SEO pricing in Australia varies more than almost any other marketing service, and the range is not explained by quality alone. Understanding what you are buying matters more than the number, because the cheapest retainers frequently buy almost no actual work.
The common pricing models
Each creates different incentives, which is worth understanding before signing.
- Monthly retainer — ongoing work, most common, quality varies enormously
- Project-based — a defined piece of work such as an audit or migration
- Hourly — consulting, usually for businesses with in-house capability
- Performance-based — treat carefully, as it often incentivises short-term tactics
What very cheap retainers usually buy
At the low end, much of what is delivered is automated reporting, directory submissions of little value, and a small number of low-quality backlinks. It is not that the agency is lazy — the price simply does not fund meaningful work. If a retainer seems remarkably cheap, ask specifically how many hours it represents.
What genuinely drives the cost
Competition in your market, how much technical work the site needs, whether content has to be written, and how many locations or services you are targeting. A single-location trade business is a fundamentally different job to a national ecommerce store.
How to judge whether it is worth it
Work out roughly what a customer is worth over their lifetime, then how many additional customers a month would justify the spend. For many businesses the number is surprisingly small — one or two extra jobs. If the required number feels implausible for your market, SEO may not be the right channel.
Questions worth asking before signing
What will you actually do in the first ninety days? How will progress be measured? Is there a lock-in period? Who owns the content and any assets created? What happens to the work if we stop?
Frequently asked questions
How much should SEO cost per month?
It varies enormously with competition and scope. The more useful question is what work the fee funds and how progress will be measured.
Is cheap SEO worth it?
Usually not. Very low retainers rarely fund enough hours to do meaningful work, and some tactics used to appear busy can cause harm.
Should I pay for SEO or do it myself?
The basics — accurate business information, sensible page structure, useful content — are learnable. Technical work and competitive strategy usually benefit from experience.
Do I have to sign a contract?
Many agencies require one. We do not, and if a lock-in is presented as necessary it is worth asking what it protects.
Related reading
Related: Does website design affect SEO?, 9 signs you need a website redesign
Worth reading: How to rank higher on Google Business Profile, What is a landing page?
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If you want a straight answer for your own situation rather than a general one, tell us what you are building and we will give you an honest view.