Look, I get it. You’re running a business in Brisbane, you know you need more phone calls, and everyone tells you "SEO" is the answer.
But then you start looking for prices.
One bloke from an agency in Sydney quotes you $4,000 a month. Then you get an email from a random crowd offering to do it for $200. It’s enough to make you want to chuck your laptop in the Brisbane River.
Most business owners I talk to are terrified of two things: getting ripped off by a cowboy who does nothing, or overpaying for a massive agency that treats them like a number.
I’m going to level with you. I’ve seen the invoices. I’ve seen the results (or lack of them). Here is the no-rubbish guide to what you should actually be paying to get your business found on Google.
The $500 a Month Trap
Let’s start with the most common mistake.
If someone offers you SEO for $500 a month, run. Don’t walk. Run.
Think about it. To actually move the needle on Google, someone needs to spend time on your business. They need to write content, fix your website, and talk to other local businesses.
A decent marketing professional in Australia costs at least $100 to $150 an hour. If you’re paying $500, you’re getting maybe three or four hours of work a month.
Once they’ve sent you a generic report and had a quick 10-minute chat, they’ve run out of time to actually do any work.
What usually happens at this price point? They use automated software that does more harm than good. They might even buy cheap, dodgy links from overseas that end up getting your website banned by Google. It’s better to spend $0 than to spend $500 on something that breaks your business.
If you want to understand the basics of how this actually works without the jargon, have a look at our introductory SEO guide. It’ll help you spot the difference between real work and smoke and mirrors.
The Real Numbers: What Most Small Businesses Pay
For a local business—like a plumber in Chermside, a law firm in the CBD, or a shop in Paddington—you’re usually looking at three main tiers.
1. The Local Specialist ($1,500 – $2,500 per month)
This is where most of our clients sit. At this price, you actually get a human being working on your account.They’ll make sure your website works on phones so you don’t lose customers who are searching while they’re out and about. They’ll fix your Google Business Profile. They’ll write a few decent articles a month that answer your customers' questions.
This is about steady growth. You aren’t going to take over the world overnight, but you’ll start seeing more enquiries within 3 to 6 months.
2. The Competitive Push ($3,000 – $5,000 per month)
If you’re in a tough industry—think Brisbane real estate, national e-commerce, or high-end legal services—you have to spend more because your competitors are spending more.At this level, you’re paying for speed and volume. More content, more aggressive outreach to get your name on other websites, and deeper technical fixes.
3. The One-Off Clean Up ($2,000 – $5,000 once)
Sometimes, you don’t need a monthly fee. If your website is basically okay but just needs a tune-up, you can pay for a project.They’ll come in, fix the errors, make it load faster, and set you up for success. Just keep in mind that Google changes its mind constantly. If you do a one-off and then ignore your site for two years, you’ll end up back at the bottom of the pile.
Why is it so expensive?
I hear this a lot: "It’s just some words on a screen, mate. Why does it cost as much as a small car lease?"
Here’s what you’re actually paying for:
Expertise: You’re paying for someone who knows which buttons to push so Google actually trusts you. Content: Good writers aren't cheap. If you want people to actually call you, the words on your site need to sound like a human wrote them, not a robot. Technical Stuff: Making sure your site loads in under two seconds and doesn't crash on an iPhone takes actual skill. Time: SEO is a massive time-sink. If you did it yourself, you wouldn't have time to actually run your business.
How to Tell if You’re Wasting Your Money
You’ve been paying an agency for six months. How do you know if they’re actually doing anything?
Most agencies will send you a 40-page report full of graphs about "impressions" and "rankings." Honestly? Most of that is rubbish.
There are only three things that matter: 1. Are more people calling your business? 2. Are you getting more emails through your contact form? 3. Are you making more money?
If your "rankings" are going up but your phone isn't ringing, something is wrong. Usually, it means they’ve ranked you for keywords that nobody actually searches for. It’s easy to rank #1 for "Left-handed underwater basket weaving in Indooroopilly." It’s much harder to rank for "Plumber Brisbane."
We always tell people to focus on getting local leads rather than chasing vanity numbers. If the work isn't putting dollars in your till, it’s a hobby, not marketing.
Red Flags to Watch Out For
If you’re talking to an agency and they say any of these things, finish your beer and leave.
"We Guarantee #1 on Google"
Nobody can guarantee this. Not even Google. If they say this, they’re lying to get your deposit. What they usually do is rank you for your own business name (which you should already rank for) and claim victory."We Have a Special Relationship with Google"
No, they don’t. Google doesn't have "mates" in the SEO world. Everyone plays by the same rules."It’s a Secret Process"
Marketing isn't magic. It’s work. If they can’t explain exactly what they are doing in plain English, it’s because they aren't doing much at all.The "Cheap" Cost of Overseas SEO
You’ll get emails every day from people in other countries offering SEO for $100.
Here’s the problem: they don’t know Brisbane. They don’t know your customers. They’ll write content that sounds like it was put through a blender, and they’ll use tactics that worked in 2012 but will get you penalised today.
I’ve had dozens of business owners come to us after their site disappeared from Google because they tried to save a few bucks with a cheap offshore provider. Fixing the damage usually costs five times more than doing it right the first time.
How Long Until You See a Result?
SEO is not like Google Ads. You don’t turn it on and get calls ten minutes later.
If you start today, here is the realistic timeline: Month 1: The "Boring Stuff." Audits, fixing broken links, and cleaning up your Google Business Profile. Months 2-3: You’ll start seeing your business pop up for more specific searches. Your phone might ring a couple of extra times a week. Months 6-12: This is the sweet spot. This is where the work builds up and you start consistently appearing at the top of the map.
If you need customers today* to pay the rent, SEO isn't the answer. Go buy some ads. But if you want to build a business that doesn't rely on paying for every single click forever, SEO is the best investment you’ll make.
My Honest Advice
If you’re a small business turning over less than $200k a year, you probably shouldn't be spending $2,000 a month on SEO. It’s too much of your margin. Do the basics yourself: get some reviews, fix your website, and write some helpful stuff for your customers.
But if you’re established and you’re ready to grow, don't cheap out. Find a local partner who talks to you like a human.
At Local Marketing Group, we don’t do lock-in contracts because we reckon if we aren't making you money, we don't deserve yours. It’s that simple.
If you want to have a proper chat about what your specific business needs—without the sales pitch—come and say g'day. We’ll look at your site and tell you straight if we can help or if you’re better off spending your money elsewhere.