Find your exact rate
Typical project work, moderate complexity.
Factor in AI tool subscriptions
Your Rate
Day Rate
$450
Project Est.
$2,200
Retainer
$8,350/mo
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Community Data
What do you actually charge?
Anonymous. Helps improve market benchmarks.
How Much Should You Charge for Local SEO Services?
Freelance local SEO consultants typically charge $300–$1,500 per month on retainer, or $800–$3,000 for a one-time local SEO setup project. Rates depend on competition in the client's market and the number of locations.
Floor
$300
per hour
Typical
$800
per hour
Premium
$1,500
per hour
Find your exact rate
Typical project work, moderate complexity.
Factor in AI tool subscriptions
Your Rate
Day Rate
$450
Project Est.
$2,200
Retainer
$8,350/mo
Was this helpful?
Community Data
What do you actually charge?
Anonymous. Helps improve market benchmarks.
What changes the price
- Number of physical locations to optimize
- Competitiveness of local keywords (e.g., attorney vs. pet groomer)
- Whether citation building is included
- Google Business Profile management scope
- Review generation strategy included
- Local link building requirements
- Reporting frequency and format
Real quote breakdowns
Single-Location Hair Salon
A local hair salon in a mid-size city wanting to rank for 'haircuts near me' and related terms.
Breakdown
GBP optimization, monthly citation audit, 2 local landing pages per quarter, monthly performance report.
Multi-Location Dental Practice
A dental group with 5 locations across a metro area needing consistent NAP data and individual location pages.
Breakdown
5 GBP profiles managed, location-page content updates, citation building, review response strategy, bi-weekly reporting.
Law Firm in Highly Competitive Market
A personal-injury law firm in a top-10 US city competing against hundreds of well-funded competitors.
Breakdown
Aggressive local link building, weekly GBP post creation, schema markup, competitor gap analysis, monthly strategy call.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between local SEO and national SEO?
Local SEO focuses on ranking in map packs and geo-modified searches (e.g., 'plumber in Austin'), while national SEO targets broad non-location-specific keywords. Local SEO involves Google Business Profile, citations, and local links.
How long does local SEO take to show results?
Most clients see meaningful ranking improvements in the map pack within 3–6 months. Highly competitive markets or new businesses may take 6–12 months.
Should I charge per location or a flat retainer for multi-location clients?
Per-location pricing is fairest for multi-location clients. A common model is a flat base fee for the first location plus a reduced rate for each additional location.
What deliverables should I include in a local SEO retainer?
At minimum: GBP management, citation monitoring, local content updates, and a monthly ranking report. Add review strategy, local link building, and competitor tracking to justify higher rates.