We run an SEO agency, so read this with that in mind. We do not rank ourselves here, and we do not quote our own prices in this article.
Why most B2B SEO agencies do not publish a price
Scope changes the cost more than anything else. A site with 200 pages, a long sales cycle and a technical backlog needs more hours than a small brochure site. An agency that quotes one number for every client is either underpricing some of them or hiding a scope gap. A call lets an agency size the work. The downside for a buyer is that early comparison becomes hard.
Which prices are published, and what they cover
Several agencies publish ranges in ranking articles, which are written by agencies themselves or by affiliates. The ranges below are what those pages say, checked in October 2026. They are not market rates, and none of them lists what the fee includes.
Monthly retainers
Monthly retainer ranges are the most common. One list gives individual agency ranges from $2,000 to $10,000 a month at the low end and $10,000 to $30,000 a month at the high end. Another puts the typical B2B SaaS SEO retainer at $4,000 to $15,000 a month. Read these as a band with no fixed scope. Our own packages are listed on the pricing page. The same monthly fee can buy a content calendar at one firm and a technical audit plus development tickets at another.
Project and strategy fees
One-off project work is priced differently. A list published in April 2026 quotes a $5,000 strategy launch lasting three to five weeks, with ongoing support from $4,000 a month. Another gives a project starting point of $50,000 or more for enterprise technical work. A strategy launch and a technical migration are different products, so the two numbers do not compare.
Hourly rates
A few firms publish hourly rates instead of packages. One listing gives $100 to $149 an hour and another $150 to $199 an hour. Hourly billing makes scope visible, because you can see the hours, but it also moves the risk of overrun onto you. Ask for an estimated number of hours for each deliverable before you agree.
Check who wrote the ranking before you trust it
Many "best agency" pages are written by an agency that appears on the list. One ranking published in September 2026 states on its own page that it places its publisher first. It sets its own criteria and weights, which give 24% to pipeline accountability and 8% to pricing transparency. That is a disclosed position, and it is still a position.
For the shortlist itself, see our ranked resource page. Check four things on any ranking page:
- Who publishes it, and whether they appear on it.
- Whether the criteria are stated, and whether they are weighted.
- Whether the reviews and client results are linked to a source, such as a review platform.
- Whether the page shows a date for the research.
Clutch is one review platform that ranking pages often cite. A rating from it is a useful starting signal, but it is one signal. Ask for references and read the reviews yourself.
A scope-first comparison table
Put every proposal into the same table before you compare prices. For the full checklist of buying questions, read how to choose a B2B SEO agency. The columns below stop you from comparing a retainer that includes content with one that does not.
| Item | Ask each agency | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | The fee, and whether it is fixed or hourly | Sets the cost ceiling |
| Hours per month | The estimated hours by workstream | Shows what the fee buys |
| Technical work | Whether audits and fixes are included, and how many | Often the largest cost |
| Content | Number of articles or pages, and who writes them | Varies widely between firms |
| Reporting | Which metrics, how often, and who presents them | Ties SEO to pipeline |
| Term | Notice period and minimum commitment | Affects total cost |
If two proposals differ on any row, the cheaper one may not be cheaper.
The £1,500 retainer breakdown shows how to check one published package, while the retainer versus project guide tests which contract shape fits the work.
Questions to ask before you compare prices
Ask every agency the same five questions. Write the answers down before you see the prices.
- What does the fee include, by deliverable?
- How many hours do you expect each month, and for which tasks?
- Who does the work, and will they be the same people in month six?
- What do you report, and how do you connect it to enquiries?
- What happens if the scope changes?
Answers that are vague on any of these are a signal, whatever the price.