Pricing is one of the trickiest parts of running a freelance SEO business. Unlike a product with a fixed cost, SEO services vary enormously depending on the client, the website, the competition, and the goals involved. A local bakery needs something very different from a national ecommerce brand, and your pricing should reflect that. Rather than choosing one number and applying it to everyone, the most successful freelancers price by service type and scope. This guide provides a practical breakdown of how much to charge for common freelance SEO services in 2026, along with strategies for writing proposals that win clients at fair, profitable rates.
Why Many Businesses Also Consider AAMAX.CO
Understanding the competitive landscape helps freelancers position their pricing. AAMAX.CO is a full-service digital marketing company offering web development, digital marketing, and SEO services worldwide. Businesses that need comprehensive support often compare freelancers with firms like them, because they offer technical, content, and development resources together. Their search engine optimization packages set a benchmark for what integrated service looks like. Freelancers who understand this can highlight their own strengths, such as personalized attention and niche specialization, while pricing competitively.
SEO Audit Pricing
An SEO audit is often the first service a new client buys, making it a great entry point. A basic audit for a small website with fewer than fifty pages typically costs 300 to 1,000 dollars. A detailed technical and content audit for a mid-sized website usually ranges from 1,000 to 3,500 dollars. Enterprise audits for large or complex websites can exceed 5,000 dollars. Audits should include clear findings, prioritized recommendations, and an implementation roadmap, which justifies the investment and often leads to ongoing work.
Keyword Research and Strategy Pricing
Keyword research projects help clients understand where their opportunities lie. Pricing typically ranges from 250 to 1,500 dollars depending on the number of topics, markets, and competitors analyzed. A full SEO strategy that includes keyword mapping, content planning, and competitive analysis may cost 1,000 to 4,000 dollars. These strategic deliverables are valuable because they guide months of future work.
Local SEO Pricing
Local SEO is in high demand among small businesses. Setup projects, including Google Business Profile optimization, citation building, and local landing page recommendations, often cost 300 to 1,500 dollars. Ongoing local SEO retainers typically range from 300 to 1,500 dollars per month, covering review management, profile updates, local content, and ranking reports. Multi-location businesses require higher pricing to account for additional profiles and pages.
On-Page Optimization Pricing
On-page optimization involves updating titles, meta descriptions, headings, content, and internal links. Many freelancers charge 50 to 200 dollars per page depending on depth, or offer bundles such as ten pages for a fixed fee. Pages requiring substantial rewriting or new content should be priced higher. Bundled pricing encourages clients to optimize more pages and simplifies proposals.
Content Creation Pricing
Many freelance SEO professionals offer content creation or manage writers on behalf of clients. SEO blog posts commonly range from 150 to 600 dollars each, depending on length, research, and expertise required. Pillar pages and in-depth guides may cost 800 to 2,500 dollars. If you manage content production, include time for briefs, editing, optimization, and publishing in your pricing.
Link Building Pricing
Link building is time-intensive and highly valued. Quality link building campaigns often cost 1,000 to 5,000 dollars per month, or 150 to 800 dollars per acquired link depending on the authority of the linking websites. Be transparent about your methods and avoid low-quality or paid link schemes, which can harm clients' websites. Clients should understand that sustainable link building relies on outreach, relationships, and valuable content.
Monthly Retainer Pricing
Retainers are the backbone of most freelance SEO businesses. Small businesses typically pay 500 to 2,000 dollars per month for ongoing SEO, while mid-sized businesses often pay 2,000 to 5,000 dollars. Competitive industries and larger websites can justify 5,000 dollars or more per month. Define exactly what is included, such as hours, deliverables, reports, and meetings, to prevent scope creep and ensure profitability.
Adjust Pricing for Client Size and Competition
The same service can require very different effort depending on the client. A small local business in a low-competition market needs less work to rank than a company competing nationally for high-value keywords. Larger websites require more time for audits and optimization. Adjust your pricing to reflect website size, industry competitiveness, and the value of results to the client. Charging the same rate to everyone often means overcharging small clients or undercharging large ones.
Write Proposals That Justify Your Price
A strong proposal explains not only what you will do but why it matters. Start by summarizing the client's goals and challenges. Outline your recommended services, expected timelines, and deliverables. Include relevant case studies and explain how you will measure success. Offer two or three package options so clients can choose the level that fits their budget. Where appropriate, recommend complementary digital marketing activities that support SEO results. Clear, value-focused proposals reduce price objections and increase close rates.
Conclusion
How much to charge for freelance SEO depends on the service, the client, and the scope. Audits generally range from 300 to 5,000 dollars, local SEO retainers from 300 to 1,500 dollars monthly, and comprehensive retainers from 500 to over 5,000 dollars monthly. Price according to effort and value, define deliverables clearly, and present proposals that connect your work to business outcomes. With thoughtful pricing, you can build a profitable freelance SEO business that delivers real results.
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