Most Australian small businesses pay between $800 and $2,500 a month for SEO in 2026. Local campaigns targeting one area sit at the lower end. National or highly competitive campaigns can run from $3,000 to $10,000 a month or more.
2026 price ranges
| Type of campaign | Typical monthly cost (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Local, single area | $800–$1,500 |
| Small business, several services or suburbs | $1,500–$2,500 |
| Competitive or national | $3,000–$10,000+ |
| Hourly consulting | $150–$300 an hour |
Ranges from What's the Damage, Prosperity Media, StudioHawk and Shout Digital, 2026.
What you should get each month
- A clear list of the keywords and suburbs being targeted.
- Work you can see: new pages, fixes, citations, links and Business Profile updates.
- A report on rankings, calls and enquiries, not just traffic.
Red flags
- Guaranteed number one rankings. Nobody controls Google.
- 12-month lock-in contracts before you've seen any work.
- Very cheap plans, such as $200 a month, which usually mean very little work.
- Reports full of vanity numbers with no mention of leads.
Is it worth it?
Compare the monthly fee to the value of one job. If an average job is worth $800, an extra one or two jobs a month covers a $790 plan. See is SEO worth it for small business.
What Ranktide charges
Local Starter is $790 a month, Local Growth $1,490 and Metro $2,490, excluding GST, with a 3-month minimum. See local SEO plans or full pricing.