How much does local SEO cost per month?
In the UK, local SEO costs roughly £300 to £4,000+ a month, with most single-location businesses paying £500 to £1,500. Low-competition towns sit at the lower end; competitive cities and multiple locations cost more. Much of the groundwork, like your Google Business Profile and asking for reviews, you can do yourself for free.
Key takeaways
- ✓Most single-location businesses pay £500 to £1,500 a month for local SEO.
- ✓Very cheap packages, around £99 a month, can’t fund much real work.
- ✓Your Google Business Profile and reviews matter most, and cost nothing to improve.
- ✓Ask for monthly reporting on calls and enquiries, not just rankings.
- ✓Avoid anyone who guarantees the number one spot.
SEO cost in the UK varies more than most services. Local SEO runs from roughly £300 to £4,000+ a month, and most single-location businesses pay £500 to £1,500, according to Wrise’s 2026 UK pricing guide. SEO also has a bad reputation, and some of it’s earned: it’s easy to pay a monthly fee for a year and get a report full of graphs but no extra phone calls.
So here’s what local SEO should cost, what you should get for it, and what you can do without paying anyone.
Typical SEO cost in the UK for a local business
| Level | Typical monthly cost | What it usually buys |
| Entry level | £300–£500 | Often automated: listings and template pages |
| Most single-location businesses | £500–£1,500 | Profile, reviews, service pages and reporting |
| Several locations or competitive sectors | £1,500–£4,000+ | Dental, legal, healthcare and central London sit here |
These bands come from Wrise’s 2026 UK guide. Competitive sectors such as dental, legal and healthcare sit higher within them. A plumber in a small town doesn’t need the same budget as a dental group in Manchester.
What the money should pay for
- Your Google Business Profile: correct categories, services, photos, posts and answers to questions (the same things that help you rank higher on Google Maps)
- Reviews: a system for asking every customer, and replying to every review
- Your website: a page for each service and area, fast on a phone, clear about what you do
- Local listings: your name, address and number consistent across the web
- Reporting you understand: calls, direction requests and enquiries, not just where you rank
Red flags
- A guarantee of number one. Nobody controls Google. Anyone promising the top spot is either lying or planning something that could get you penalised.
- Very cheap monthly packages. A £99-a-month package can’t fund much real work; you’re usually paying for automated directory submissions and template pages.
- Long lock-in contracts before they’ve shown any results.
- Reports that only show rankings. Rankings are a means to an end. Ask how many more calls you got.
- Fake reviews, in any form. Google treats them as fake engagement, and it can cost you your profile.
What you can do for free this week
Complete every section of your Google Business Profile. Add ten real photos. List every service. Ask your last 20 happy customers for a review using Google’s own review link. Reply to every existing review. That alone moves many businesses up the map.
Is it worth paying for?
If you’ve done the free basics and you’re still not showing up (check the usual reasons in why a business isn’t showing on Google Maps), or you simply don’t have the time, yes. One extra job or booking a week usually covers a sensible monthly fee many times over.
Just make sure you’re paying for work that brings in calls. We look at your Google profile, reviews and website together, because they only work as a set. See how we help businesses get found by more customers.
We’ll show you how you appear on Google Maps today and what’s holding you back, before you spend a penny.
Get your free checkFrequently asked questions
How much should a small business pay for local SEO?
Most single-location businesses in the UK pay £500 to £1,500 a month. Low-competition towns can be less; competitive sectors and cities more.
Can I do local SEO myself?
Yes, much of it. Completing your Google Business Profile, adding photos and asking for reviews costs nothing and makes a real difference.
How long does local SEO take to work?
Profile and review improvements can help within weeks. Stronger rankings in competitive areas usually take several months.
Is cheap local SEO worth it?
Rarely. Very cheap packages usually automate directory listings without improving your profile, reviews or website.
Can anyone guarantee first place on Google Maps?
No. Be wary of anyone who does.
Sources
- Guidelines for representing your business on Google — Google Business Profile Help
- Tips to get more reviews — Google Business Profile Help
- How Much Should You Pay for Local SEO? UK Pricing Guide — Wrise
Co-Founder, ShiftDeploy
Samiullah is a co-founder of ShiftDeploy. He works with clinics, trades and local service businesses on getting found on Google, earning more reviews and turning more enquiries into booked work.