How Much Does Search Engine Optimisation Cost?
Ashley BryanPublished On Aug 20,2025
At WebsiteStrategies, we often hear small business owners in Australia ask about search engine optimisation prices. It’s a valid concern, as SEO can be a significant investment for any company.
The cost of SEO varies widely based on several factors, including your website’s size, your industry’s competitiveness, and your specific goals. In this post, we’ll break down the different pricing models and typical services to help you understand what to expect when budgeting for SEO.
What Drives SEO Costs?
SEO pricing isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Multiple factors influence the cost of SEO services for small businesses in Australia. Let’s examine the key elements that affect your SEO investment.
Website Complexity and Current Optimisation
The size and structure of your website significantly impact SEO costs. A small, five-page brochure site requires less work than a large e-commerce platform with thousands of products. If your site already has some optimisation, it will need less initial work than a site that has never been touched by an SEO professional.
SEO can cost anywhere from $2000 to $10,000. The cost depends on how big your website is, what kind of work is required, and other factors.
Industry Competitiveness and Keyword Difficulty
Your industry’s competitiveness directly affects SEO costs. A local plumber in a small town will likely face less competition than a national insurance company. The difficulty of ranking for your target keywords also plays a role.
Geographic Scope
Your target audience’s location influences SEO costs. Are you targeting local customers in Brisbane, or do you aim for a national or international audience? Local SEO strategies often cost less than national or global campaigns due to the narrower focus and potentially less competition. However, multi-location businesses targeting several local markets may face higher costs due to the need for location-specific optimisation.
Timeline and Goals
Your desired timeline for results also impacts costs. While SEO is a long-term strategy, some businesses need quicker results. Accelerated timelines often require more aggressive strategies and higher investments. It’s important to set realistic expectations.
Understanding these factors will help you better gauge the potential SEO costs for your small business. While SEO requires an investment, it’s one that can yield significant returns when done right. Unlike paid advertising, SEO can provide long-term results without ongoing costs per click. With consistent efforts, SEO can generate a high long-term return on investment (ROI) by attracting free, high-quality traffic.
Now that we’ve explored the factors that influence SEO costs, let’s look at the common pricing models used in the industry.
How Do SEO Providers Charge for Their Services?
SEO pricing can confuse small business owners. Let’s examine the common pricing models in the Australian SEO market.
Monthly Retainer Packages
Monthly retainers dominate the SEO industry. These packages typically cost between $1,400 and $2,500 per month for small businesses in Australia. The exact price depends on the work scope and your industry’s competitiveness.
A monthly retainer provides ongoing SEO services, including regular content updates, link building, and performance tracking. This model suits businesses that want consistent, long-term SEO growth.
Project-Based Pricing
Many providers offer project-based pricing for specific SEO tasks or short-term campaigns. This could include website audits, keyword research, or one-time optimisation efforts. Prices for these projects can range from $1,400 to $10,000 or more, depending on the scope and complexity of the project.
Project-based pricing allows more budget control and works well if you have specific SEO goals. However, it might not offer the ongoing support needed for sustained SEO success.
Hourly Consulting Rates
Some SEO professionals (particularly independent consultants) charge by the hour. Rates in Australia typically fall between $100 and $180 per hour, based on the consultant’s experience and expertise.
Hourly rates can prove cost-effective for small, specific tasks or for businesses that need occasional SEO guidance. However, they can quickly add up for more extensive work.
DIY SEO Tools and Resources
While DIY SEO tools and resources exist, they often require significant time investment and SEO knowledge to use effectively. Most small business owners find that partnering with a professional SEO provider offers better value and results.
When selecting an SEO pricing model, consider your business goals, budget, and the level of ongoing support you need. The cheapest option doesn’t always represent the best value. Quality SEO services demand time, expertise, and consistent effort to deliver meaningful results for your business.
Now that we’ve explored various pricing models, let’s break down the typical SEO services and their associated costs to give you a clearer picture of what your investment might look like.
What Does SEO Cost in Australia?
At WebsiteStrategies, we understand that small business owners in Australia want to know exactly what they’re paying for when it comes to SEO. Let’s break down the typical services and their associated costs to give you a clearer picture of your potential investment.
Technical SEO Audits and Improvements
A comprehensive technical SEO audit forms the foundation of any successful SEO campaign. For most small businesses in Australia who go with a legitimate provider in 2025, SEO will usually cost between $1000-2,500 per month. These audits identify issues that could hold your site back in search rankings, such as slow page speeds, broken links, or crawl errors.
Content Creation and On-page Optimisation
Content reigns supreme in SEO, and creating high-quality, optimised content is essential. The cost of SEO in Australia in 2025 ranges from $1000+GST to $10000+GST and above per month. For a local campaign, prices start at the lower end of this range.
Off-page SEO and Link Building
Off-page SEO, primarily link building, often becomes the most time-consuming and expensive part of SEO. Quality link-building strategies typically require budgets ranging from $500 to $3,000 AUD per month or more. We advise caution with cheap link building packages – they often use black hat techniques that can harm your site’s rankings.
Local SEO Services
For small businesses targeting local customers, local SEO plays a vital role. Services typically include optimising your Google My Business listing, managing online reviews, and creating location-specific content.
E-commerce SEO
E-commerce SEO involves more complexity due to the large number of product pages and the need for ongoing optimisation. Costs can vary based on the size and complexity of your online store.
These figures represent estimates, and actual costs can vary based on your specific needs and goals. We recommend discussing your specific needs with an SEO professional to get an accurate quote for your business.
Final Thoughts
Quality SEO represents a smart investment for small businesses in Australia. Search engine optimisation prices might appear high initially, but the long-term benefits outweigh the costs. SEO creates a sustainable online presence that attracts and converts potential customers, not just improves website visibility.
When you select an SEO provider, look for transparency, experience, and success records. Ask for case studies, client testimonials, and clear strategy outlines. Avoid providers who promise overnight results or use techniques that could harm your site’s reputation.
SEO delivers long-term results, unlike paid advertising which stops working when you stop paying. WebsiteStrategies specialises in helping Australian SMEs turn their websites into powerful lead-generating assets (with over two decades of experience). We can help you navigate the complex world of SEO and achieve sustainable online growth.