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SEO Pricing in 2026: What SEO Actually Costs a Small Business

Monthly retainers, local SEO, hourly rates and project fees from published surveys, and how to tell what you are actually paying for.

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SEO pricing is confusing on purpose. One company quotes $299 a month, another $5,000, and both call it SEO. The difference is almost always in what is actually done each month, and how competitive your market is.

Here is what published surveys say SEO costs in 2026, and how to tell what you are paying for.

What SEO costs, by pricing model

Pricing modelPublished rangeSource
Monthly retainer, all SEO$250 to $10,000 a month; 63% of businesses spend $500 to $5,000Ahrefs survey of 439 providers
Monthly retainer, local SEOAverage $1,557 a monthAhrefs
Monthly retainer, local SEO$500 to $2,500 a monthSEO.com; SeoProfy
Monthly retainer, agencies on Clutch$2,000 to $20,000 a month; average about $3,199Clutch
HourlyMost common $75 to $100 an hour; 90% charge $150 or lessAhrefs
Hourly, agencies on ClutchMost charge $100 to $149 an hourClutch
ProjectMost common $2,501 to $5,000Ahrefs

Sources: Ahrefs, Clutch, SEO.com, SeoProfy. Clutch’s figures come from agencies listed on its site, which skew larger than a typical local shop.

What drives the price

  • How competitive your market is. SEO.com notes that law, home services and healthcare cost more. A roofer in a big metro faces stiffer competition than one in a small town.
  • How many locations and services you want to rank for.
  • The state of your site. A slow site with one page for every service needs more work before anything else helps.
  • Content. Writing real service pages and answer pages is a large share of the cost and the results.
  • Links and citations. Earning mentions and fixing your business details across the web takes ongoing effort.
  • Reporting and access. How often you hear what was done, and whether you can talk to the person doing it.

What a monthly retainer should include

For a local service business, a solid retainer usually covers Google Business Profile management, new and improved service and location pages, technical fixes, local citations, review growth and a monthly report tied to calls and leads, not just rankings.

Red flags

  • Guaranteed #1 rankings. Nobody controls Google. A guarantee is a sales line.
  • Reports with no calls or leads in them. Rankings and traffic matter only if they bring in business.
  • No idea what was done this month. You should be able to see the work.
  • Long contracts with nothing specific attached. Know what you get for the commitment.

What we charge

We quote after a free audit of your site, your market and your competitors, because the right amount of work varies widely. SEO compounds over time, so we work on a six month minimum, with monthly video reviews of what we did and what changed. See our SEO and local SEO services, or start with the free growth plan.

Real businesses. Real results.

Here's What Our Clients Say.

Send any potential customer to me! Hands down the best investment I have made in my 10 years of running a business
Shane Camardo Semper Secure LLC
  • Will is the best! He seriously changed the course of our business. He did our local SEO and made our website from scratch. You can’t get better than him honestly. He is responsive, attentive to detail, and KNOWS WHAT HES DOING!

    Olivia Eissler ★★★★★ Google
  • I couldn't be happier with the website that Will Lockard from Lockard Design built for my chiropractic office. He is incredibly talented, professional, and attentive to detail. Will took the time to understand my vision and turned it into a site that is not only visually appealing but also highly functional and user-friendly. His expertise in design and SEO has already made a noticeable impact on my business. If you're looking…

    Dennis Hupka Facebook
  • I can’t recommend Will Lockard highly enough! He is currently rebuilding the company I work for entires vacation rental website, and the experience has been incredible from start. He has been extremely hands-on, attentive to every detail, and consistently communicative throughout the entire process.It’s clear that he truly cares about the project and wants to make sure everything is done right. He is always available to answer questions or make adjustments, and has made the entire process so much easier. If you’re looking for someone who is talented, reliable, responsive, and genuinely invested in bringing your vision to life, I highly recommend him!

    Carla Giordano ★★★★★ Google
  • Thank you so much for the excellent work! Everything was done professionally, with great quality and attention to detail. We are very happy with the result and highly recommend this company.

    Svetlana Ignat ★★★★★ Google
  • Informative and well done.

    Russell Chun ★★★★★ Google
  • Will is great to work with. He’s passionate about what he does and really takes the time to understand his customers. He listens, asks good questions, and makes sure you feel confident in your decisions. What I appreciate most is his honesty—he’s upfront, clear, and never pushy.He’s also very dependable. You can count on him to follow through and be there when you need him. Overall, Will is someone you can trust and feel comfortable working with. Highly recommend.

