For established businesses in competitive local markets, this higher budget range may be necessary to implement aggressive tactics and stay ahead of competitors. It often includes more intensive content marketing, advanced link acquisition, and detailed analytics.
• Enterprise package ($2,500 – $3,000 per month): The highest local SEO costs are typically required for large businesses or those in highly competitive industries. At this level, businesses can expect fully customized, comprehensive local SEO strategies that are closely monitored and adjusted for maximum impact.

Keep in mind that these are general ranges, and the ideal cost of local SEO services for your business will depend on your unique goals, market, and competitive landscape.. For a tailored approach to improve your visibility, explore our local SEO outsourcing services that can make a real difference for your business. They can help you prioritize efforts based on your budget while laying the groundwork for long-term local search success.

How Much Does Local SEO Cost Per Month?

If you run a business with multiple locations, local SEO becomes more complex, but we’re here to help. Each location needs its own optimization strategy, which can increase costs. Here’s what you need to know:

• Google Business Profile Management: Each of your locations needs its own Google Business Profile (GBP). Agencies like ours usually charge between $100 and $500 per month per location, depending on how much work the profiles need.
• Localized Content Creation: If you have multiple locations, you’ll need to create specific content for each area you serve, like blog posts, landing pages, or customer reviews. Content creation generally costs between $500 and $2,000 per month, depending on the size of your business.

How to Measure the ROI of Local SEO

When it comes to local SEO, you want to know if it’s working for your business. To find out, you should track a few important things:

• More Traffic: With tools like Google Analytics, you can track how much more traffic your website is getting from better search rankings. For example, if you’re a dentist and move from the second page to the first for “dentist near me,” you could see a big increase in website visitors.
• Better Conversion Rates: Local searches usually lead to more in-person visits compared to general searches. Google says 78% of mobile searches lead to an offline purchase. By tracking how many website visits turn into calls, bookings, or store visits, you’ll see how well local SEO is working for you.
• Higher Revenue: Many businesses, like yours, see more revenue when their local SEO improves. For example, if you run a restaurant, better search rankings can lead to more reservations and walk-ins, which means more money for you.

Understanding the Cost of Local SEO Outsourcing

Many businesses find that outsourcing local SEO to a professional agency is the most effective way to get results. But what does outsourcing SEO cost, and how does it compare to doing it yourself?

DIY Local SEO: You’ll need time to learn the process and invest in SEO tools, which may cost $100+ per month.

Outsourcing Local SEO to an Agency: Prices range from $750 to $3,000 per month, offering faster results and advanced tools.

Visualizing Local SEO Pricing

Prefer pictures over words? No problem! Let’s break down these price ranges with a simple chart:

What’s Included in Our Local SEO Services?

When considering local SEO costs, it’s important to understand what services are typically included in different pricing tiers. The cost of local SEO typically covers a range of services designed to boost your visibility in local searches:

• On-page optimization
• Content creation
• Google Business Profile management
• Local citation building
• Link building
• Review management
• Reporting and analytics

Studies show that businesses with a complete and accurate Google Business Profile (GBP) are 70% more likely to get visits to their location and 50% more likely to make sales. That’s why these services are a key part of most local marketing costs plans.

Interactive Local SEO Pricing Calculator

To get a better idea of potential local search optimization pricing for your specific situation, try our interactive calculator below. This tool can help you estimate your local SEO costs based on your unique business needs and goals.

How Much Should You Pay for Different Local SEO Services?

The cost of local SEO services can vary widely. Here’s a breakdown of average SEO pricing for small businesses and larger campaigns:

Local SEO Service	Average Cost
Automated Local SEO	$84 – $499 per year or $300 – $500 per month
Small-Scale Local SEO Campaigns	$399 – $2,500 per month
Comprehensive Local SEO Packages	$899 – $5,000 per month
Large SEO Projects	$2,501 – $5,000 per month
Local SEO Audit Services	$84 per year – $1,999 per month
Link Profile Audits	$500 – $7,500
SEO Content Audits	$500 – $7,500 each
Local Citation Building	Starting at $1 per site
Business Citation Submission	Average of $25 per directory
Local SEO Content Marketing	$5,000 – $10,000 per month
Hourly SEO Services	$100 – $300 per hour
Local Link Building	$500–$1,500 per month depending on the number of links and quality
Local Content Marketing	$500–$2,000 per month depending on the volume and quality of content
SEO Copywriting	$0.15 – $0.50 per word

Local SEO Tools and Software: What You’ll Need

If you’re planning to handle local SEO yourself, you’ll need the right tools to make the job easier. These tools help you track rankings, manage directories, and keep everything in order. Here are a few:

• Moz Local: This tool helps you keep your business info (name, address, phone number) consistent across directories. Moz Local costs around $129 per year per location, which is affordable for small businesses.
• BrightLocal: Known for local SEO, BrightLocal offers features like rank tracking, citation management, and Google Business Profile audits. Prices start at $39 per month, making it a good option for small businesses like yours.
• Yext: If you’ve got multiple locations, Yext is great for managing listings across directories. It starts at $300 per year per location, but this can add up if you’ve got a lot of locations.

