TL;DR: The true cost of SEO isn’t cheap or instant; it takes time, the right tools, and a strategic approach.
Whether you do it yourself or hire help, you’ll either invest time or money (usually both).
Done properly, SEO pays off long-term by bringing in consistent, free traffic, without relying on ads.
Let’s be honest — SEO has a bit of a reputation problem.
If you’re a small business owner, you’ve probably seen everything from:
- Agencies offering “guaranteed results” for £99/month,
- Freelancers promising first-page rankings in 2 weeks,
- …or someone on Fiverr offering “500 backlinks for a fiver”.
It’s no wonder SEO feels confusing and, frankly, a bit dodgy.
But here’s the thing: real SEO does work, and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. You just need to understand where your money goes — and what to expect in return.
So… what is the cost of SEO, really?
1. Time (Yours or Someone Else’s)
1. Time (Yours or Someone Else’s)SEO isn’t a one-and-done task. It’s ongoing.
- Keyword research takes time.
- Creating valuable, helpful content takes time.
- Improving your site’s structure, speed and user experience takes time.
- And so does building authority with Google.
You can DIY some of this — many business owners do. However, be prepared to spend at least 5–10 hours a month doing it properly. That’s before factoring in learning curves and mistakes.
Hiring someone else? Expect to pay for that time, whether it’s an employee, freelancer or agency.
2. Tools & Software
2. Tools & SoftwareEven the most basic SEO setup usually involves a few essentials:
| Tool | What it’s for | Monthly Cost (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Google Search Console | Tracking performance | Free |
| Yoast/RankMath | On-page optimisation | Free / £9–£15 |
| Keyword tools (e.g. SEMrush, SE Ranking, Ahrefs) | Finding and tracking keywords | £15–£80+ |
| Site SEO audit tools | Spotting tech issues | £0–£100+ |
💡 If you’re hiring someone, they’ll likely already pay for these, so you’re getting access to pro tools without the full cost.
Return on Investment (ROI)
Return on Investment (ROI)This is where it gets juicy.
Unlike ads (which stop the second you stop paying), good SEO builds over time — and keeps delivering.
Here’s a real-world example from one of my clients in recruitment:
Over 6 months, we:
- Created twice monthly blog posts (seo content) tailored to what their clients and candidates were Googling (keyword research)
- Fixed a few technical issues on their site
- Improved page structure and internal linking
Result?
- Organic traffic more than doubled
- New leads came in consistently
- No more relying purely on outbound efforts or paid ads
The investment? A few hundred pounds per month, plus trust in the long game.
So, what should the cost of SEO be?
Here’s a rough guide, based on real-world, beginner-level services:
| Type of SEO Support | Typical Monthly Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| DIY + learning tools | £0–£50 | Your time + effort |
| Freelancer (content only) | £200–£500 | Keyword-focused blogs, light optimisation |
| Freelancer (content + technical basics) | £500–£1,000 | Site audits, blog content, internal SEO |
| Agency (fully managed SEO & SEM) | £1,000–£3,000+ | Strategy, content, technical, outreach |
Final thoughts
Final thoughtsYou can rank on Google without spending thousands. But the truth is:
- You’ll either spend time or money (usually both)
- “Cheap SEO” usually ends up costing more in lost traffic, bad links or clean-up
- The right investment pays off over months, not days
If you’re not ready to go all-in, start small: create helpful content, understand what people are searching for, and optimise what you already have. It’s not about gaming Google — it’s about genuinely helping your audience.
Need help getting started?
Here are a few ways to move forward :
- “Not sure where to start? Let’s have a no-pressure chat.”
- “See how I helped a small business increase their traffic — case study inside.”
- “Ready to stop guessing at SEO? Let’s build a plan that fits your budget.”