    Andrea S ★★★★★ Google
  • Working with Lockard Design Co has been a game-changer for our business. Their team delivered a stunning, user-friendly website that perfectly captures our brand. On top of that, their media buying strategy was spot-on—driving real traffic and results from day one. They’re professional, creative, and genuinely invested in our success. Highly recommend to anyone looking for top-tier web design and digital marketing support.

    Adam Animasaun ★★★★★ Google
  • This is a family owned company and makes you have an experience of people that really care for you. I would recommend reaching out with to the real deal, Lockard Designs Co., before any other company. Let’s all support small businesses and good people.

    Ashlee Ott ★★★★★ Google
  • Excellent work, great design, and terrific communications. I highly recommend Lckard Lockard Design Co. for all your website needs.

    Amy HindaRifka Facebook
  • Will has been great to work with. He has been assisting our team with automations making us way more efficient. If you want someone who knows what they are doing in automating and growing your business, I highly recommend him.

    Antonio Rillera Facebook
  • Will @ Lockard Design is a master of his craft. I enjoy few things more than watching someone in their zone of genius, and Will is no exception. He not only knows what he is doing but does it gracefully and with a level of care and thoughtfulness that has the clients interest at heart. His skillset is so broad that and his approach so unbiased that weve solved problems we didn’t know we had. We’ve worked together on numerous project…

    Silvio Dobrovat Facebook
  • Lockard Design Co. Were amazing to work with. They build a few landing pages for me and have me all set with my automation. Big thank you to the team and many future projects to come. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Charles O'Rourke Facebook
  • Exceeded my expectations for my small business. Team went above and beyond and I couldn’t be happier with the results.

    Jaclyn McGovern ★★★★★ Google
  • Amazing work!

    Lauren Hoffman ★★★★★ Google
  • Amazing company with real talent!Lockard Design Co. is honestly one of the best out there when it comes to web design and marketing. They really get what small and local businesses need to stand out. Their work speaks for itself — clean, sharp, professional designs that actually help businesses grow.What I really respect is how they take the time to understand what makes each business unique, and they build everything around that. Whether it’s a website, SEO, ads, or even a CRM to manage leads, they know how to put the right pieces together to get results.The team is solid — super easy to work with, responsive, and focused on helping businesses succeed, not just selling a service. If you’re serious about leveling up your online presence and want to work with people who actually care, Lockard Design Co. is the way to go

    Domenic Cannatella ★★★★★ Google
  • I work with Lockard Design on a consistent basis because they consistently deliver quality work. Anybody looking for a website or Local SEO should take a look at Will and his team and Lockard Design.

    Richard Burner ★★★★★ Google
  • We are so thankful we found Lockard Design Co. They really know what they are doing, both from a technical and an artistic side. And not only did they implement all the changes we wanted, they went above and beyond, suggesting improvements we didn't even know were possible. You will be in good hands with them.

    Bridge UA ★★★★★ Google
  • Excellent work and a seamless experience from beginning to end! The website is professional, easy to navigate, and captures our mission perfectly.

    Olha Syniuk ★★★★★ Google
  • Lockard Design Co. is amazing! I knew our website needed help, but I didn't even know where to start. Will proposed a complete redesign that we LOVED! The new look really does justice to our mission, and now instead of being embarrassed about our website, I'm actually excited to share it with people!

    Sharon T. Markey ★★★★★ Google
  • Lockard Design Co. Is amazing on their wonderful expertise!! They are wonderful owners who are good people and they are so good at what they do, and design to your beauty and they are so talented. They gave us a new and improved, beautiful logo and website that is more efficient for our new viewers and getting lots of attention and business from it! Thank you for all your amazing advise and new designs that inspire our business!! We appreciate all you do!!

    Lisa Mazzella ★★★★★ Google
  • Will and his team made my vision come to life with my website. They took their time and paid close attention to every detail and made recommendations that I didn't consider prior. They really exceeded my expectations and have continued to provide support. I highly encourage those with a vision to consult with Will.

    Dawn OBrien ★★★★★ Google
  • Great experience and top notch friendly service!

    steve cozzi ★★★★★ Google
  • If you need someone who knows what he's doing and really goes out of their way for you - THIS IS THE MAN. His whole business is based around building connections and relationships. Will will never leave you in the dark. Always there. I HIGHLY recommend him. You can rest assured he'll take care of your website aswell as having his pre built CRM where you can track leads etc. Really awesome!

