Fractional SEO Cost Calculator: What You Should Budget in 2025
At Fractional SEO Consultancy, we built this Fractional SEO Cost Calculator so you can see transparent cost ranges upfront and budget confidently for your growth goals.
How Our Fractional SEO Cost Calculator Works
Fractional SEO pricing depends on a few key inputs:
- Hours per month → how much time the SEO professional or team dedicates.
- Service focus → technical audits, content SEO, link building, local SEO, etc.
- Engagement length → shorter contracts may cost slightly more per hour.
- Experience level → senior consultants typically charge more.
By adjusting these levers, you can estimate whether your monthly investment falls closer to $2,000 or $8,000+ per month.
Fractional SEO Cost Benchmarks
Here’s what most businesses pay in the U.S. for fractional SEO services in 2025:
Engagement Level | Typical Monthly Cost | What You Get |
Starter (20 hrs/mo) | $2,000 – $3,500 | Technical audit, light content optimization, reporting |
Growth (40 hrs/mo) | $3,500 – $6,000 | Full keyword/content strategy, technical fixes, local SEO, link outreach |
Scale (60+ hrs/mo) | $6,000 – $8,500+ | Comprehensive SEO program with content production + ongoing optimization |
For context: hiring a full-time SEO manager costs $70K–$100K/year in salary alone, plus benefits. Fractional SEO offers flexibility without long-term overhead.
Factors That Affect Fractional SEO Pricing
Several variables influence what you’ll pay for fractional SEO:
Scope of Work
- Technical SEO → audits, site health, crawl/index fixes
- On-page SEO → content optimization, metadata, UX improvements
- Off-page SEO → link building, PR, digital partnerships
Industry Competitiveness
- Low-competition niches (e.g., local service businesses) cost less.
- Competitive B2B SaaS or national eCommerce niches require more hours → higher budget.
Geographic Targeting
- Local SEO: optimizing for city-level search (Google Business Profile, local citations).
- National SEO: requires more content and link acquisition, which increases cost.
Industry Competitiveness
- Short-term (3 months): Higher cost per hour, good for testing
- Longer contracts (6–12 months): Better value and stronger compounding SEO results
Fractional SEO vs Agency SEO Costs
Agencies often lock you into flat retainers. Fractional SEO gives you pay-for-what-you-need flexibility.
Model | Typical Cost | Pros | Cons |
Agency Retainer | $4,000 – $15,000/mo | Full team access, structured process | Rigid scope, hidden fees, less agility |
In-House SEO | $70K–$100K/year + | Dedicated employee, deep company knowledge | High overhead, hard to scale |
Fractional SEO | $2,000 – $8,500/mo | Flexible, scalable, senior-level expertise | Limited hours, requires clear priorities |
What Should You Budget for Fractional SEO?
For most SMBs and mid-market companies:
- Minimum effective investment: $2,500–$3,500/mo
- Competitive growth investment: $4,000–$6,000/mo
- Aggressive scale investment: $7,000+/mo
👉 Budget should align with business goals (local vs national rankings, traffic vs conversions) and growth targets.
Get a Custom Fractional SEO Quote
Want exact pricing tailored to your business?
📞 Schedule a free consultation and we’ll provide a custom fractional SEO plan, complete with estimated hours, costs, and ROI projections.
How much does fractional SEO cost per month?
Most businesses pay between $2,000 and $6,000 per month, depending on hours, scope, and competition.
Yes. Agencies typically start at $5,000–$15,000/mo, while fractional SEO can start as low as $2,000/mo for a lean engagement.
Often yes — but scope matters. Some engagements focus on technical SEO, others include full content marketing.
Absolutely. You can start small (20 hrs/mo) and increase hours as your needs grow.