SEO Costs in Australia: A Complete Breakdown

If you are planning to compare quotes for SEO services from different companies or just trying to set aside some money for SEO, it is definitely not an easy task.

SEO services still hold their uniqueness and remain one of the least commoditized services today because every agency has its own process and strategy. In addition, the results a client achieves depend not just on what is done but also on how it is done.

This means comparing pricing and setting the right SEO budget is quite challenging. Even if two agencies offer the same services at similar pricing, one might deliver zero or minimal results while the other could bring hundreds of potential customers to your business.

In this article, we will break down the costs of SEO services, explore the factors that influence SEO pricing in Australia, and explain the different pricing models available.

SEO Pricing Models in Australia

Hourly Basis

Some SEO professionals charge by the hour, especially if you need assistance with specific tasks. This model offers flexibility to both the client and the consultant. In Australia, the average hourly rate for SEO services typically ranges between $100–$250/hr, depending on the experience and expertise of the professional.

However, most SEO professionals in Australia prefer to charge on a monthly or yearly basis rather than by the hour. This approach allows for a more strategic and consistent execution of SEO efforts.

At SEOBookLab, we do not charge by the hour for Australian businesses. We believe in offering greater value and transparency by focusing on complete project-based or monthly engagement models. This not only proves to be more cost-effective for clients but also ensures that a dedicated team of experts including content writers, technical SEO specialists, and developers works collectively on your goals.

Monthly Basis

It is difficult to provide a one-size-fits-all figure for monthly SEO pricing because the cost can vary significantly based on your business model and industry. However, here is a general estimate. For accurate pricing, it is best to connect directly and schedule a one-on-one consultation with the SEO agency you plan to work with.

SEO Package	Price Range	Whom Is It For
Small Business SEO	$700- AUD 3000	Startups and small businesses are seeking to establish online visibility and improve their Google rankings.
Local SEO	$1100- AUD 4500	Brick and mortar stores, service area businesses, or any business targeting local searches.
eCommerce SEO	$2000- AUD 7000	It is for online retailers, dropshipping stores, niche product sellers, and large marketplaces.
Enterprise SEO	$7000- AUD 39,000	National and international brands, large-scale businesses, eCommerce giants, and franchises.

Project Basis

Some SEO companies offer pricing on a project basis for clearly defined tasks such as on-page optimization, content creation, link building, or comprehensive website audits. This model works well for businesses that need help with specific areas of SEO or are working with a limited budget.

Typical Budget Range:

$1,500 to $20,000 or more, depending on the scope and complexity of the project.

Key Advantages:

• Clear understanding of what will be delivered and when.
  
• Set pricing with no unexpected costs.
  
• Suitable for businesses needing help with specific SEO tasks only.

• Performance-Based SEO

Performance-Based SEO is a results-driven model where you only pay when predefined SEO goals like rankings or traffic are achieved.

Budget Range:

Highly variable depending on goals, competition, and timelines.

Pros

• You only pay for actual results
  
• Reduces upfront risk for businesses
  
• Motivates SEO providers to deliver outcomes quickly

Cons

• Goals may be set around easy-to-rank or low-value keywords
  
• Short-term wins may be prioritized over long-term growth
  
• May involve black-hat tactics to hit targets quickly
  
• Lack of transparency in what is being done behind the scenes

What’s Behind the Curtain? The Hidden Costs of SEO

There are several hidden costs associated with successful SEO campaigns and the realistic budget plan needs to include them.

1. Full Technical Audit

This is one of the most critical yet often underestimated expenses in SEO. A standard website audit typically ranges from $500–$2,000, depending on site size and complexity. However, the real cost can climb once you factor in the implementation of recommended fixes. Technical optimization may be billed hourly or as a follow-up project, with some improvements taking weeks or even months. It’s wise to clarify these costs upfront.

2. Website Redesign

When SEO is combined with a website redesign, expect a complete overhaul of structure, design, and content to boost performance and user experience. A professional redesign with SEO integration can cost $1,500–$5,000.

3. SEO Software Subscriptions

Professional SEO requires advanced tools, and these don’t come cheap. Platforms like Ahrefs, Screaming Frog, SEMrush, Keyword Planner, and backlink analysis tools can cost $2,000–$3,000 per month, depending on the plan and features. These subscriptions add an ongoing layer of expense to any SEO strategy.