    Jp Beukes Facebook
  • Lockard Design has been awesome to work with. Knowledgeable, professional, and attentive throughout. They built a website for our family business and it surpassed our expectations. Their expertise in web design really stands out.

    Jenilee Castillo Facebook
  • Will overdelivers and understands websites from a marketers point of view. I see most businesses using websites as a business card vs one designed to collect and nurture leads. Highly recommend him and his products. !

    Adam Maggio Facebook
  • The level of quality and care is unbelievable. Getting a company that pours into your business as much as Lockard Design does is invaluable. The best! Thank you!!

    Jennifer Reuther ★★★★★ Google
  • Saw amazing results

    Auburn Evans ★★★★★ Google
  • Will and his team have been a contributing factor in our growth over the past 18 months. Can't thank him and his team enough! Let's go!!

    Jared Brown Client
  • Will is the best! He seriously changed the course of our business. He did our local SEO and made our website from scratch. You can’t get better than him honestly. He is responsive, attentive to detail, and KNOWS WHAT HES DOING!

    Olivia Eissler ★★★★★ Google
  • Amazing company with real talent!Lockard Design Co. is honestly one of the best out there when it comes to web design and marketing. They really get what small and local businesses need to stand out. Their work speaks for itself — clean, sharp, professional designs that actually help businesses grow.What I really respect is how they take the time to understand what makes each business unique, and they build everything around that. Whether it’s a website, SEO, ads, or even a CRM to manage leads, they know how to put the right pieces together to get results.The team is solid — super easy to work with, responsive, and focused on helping businesses succeed, not just selling a service. If you’re serious about leveling up your online presence and want to work with people who actually care, Lockard Design Co. is the way to go

    Domenic Cannatella ★★★★★ Google
  • I couldn't be happier with the website that Will Lockard from Lockard Design built for my chiropractic office. He is incredibly talented, professional, and attentive to detail. Will took the time to understand my vision and turned it into a site that is not only visually appealing but also highly functional and user-friendly. His expertise in design and SEO has already made a noticeable impact on my business. If you're looking…

    Dennis Hupka Facebook
  • I work with Lockard Design on a consistent basis because they consistently deliver quality work. Anybody looking for a website or Local SEO should take a look at Will and his team and Lockard Design.

    Richard Burner ★★★★★ Google
  • I can’t recommend Will Lockard highly enough! He is currently rebuilding the company I work for entires vacation rental website, and the experience has been incredible from start. He has been extremely hands-on, attentive to every detail, and consistently communicative throughout the entire process.It’s clear that he truly cares about the project and wants to make sure everything is done right. He is always available to answer questions or make adjustments, and has made the entire process so much easier. If you’re looking for someone who is talented, reliable, responsive, and genuinely invested in bringing your vision to life, I highly recommend him!

    Carla Giordano ★★★★★ Google
  • We are so thankful we found Lockard Design Co. They really know what they are doing, both from a technical and an artistic side. And not only did they implement all the changes we wanted, they went above and beyond, suggesting improvements we didn't even know were possible. You will be in good hands with them.

    Bridge UA ★★★★★ Google
  • Thank you so much for the excellent work! Everything was done professionally, with great quality and attention to detail. We are very happy with the result and highly recommend this company.

    Svetlana Ignat ★★★★★ Google
  • Excellent work and a seamless experience from beginning to end! The website is professional, easy to navigate, and captures our mission perfectly.

    Olha Syniuk ★★★★★ Google
  • Informative and well done.

    Russell Chun ★★★★★ Google
  • Lockard Design Co. is amazing! I knew our website needed help, but I didn't even know where to start. Will proposed a complete redesign that we LOVED! The new look really does justice to our mission, and now instead of being embarrassed about our website, I'm actually excited to share it with people!

    Sharon T. Markey ★★★★★ Google
  • Will is great to work with. He’s passionate about what he does and really takes the time to understand his customers. He listens, asks good questions, and makes sure you feel confident in your decisions. What I appreciate most is his honesty—he’s upfront, clear, and never pushy.He’s also very dependable. You can count on him to follow through and be there when you need him. Overall, Will is someone you can trust and feel comfortable working with. Highly recommend.

    Andrea S ★★★★★ Google
  • Lockard Design Co. Is amazing on their wonderful expertise!! They are wonderful owners who are good people and they are so good at what they do, and design to your beauty and they are so talented. They gave us a new and improved, beautiful logo and website that is more efficient for our new viewers and getting lots of attention and business from it! Thank you for all your amazing advise and new designs that inspire our business!! We appreciate all you do!!

