# SEO Pricing > Source: https://go-seo.com/seo-pricing/ > Last updated: October 25, 2026 Here's What It Costs, and What You Get Most agencies make you schedule a call before you can find out what anything costs. We don't do that. Below are our monthly retainer tiers, what's included at each level, and a straight answer on what to expect when you get started. Every engagement begins with a $750 onboarding fee. This covers your initial technical audit, competitive analysis, and strategy build. That work happens before your first monthly cycle begins, so day one of your retainer, we're already moving. No long-term contracts. If we're not delivering, you shouldn't be stuck. Evaluating SEO partners? We answered the hard questions directly: [pricing, process, contracts, and more →](/questions-to-ask-your-seo-agency-answered-honestly/) SEO Essentials $750 /month For local service businesses building an organic foundation [Get started](/contact/) - Technical audit & ongoing monitoring - Keyword strategy - On-page optimization - Monthly reporting: email summary - Google Business Profile optimization Most popular SEO Growth $1,450 /month For competitive niches ready to build authority and content [Get started](/contact/) - Technical audit & ongoing monitoring - Keyword strategy - On-page optimization - Monthly reporting: email + visual snapshots - Google Business Profile optimization - Content production - Link building SEO + GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) $2,450 /month For businesses that want to rank in Google and appear in AI answers [Get started](/contact/) - Technical audit & ongoing monitoring - Keyword strategy - On-page optimization - Monthly reporting: full Looker Studio dashboard - Google Business Profile optimization - Content production - Link building - GEO / AI engine optimization - AI citation tracking (Otterly) - Schema & structured data What's included The right starting point for local service businesses that need a solid foundation before anything else. We audit your site, identify the highest-value keyword opportunities, and systematically optimize your pages to compete in your market. Monthly reporting keeps you informed without drowning you in data. Link building and content production are not included at this tier, those are in the Growth tier once the foundation is sound. What's included **Everything in Essentials, plus content production and link building. **Content builds your topical authority; links build your domain's credibility with Google. Together they compound over time in ways that on-page work alone cannot. Reporting moves up to email summaries with visual snapshots so you can see momentum clearly each month. Most competitive LA service businesses land here. What's included **Everything in Growth, plus full GEO optimization.** We optimize your content and site structure to appear in AI-generated answers such as in ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, and Google AI Overviews. We track your citations across AI platforms using Otterly and implement schema markup throughout. Includes full Looker Studio dashboard access so you and your team can monitor performance in real time. All plans include a one-time $750 onboarding fee — covers your technical audit, competitive analysis, and strategy build. No long-term contracts. **Not sure which tier fits? **Most service businesses in competitive markets see the most traction with Growth. If you're asking about AI search visibility, you're ready for SEO + GEO. Let's talk, there's no obligation. We start every new relationship with a [free 15-minute strategy call](https://calendly.com/go-seo/15-minute-discovery-call). No sales pitch, just a direct conversation about where your site stands and what it would take to move it. If it's a fit, we'll tell you. If it's not, we'll tell you that too. ## No Two SEO Budgets Are the Same What Affects the Cost of SEO? Our plans start at $750 a month, but the right plan for you depends on a few factors. Wondering how that compares to other agencies? Read [How Much Does SEO Cost in 2026?](/how-much-does-seo-cost/) for real industry pricing data. - **Competitive landscape.** Ranking for "plumber Los Angeles" requires more sustained effort than ranking for a niche B2B service. The more crowded the space, the more content and links it takes to move. - **Site condition.** A site with significant "technical debt," such as slow load times, indexing issues, and thin content, needs more upfront work to reach baseline health before growth begins. - **Content needs.** Some clients come with strong content they just need optimized. Others need content built from scratch. We scope accordingly. - **Geographic scope.** Single-location local SEO and multi-city or national campaigns have different complexity and timelines. After your onboarding audit, we'll give you a clear picture of where your site stands and what it will realistically take to move the needle. Not ready to commit? Start with a [90-minute consultation](https://go-seo.com/services-seo-consulting/) for $395, credited toward your plan if you hire us. Frequently Asked Questions #### Why is there a $750 onboarding fee? Before your first monthly cycle begins, we complete a full technical audit, competitive analysis, and strategy build. That's real work that takes real time, the onboarding fee covers it. It also means that on day one of your retainer, we're executing, not still figuring out where you stand. #### Do you require a long-term contract? No. We don't lock clients into contracts. SEO does take time, typically 3–6 months to see meaningful movement, and 6–12 months for newer sites, but we'd rather earn your continued business by delivering results than hold you to a contract. #### Is SEO worth it if I'm already running Google Ads? They serve different purposes. Paid ads deliver traffic while the campaign runs; organic SEO builds an asset that compounds over time. The difference is your organic rankings remain solid when you pause the ad budget. There's also a channel Google Ads can't touch: AI-generated answers. When someone asks ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Google's AI Overviews to recommend a service provider, **paid search spend has zero influence on whether your business gets mentioned.** That visibility comes entirely from the authority and content signals that SEO and GEO build over time. #### How is GEO different from traditional SEO? Traditional SEO optimizes for Google's blue-link search results. GEO ([Generative Engine Optimization](https://go-seo.com/what-is-generative-engine-optimization-geo-how-do-i-optimize-for-it/%22)) optimizes for AI-generated answers in tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, and Google's AI Overviews. The tactics overlap (authoritative content, structured data, strong E-E-A-T signals) but GEO requires specific attention to how AI models source and cite information. It's a newer discipline, and most agencies aren't doing it yet. #### What does "link building" mean at the Growth tier? We secure editorial mentions and citations from relevant, legitimate websites; not directory spam or PBN [(Private Blog Network)](https://ahrefs.com/seo/glossary/private-blog-network) links. Quality over quantity. A handful of genuine placements on real sites in your industry moves the needle far more than bulk low-quality links, and won't put your site at risk. #### How will I know if SEO is working? Every client gets monthly reporting calibrated to how they want to consume data. At Essentials, a clear email summary. At Growth, email plus visual snapshots of key metrics. At SEO + GEO, full Looker Studio dashboard access with real-time visibility. You'll always know what we're doing and why.