Google My Business Pricing

While we’re on the topic of local SEO costs, it’s important to discuss Google My Business (GMB) in a separate section – a crucial tool for local businesses. Interestingly, Google My Business itself is a free service provided by Google. However, there are often costs associated with optimizing and managing your GMB listing effectively.

Research shows that businesses with a verified Google My Business listing are 2.7 times more likely to be considered reputable by consumers.

Here’s a breakdown of potential costs related to Google My Business:

1. Basic Setup (Free): Creating and claiming your GMB listing is completely free.
2. Professional Optimization ($100 – $500 one-time fee): While you can optimize your listing yourself, many businesses choose to hire a professional to ensure all details are correctly filled out, categories are properly selected, and the listing is fully optimized for local search.
3. Ongoing Management ($50 – $500 per month): This includes regularly updating your business information, responding to reviews, posting updates, and ensuring your listing remains optimized as Google updates its features.
4. Photo and Video Creation ($100 – $1000+): High-quality photos and videos can significantly improve your GMB listing’s performance. Costs vary widely depending on whether you do it yourself or hire a professional.
5. Google Posts ($50 – $200 per month): While posting on GMB is free, creating and managing regular, engaging posts often requires time and expertise.
6. Q&A Management ($50 – $200 per month): Monitoring and responding to questions on your GMB listing can be time-consuming but is crucial for maintaining a good online presence.

FAQs

How Much Should I Pay for Local SEO in 2024?

When determining how much you should pay for local SEO in 2024, the answer depends on the size of your business, competition in your industry, and the geographic reach of your operations.

For small businesses, the typical investment in local SEO services ranges from $450 to $750 per month, which covers essential optimizations like keyword research and Google Business Profile management.

Medium-sized businesses looking to expand their online presence can expect to pay between $750 and $1,500 per month, allowing for more comprehensive strategies that include content creation, local link building, and ongoing analytics.

For large businesses, particularly those in highly competitive industries or with multiple locations, the budget for local SEO can range from $1,500 to $3,000 per month. This higher investment supports advanced SEO tactics necessary to maintain visibility and outperform competitors across different regions. Ultimately, selecting the right budget should align with your business goals and the complexity of your SEO needs.

1. Can I combine local SEO with traditional SEO?

Absolutely! Combining local SEO with traditional SEO is a smart strategy that can amplify your online visibility. Local SEO focuses on optimizing your website for location-specific keywords, while traditional SEO targets broader, non-location-specific keywords. By using both approaches, you can attract local customers searching for businesses nearby and a wider audience interested in your products or services.

2. How much does automated local SEO cost?

Automated local SEO costs usually range from $84 to $499 per year. For example, Moz Local charges around $129 annually per location, and Yext costs between $300 and $499. These services help keep your business info consistent across directories, boosting local visibility. However, they often miss the personal touch needed for long-term success. For a more customized strategy, working with an expert may cost more, but it can lead to better long-term results.

3. Is local SEO worth it?

Investing in local SEO is worth it for most businesses. A good local SEO strategy can help your business show up more in search results, leading to more website traffic and customers visiting your store. Since 78% of local mobile searches lead to in-person purchases, the return on what you spend on local SEO can be significant.

4. How long does it take to see results from local SEO?

On average, it can take 3 to 6 months to start seeing noticeable improvements from local SEO efforts. The timeline depends on factors like industry competitiveness, the strength of your current online presence, and how aggressive your SEO strategy is. More complex strategies may involve higher local SEO costs, but they can result in faster visibility improvements.

5. What are some key elements of a successful local SEO strategy?

A successful local SEO strategy includes:

• Google Business Profile optimization
• Building local citations
• Managing customer reviews
• On-page SEO for local keywords
• Creating localized content

6. How Much Should I Budget for Local SEO Per Month?

The budget for local SEO can vary significantly depending on factors like your business’s industry, competition, and the specific services you need. For smaller businesses, you can expect to spend between $450 and $750 per month for foundational local SEO services like directory management, Google Business Profile optimization, and basic keyword research.

For more advanced strategies that include content creation, local link building, and in-depth keyword tracking, the cost typically ranges from $750 and $1,500 per month. If you’re a large enterprise with multiple locations or more complex needs, your may require $1,500 to $3,000 per month to execute more advanced strategies. Keep in mind that your investment should be directly tied to your goals and ROI expectations.