    Lisa Mazzella ★★★★★ Google
  • Working with Lockard Design Co has been a game-changer for our business. Their team delivered a stunning, user-friendly website that perfectly captures our brand. On top of that, their media buying strategy was spot-on—driving real traffic and results from day one. They’re professional, creative, and genuinely invested in our success. Highly recommend to anyone looking for top-tier web design and digital marketing support.

    Adam Animasaun ★★★★★ Google
  • Will and his team made my vision come to life with my website. They took their time and paid close attention to every detail and made recommendations that I didn't consider prior. They really exceeded my expectations and have continued to provide support. I highly encourage those with a vision to consult with Will.

    Dawn OBrien ★★★★★ Google
  • This is a family owned company and makes you have an experience of people that really care for you. I would recommend reaching out with to the real deal, Lockard Designs Co., before any other company. Let’s all support small businesses and good people.

    Ashlee Ott ★★★★★ Google
  • Great experience and top notch friendly service!

    steve cozzi ★★★★★ Google
  • Excellent work, great design, and terrific communications. I highly recommend Lckard Lockard Design Co. for all your website needs.

    Amy HindaRifka Facebook
  • If you need someone who knows what he's doing and really goes out of their way for you - THIS IS THE MAN. His whole business is based around building connections and relationships. Will will never leave you in the dark. Always there. I HIGHLY recommend him. You can rest assured he'll take care of your website aswell as having his pre built CRM where you can track leads etc. Really awesome!

    Jp Beukes Facebook
  • Will has been great to work with. He has been assisting our team with automations making us way more efficient. If you want someone who knows what they are doing in automating and growing your business, I highly recommend him.

    Antonio Rillera Facebook
  • Lockard Design has been awesome to work with. Knowledgeable, professional, and attentive throughout. They built a website for our family business and it surpassed our expectations. Their expertise in web design really stands out.

    Jenilee Castillo Facebook
  • Will @ Lockard Design is a master of his craft. I enjoy few things more than watching someone in their zone of genius, and Will is no exception. He not only knows what he is doing but does it gracefully and with a level of care and thoughtfulness that has the clients interest at heart. His skillset is so broad that and his approach so unbiased that weve solved problems we didn’t know we had. We’ve worked together on numerous project…

    Silvio Dobrovat Facebook
  • Will overdelivers and understands websites from a marketers point of view. I see most businesses using websites as a business card vs one designed to collect and nurture leads. Highly recommend him and his products. !

    Adam Maggio Facebook
  • Lockard Design Co. Were amazing to work with. They build a few landing pages for me and have me all set with my automation. Big thank you to the team and many future projects to come. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Charles O'Rourke Facebook
  • The level of quality and care is unbelievable. Getting a company that pours into your business as much as Lockard Design does is invaluable. The best! Thank you!!

    Jennifer Reuther ★★★★★ Google
  • Exceeded my expectations for my small business. Team went above and beyond and I couldn’t be happier with the results.

    Jaclyn McGovern ★★★★★ Google
  • Saw amazing results

    Auburn Evans ★★★★★ Google
  • Amazing work!

    Lauren Hoffman ★★★★★ Google
  • Will and his team have been a contributing factor in our growth over the past 18 months. Can't thank him and his team enough! Let's go!!

    Jared Brown Client

Questions We Get Asked

About SEO pricing, answered plainly.

How much does SEO cost per month?

Ahrefs' survey of 439 SEO providers found that SEO usually costs $250 to $10,000 a month, with most businesses (63%) spending $500 to $5,000.

How much does local SEO cost?

Ahrefs found local SEO averages $1,557 a month. SEO.com and SeoProfy both put typical local SEO retainers at $500 to $2,500 a month.

Why is some SEO so cheap?

Very low prices usually mean automated reports, a few directory listings and little real work on your site, content or Google Business Profile. Ask exactly what is done each month.

How much does Lockard Design Co. charge for SEO?

We quote after a free audit of your site, your market and your competitors, because the work needed varies widely. SEO compounds over time, so we work on a six month minimum.

Turnersville, NJ
(856) 770-2456
Growing businesses Coast to Coast
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4.6 on Google, 21 reviews

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Will Lockard

Will Lockard, Founder You'll hear back from me directly.

(856) 770-2456 hello@lockarddesignco.com