Why there's no single price
Ask five providers what local SEO costs and you'll get five different answers. That's not always sharp practice. A one-van joiner covering three villages and a heating firm competing across a whole city are buying different jobs, even if both are called "local SEO". The useful question isn't "what's the going rate?" but "what work will be done, and is it the work my business needs?"
Here are the seven things that genuinely move the price, so you can read any quote, including ours, with your eyes open.
1. How many towns you want to show up in
Being found in one town is a smaller job than being found in ten. Google itself says local results are mainly based on relevance, distance and prominence, so each extra area you want to win needs its own evidence: a page that genuinely covers that area, a service area set on your profile, and mentions from local sites. Google also lets a service-area business list up to 20 service areas, and suggests the overall area shouldn't be more than about two hours' drive from your base.
2. How many services you want to rank for
An electrician who wants "EICR", "rewire" and "EV charger installation" work needs a clear, useful page for each. More services usually means more pages to write and keep up to date.
3. The state of your Google Business Profile today
If your profile is unverified, has the wrong main category or lists your home address when it shouldn't, that's set-up work before anything else. Google's own guidance says businesses with complete and accurate information are more likely to show up in local results.
4. The state of your website
A site with one page, no clear town or service wording, and a contact form that doesn't work needs fixing first. Some quotes leave this out and only cover "ongoing" work, so check.
5. How competitive your area and trade are
Emergency plumbing in a big city is a busier field than tiling in a market town. More competition usually means more work is needed to stand out, especially on reviews and local links.
6. Whether links are earned properly
Google says buying links that pass ranking credit is link spam. Genuine local links, from trade bodies, suppliers' installer lists, local clubs and real local news, take more effort than buying a bundle of junk links, and that effort is part of an honest quote.
7. Done-for-you or do-it-yourself
Google points out that a small local business can probably do much of the work itself. If you have the time, you'll pay less. Most tradespeople we speak to don't have the evenings spare, which is why a managed service exists. You're paying for the hours as much as the know-how.
How to check a quote will pay for itself
Work it out with your own numbers. Take the profit (not the price) on a typical job, then ask: how many extra jobs a month would cover the monthly fee? If one or two extra jobs do it, the maths is usually comfortable. If you'd need ten, you're either paying too much or targeting the wrong work. Our existing guide on what tradespeople should pay for local SEO walks through this in more detail.
And be wary of anyone who promises a top spot. Google is clear that no one can guarantee a number one ranking, and that there's no way to pay Google for a better local ranking.
Questions to ask before you agree a price
Whoever you speak to, ask them to put these in writing:
- Which searches, towns and services are we targeting, and why those?
- What exactly happens in month one, and what happens every month after?
- Who owns the pages, photos and listings you create if we stop working together?
- Where will links come from, and can I see each one?
- What will the monthly report show, and will it mention calls and enquiries?
Google's own advice on hiring an SEO suggests similar questions, including whether the provider follows Google's guidelines and how they'll explain the changes they make. A provider who answers these clearly is usually one worth paying, whatever the figure.
What you should get for your money
- Your Google Business Profile checked, completed and kept active.
- Your website fixed so each service and town is clearly covered.
- Your business details made consistent across the main directories.
- Genuine local links, never bought ranking links.
- A short report you can actually read, every month.
Common questions
How much does local SEO cost for a small trade business?
There's no fixed market price. It's usually a monthly fee that depends on how many towns and services you want to be found for, how much set-up work is needed, and whether you want it done for you. Judge it by how many extra jobs a month would cover it.
Can I pay Google to rank higher on Maps?
No. Google's Business Profile help says there is no way to request or pay for a better local ranking. Adverts are separate from the local results.
What does your package cost?
£99 a month. No contract, cancel anytime. Managed Site Improvement Package: we improve your website and Google profile every month.