How much will SEO actually cost you?
Seven questions. A straight number. No email required.
Introduction
Most SEO pricing pages give you a "from" figure and hope you'll call. This one works out what you actually need, what it costs with me, what it costs if you do it yourself, and the costs you'll pay either way.
Answer the seven questions below. Nothing is stored and nothing is sent anywhere.
01 - The calculator
Seven questions.
1 of 7
02 - What SEO costs in Australia
What SEO costs in Australia, honestly.
Short answer: agencies charge $1,500 to $5,000 a month on 6 to 12 month contracts. Cheap packages run $300 to $800 a month and mostly produce reports. Freelancers are anywhere from $50 to $200 an hour. An independent consultant sits in between.
The number that matters isn't the monthly fee. It's what you're paying for. A $2,000 a month retainer that's mostly account management and a PDF is expensive. A $3,000 audit that tells you exactly what to fix is cheap if you act on it.
The other number nobody mentions is the work that happens outside the SEO invoice — developer hours, content, the time you spend on it. The calculator above counts those. Most pricing pages don't.
03 - Why the price moves
Site size, not business size.
Short answer: number of pages, number of locations, e-commerce, and how much is broken.
A five-page tradie site and a 2,000-product store need very different amounts of work. That's the whole difference.
I'll tell you the number after a 20-minute chat and a quick look. No proposals, no decks.
04 - What you're paying for with me
Every engagement starts with the audit.
Short answer: $3,000 up front, always. Then check-ins at $200 a month if you've got someone to do the work, or Done With You from $800 a month if you don't.
That's the audit and a written plan. Digital PR is an add-on when you need links. I can build the site from $1,500 if you don't have one.
No packages. No $99 a month. No retainer you can't explain. Full breakdown on the pricing page.
05 - FAQ
Questions people ask.
Is this estimate accurate?
It's honest, which is better. The "with me" figures are my real prices. The developer, content and tools figures are ranges I see every week. Your number will land inside them unless your site is unusual, and I'll tell you on the call if it is.
Why is the audit $3,000 when Done With You is $800 a month?
Because Done With You includes the audit. Everyone starts there. The $800 is what it costs to have the plan implemented rather than handed to you.
Can I skip the audit and just get the monthly?
No. I don't know what to do for you until I've looked. Neither does anyone else — they just don't say so.
Do I need all nine things?
Almost nobody does. Most businesses need five or six. The calculator tells you which, and the audit confirms it.
What if the calculator says I should do it myself?
Then do it yourself. The guide is free, it's the same steps I'd follow, and if you get stuck the audit is still here.
06 - Contact
Want to be found first?
Tell me about your business and I'll tell you what's worth doing. If I can't help, I'll say so.
Prefer email? hello@foundfirst.com.au