Calgary small business owners are often shocked by SEO pricing. Some agencies quote a few hundred dollars per month, while others want several thousand. This huge variance creates confusion and makes it hard to know if you are getting a fair deal or being overcharged. Understanding what goes into SEO pricing will help you evaluate quotes and make an informed decision.
First, let's address the low-end offerings. You will see Calgary SEO agencies or freelancers offering services for $300-500 per month. These are typically template-based services with minimal customization — someone runs a generic audit, submits your site to directories, builds a few low-quality backlinks, and calls it SEO. While this is not entirely without value, it is unlikely to produce meaningful results. SEO requires strategic thinking, competitive analysis, content creation, technical work, and ongoing optimization. You cannot do all that quality work for $300 per month.
Mid-range SEO services in Calgary typically cost $1500-$3500 per month. At this level, you are getting actual strategy, competitive analysis, customized optimizations, and content creation. This is where most small businesses should look if they want real results. The agency invests time in understanding your business and your market, then develops a comprehensive plan to improve your rankings. Results take time — typically 4-6 months to see significant changes — but this investment tends to pay for itself many times over in the form of increased organic traffic and leads.
High-end SEO services for competitive Calgary markets can exceed $5000+ per month. These engagements are typically reserved for larger companies with bigger budgets and more ambitious growth goals. They include more intensive content creation, advanced technical optimization, comprehensive link building campaigns, and frequent strategy sessions. For a small Calgary business, this level of investment is usually not necessary.
Be wary of SEO agencies that guarantee rankings or promise first-page results in 30 days. No legitimate SEO professional can guarantee rankings because Google controls the algorithm. Also avoid agencies that want long-term contracts with high penalties for early termination — this is a red flag that they are not confident in delivering results. The best SEO agencies in Calgary work month-to-month, provide transparent reporting, and focus on delivering measurable business results, not vanity metrics.
