How much does local SEO cost in Australia? Prices for 2026
A small local business in Australia usually pays from about $500 to $2,500 a month for local SEO, plus GST, and more in competitive trades or big cities. Agencies' entry prices start at around $500 to $600 a month, low-competition local work is most often quoted at $1,500 to $2,500, and audits cost $2,000 to $10,000. There's no independent Australian price survey, so every figure here comes from agencies; we've said whose it is and whether GST is included.
Typical Australian local SEO prices
| Source | What it is | Price per month (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| Websites That Sell (Apr 2026) | Agency's own rates and client data | Local campaigns from $595 + GST; local with Google Business Profile $880–$12,125 + GST; most common client spend $2,000–$5,000 |
| Shout Digital (Jun 2026) | Agency estimate | Small business, low competition $1,500–$2,500; offshore providers $300–$1,500 |
| Impressive (Sep 2026) | Agency estimate | Small local, low competition $1,500–$2,500; typical spend $1,500–$5,000+ |
| StudioHawk (Dec 2025) | Agency estimate | Entry $500–$1,000; growth $1,500–$3,000; authority $5,000+ |
a month: the entry price for a local SEO campaign at one Australian agency that publishes its rates.
a month: the range two Australian agencies quote for a small local business in a low-competition market.
Google Business Profile management in Australia
| Item | Price (AUD) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| One-time profile optimisation | $2,995 + GST | Websites That Sell |
| Profile management, one location | From $750 + GST a month | Websites That Sell |
| Profile optimisation only, as part of a campaign | $665 + GST and up | Websites That Sell |
Many agencies bundle profile management into a local SEO package rather than pricing it on its own, so compare what's done each month: posts, photos, review replies, categories and services, and spam fighting.
Audits and hourly rates
| Item | Typical price (AUD) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| SEO audit | $2,000–$5,000; up to $10,000 | StudioHawk, Impressive; Shout Digital |
| Hourly rate at an established agency | $140–$300 | Shout Digital, StudioHawk, Impressive |
| Technical SEO | $150 + GST an hour | Websites That Sell |
Contracts and red flags
- Several Australian agencies warn against long lock-in contracts. Prefer month-to-month terms or a clear exit.
- Google's own advice: no one can guarantee a #1 ranking. Be wary of anyone who promises one.
- Keep your Google Business Profile, website and ad accounts in your name, with the agency added as a manager.
- Watch for city averages repeated across agency blogs: at least one widely quoted Melbourne figure traces back to a single agency's client data.
Google Local Services Ads in Australia
Google publishes no typical cost per lead for Local Services Ads. One Australian agency's plumbing accounts averaged $30–$90 per exclusive lead, against $8–$30 for shared marketplace leads. That's a single agency's figures for one trade, so use it only as a rough guide.
A worked example: Flexi Local's published prices
Flexi Local works with Australian businesses. Our plans are published in US dollars, per location, with no long contracts on monthly plans:
| Plan | Price (USD) | Who does the work |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | $97/month, plus $49 per extra location | You, with our review software |
| Reviews + Leads | $197/month per location | You, plus missed-call text-back, one inbox and booking |
| Local Growth | $497/month per location | Our team: Google profile run for you (4 posts a month, photos, Q&A), every review replied to, a new page or article each month, website, rank grid and a monthly call |
| Growth + Ads | $997/month per location, plus ad spend | Everything in Local Growth, plus Google and Meta ads |
Sources
- Websites That Sell: What is the cost of SEO in Australia in 2026? (updated 15 Apr 2026)
- Websites That Sell: Google Business Profile optimisation (Dec 2025)
- Shout Digital: How much does SEO cost in Australia? (Jun 2026)
- Impressive: SEO pricing in Australia (updated 22 Sep 2026)
- StudioHawk: SEO pricing (9 Dec 2025)
- Australian Taxation Office: Goods and services tax ("a broad-based tax of 10%")
- Webco: Plumbing leads cost in Australia (updated 26 Oct 2026)
- Google Local Services Ads Help: How bidding works
- Google Search Central: Do you need an SEO?
- Flexi Local pricing (October 2026)
Citing these figures? Please link to this page. If you spot a figure that's out of date, email hello@flexilocal.com.
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