Factors That Affect SEO Cost In Australia

While the concept of SEO and the factors that impact its cost are universal, certain factors are unique to the Australian marketplace.

Scope of SEO Services

The extent of services you choose significantly influences pricing.

• Basic SEO – Covers essential optimizations like keyword research, on-page fixes, and foundational technical setup.
  
• Advanced SEO – Involves comprehensive strategies including detailed technical audits, schema markups, content creation, link building, and continuous performance tracking.
  

Industry Competition

The level of competition in your industry also affects the SEO cost.

• Low Competition – Requires a less aggressive strategy. Keywords are generally easier to rank.
  
• High Competition – Demands deeper research, advanced tactics, and high-quality content to outperform strong competitors.
  

Expertise of the SEO Agency

The experience and credibility of the agency you choose play a big role in pricing.

• New Agencies – Typically charge lower fees due to limited experience.
  
• Established Agencies – Have a strong track record and often work with reputable brands, hence charge competitive rates.
  

Local vs National SEO

Your target location impacts the complexity and cost.

• Local SEO – Focuses on specific regions or cities and involves fewer keywords.
  
• National SEO – Targets a broader market across Australia, requiring more extensive keyword strategies and content efforts.
  

Website Size and Complexity

The size and type of your website determine the workload and team effort required.

• Small Website (less than 20 pages) – Easier to optimize with fewer resources, hence lower cost.
• Medium Website  (100 to few hundreds pages) –
  
• Large Enterprise Website (1000+ pages) – Requires a team of skilled professionals and more time, resulting in higher cost.
  

Current SEO Position

Your starting point also influences your investment.

• New Websites – Require more foundational work, which increases the initial cost.
  

Existing Websites with Some Progress – Need ongoing optimization and less groundwork, making them more cost-effective in the long run.

People Say SEO Is Expensive In Australia, But Is It? 

If you have gone through the prices, you might feel that the expenses are too high… “Haash, it is out of my budget,”  and you start stepping back. Remember, you are not alone in thinking this way.

Many businesses are shocked when they first hear the costs, but when you break down the real value, you realise that the actual cost of acquiring one client can be as small as buying a chocolate for your kids.

A professional SEO agency will customise its strategy to bring your business to the first page of Google. This is where the vast majority of web traffic lands, with over 90 percent of clicks going to first-page results.

Let’s understand this with an example.

Suppose you spend 2000 AUD per month on SEO services and, as a result, receive 2500 visitors per month from the 90 percent share of web traffic.

Now, the cost per visitor is:

Cost per visitor=  2000/2500 =0.80So you’re paying $0.80 per visitor.

Do Cheap SEO Services Provide Real Results?

All the prices we have quoted above are what a genuine and reputable company will typically charge you. But if you receive quotes with ridiculously low prices and think of hiring them because they might be offering the same services…

STOP RIGHT THERE. Ask yourself – Why such low prices?

Here is what you are most likely to receive:

Work: Nothing

These companies will take your money, make a few small changes to your website, and then disappear for months until you complain about not seeing any real results. Since SEO generally takes around three months to show visible progress, they will keep billing you and then move on to their next target.

Shitty Content

The content they provide is full of confusion, spelling mistakes, and duplication. Even if someone clicks on your content, they are unlikely to convert because poorly written content destroys trust in your business.

Spam

High-quality link building is one of the most important parts of an effective SEO strategy, but cheap SEO providers focus only on quantity over quality. They never check the spam score, and if they do, they don’t care about it. Many even buy paid links. This is one of the biggest red flags because Google hates such tactics as they manipulate the page rank algorithm.

Bottom Line

Investing in SEO services is crucial for your Australian business to grow. Whether you have just launched a start-up or run a large enterprise, you need SEO to achieve significant long-term ROI growth.

When researching SEO, do not just look at the price but also evaluate the value proposition. You risk becoming a prey if you focus only on dollars and cents instead of what you will receive. Hire an experienced SEO agency like SEOBookLab that uses the best customised approach for your business and brings a wealth of expertise, premium tools, and skilled resources to the table.

Book a free discovery call with us today.