How much does SEO cost and what do you earn back?

For small businesses, $1,500 to $3,500 per month buys foundational work: keyword research, on-page optimization, monthly content, and basic link building. Mid-market and ecommerce brands typically invest $4,000 to $10,000 per month. Competitive verticals and enterprise programs run $10,000 to $30,000+ per month. Below $1,000 per month, you are generally getting hourly piecework, not a strategy.

Most B2B and service businesses hit payback between months 7 and 14, depending on starting domain authority, content velocity, and average deal size. Local businesses with low competition can break even faster. Brand-new domains in competitive niches take longer. This calculator gives you a personalized payback month based on the numbers you entered.

Google evaluates new content and links over time. Even a perfectly optimized page rarely ranks in week one. The first 90 days build the foundation: technical fixes, keyword targeting, content production. Months 4 through 9 are when rankings start moving and traffic begins compounding. By month 12, you have a flywheel that keeps producing leads at zero additional cost per click.

A well-run SEO program for a B2B service business typically delivers 5x to 20x return over 24 months. Ecommerce often sees 3x to 8x. The biggest variables are average deal size, close rate, and how quickly you can publish quality content. The calculator above shows you exactly what your numbers project to.

Run the slider at $500 to $1,500 per month and see what compounds. At that level, focus on one productized service like a content sprint, GBP optimization, or a targeted link-building push. We offer flat-rate audits and one-time builds for businesses that are not ready for a full retainer.

The projections use industry-standard benchmarks: a traffic ramp curve based on aggregated agency data, 2 percent average visitor-to-lead conversion as a default, and your inputs for deal size and close rate. Your actual results depend on competition, content quality, technical execution, and how aggressively you can publish. Book a call and we will pressure-test the numbers against your specific market.