Most SEO is paid monthly: Ahrefs' 2024 survey found 78.2% of SEO professionals charge a monthly retainer, with an average of about $2,917 a month. A good retainer spells out what is delivered each month and how results are reported.
By Trux Nguyen, Founder and Director of Unitrux, with 5 years in marketing and SEO. Published 25 October 2026. Last updated 25 October 2026.
What a monthly retainer should include
| Monthly element | What you should see |
|---|---|
| Planned work | A short list of what will be done this month |
| Delivered work | What was actually done, with links |
| Results | Rankings, visibility, enquiries, AI mentions |
| Next steps | What comes next, and why |
Typical ranges
Ahrefs reports 23% of SEOs charge $500 to $1,000 a month and an average of $1,557 for local SEO. Your figure depends on competition, scope and whether AI search visibility is included.
Signs of poor value
Reports with no actions, the same generic tasks every month, no link between work and enquiries, and long contracts that are hard to leave.
How we work
Month-to-month, itemized, with a plain-language report. See how much SEO costs for a small business.
Related reading
- How Much Does SEO Cost for a Small Business?
- What to Look for in an SEO Contract
- AI SEO Pricing
- SEO KPIs That Matter in 2026
- SEO Packages for Small Business
- SEO Reporting
- All SEO guides for business owners
About the author
Trux Nguyen is the Founder and Director of Unitrux, with 5 years of experience in marketing and SEO. Areas of work: SEO, AEO, GEO and AIO, local SEO, content strategy, schema markup, keyword research, Google Ads and analytics. Contact: [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
Why is SEO usually monthly?
Because search and AI answers change continuously and results build over time.
Can I pause a retainer?
With a month-to-month agreement, yes.
What should I ask before signing?
What is delivered monthly, how it is reported and the notice period.
Limits and honest expectations
Search engines and AI assistants change their answers over time and no one controls them. Results vary by industry, city and competition, and we do not guarantee a position, a mention or a number of leads. We report what is measurable, plainly.
Sources
- Ahrefs, "SEO Pricing: How Much Does SEO Cost? 439 People Polled," updated 15 August 2024: https://ahrefs.com/blog/seo-pricing/
Get your free AI visibility audit
Find out whether ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google name your business today, who they name instead, and what to do first. Request a free audit and we will walk you through it in plain language.