7. How Much Do Local SEO Agencies Charge?

Local SEO company’s costs can vary widely depending on your business size and needs. Here’s a breakdown:

Enterprise Solutions: Large businesses or those operating in highly competitive industries might need to invest $1,500 to $3,000 per month for enterprise-level solutions. These packages offer custom strategies, ongoing optimization, and aggressive SEO tactics tailored to dominate competitive local search results.

Automated Services: If you’re looking for automated services, such as managing your business listings and basic optimizations, you can expect to pay $84 to $499 per year or between $300 and $500 per month. This option is ideal for small businesses with minimal needs.

Small Business Packages: For small businesses requiring a bit more hands-on management, including local keyword research, Google Business Profile optimization, and citation building, costs typically range from $450 to $750 per month. These packages are suited for businesses starting out in local SEO or those with moderate competition.

Comprehensive Services: Businesses aiming for a more thorough approach, including content creation, local link building, and in-depth analytics, will likely need to budget between $750 and $1,500 per month. This package is often chosen by growing businesses in competitive markets that require more advanced strategies.

8. How Much Do Freelancers Charge for Local SEO?

Freelancers charge different amounts for local SEO depending on their experience and the scope of the project. On average, monthly fees range from $300 to $2,000, with most freelancers charging around $750 to $1,500 per month. Hourly rates typically range from $25 to $150, depending on the freelancer’s skill level and location. One-time local SEO projects, like optimizing a Google My Business listing, usually cost between $300 and $1,500. Factors like the freelancer’s skill level, the project’s difficulty, and where they live can affect the price. Knowing these ranges helps both clients and freelancers set clear expectations for SEO costs.

9. Can I Do Local SEO on My Own?

Yes, you can manage local SEO yourself, especially if you’re willing to invest time in learning the best practices and using tools for automation. Many small businesses start with free or low-cost solutions, handling tasks like Google Business Profile optimization and basic directory management. However, as your business grows, managing local SEO becomes more time-consuming. DIY methods may work for small businesses in less competitive industries, but larger or more competitive markets often require the expertise of a local SEO agency to achieve significant results.

10. Is Local SEO Expensive?

Local SEO is an investment, but the potential return on investment (ROI) makes it worth considering. While prices can range from $450 to $3,000 per month, local SEO has the power to drive more traffic, boost your online presence, and generate new customers. Research shows that 78% of local mobile searches lead to an offline purchase, making it a valuable strategy for increasing business revenue. Although the upfront cost may seem steep, businesses often find that the long-term gains far outweigh the initial expense.

11. How Much Do Different Local SEO Tools Cost?

The cost of local SEO tools varies depending on what features you need. Here’s a breakdown of popular local SEO tools, along with their features and pricing:

• Moz Local: Ideal for businesses needing automated local listings management, Moz Local helps keep your business information consistent across major directories. Pricing starts at $129 per year per location, making it a great option for small businesses looking for hands-off local SEO management.
• Semrush: Known for its comprehensive suite of SEO tools, Semrush offers features like local keyword tracking, backlink analysis, and competitor research. The Pro plan starts at $119.95 per month, providing access to local SEO data along with a wide range of other SEO tools. It’s a robust solution for businesses looking to scale both local and broader SEO efforts.
• BrightLocal: Specifically designed for local SEO, BrightLocal offers features such as citation building, Google Business Profile audits, and local search rank tracking. It’s one of the more affordable options, with plans starting at $39 per month, making it a popular choice for small businesses and agencies focused on local SEO.
• Yext: Yext provides a powerful platform for managing online listings, reviews, and reputation across multiple directories. This tool helps businesses ensure consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) data across platforms, which is crucial for local SEO. Pricing typically starts at $300 per year per location, which makes it suitable for multi-location businesses that need to maintain consistent listings across multiple areas.
• SE Ranking: A versatile SEO tool offering features such as keyword rank tracking, local keyword research, and competitive analysis. SE Ranking starts at $44 per month, offering excellent value for businesses that need local SEO features combined with general SEO capabilities.

Conclusion: Maximize Your Investment with Local SEO

In short, understanding local SEO costs can help you plan your overall marketing budget wisely. Local SEO costs in 2024 typically range from $450 to $3,000 per month. These are the average prices for local SEO services across different industries and business sizes.The great thing about local SEO is that it can be scaled and adapted to fit businesses of any size. When thinking about SEO, keep these points in mind:

• Clearly define your goals and budget
• Think about both immediate costs and long-term benefits
• Focus on the return on investment (ROI) rather than just the initial price

By considering these factors and picking the right SEO partner, you can create a cost-effective strategy that delivers real results for your business.