How much SEO costs depends on what you commission: an audit, a specific fix, content creation or ongoing work. Two quotes with different prices are not comparable until you know the scope, billing period and who implements the recommendations.
Below are named examples from public price lists checked on 17 October 2026. We explain one-off and monthly charges and what to check in a quote. This selection is not a statistical average or a complete range of prices in Serbia.
Short answer
Separate the price of an audit, one-off optimisation and ongoing work. An audit may exclude implementation, and content writing alone is not a complete SEO engagement. The examples below show why scope must come before a price comparison:
Scroll the table sideways to see all columns.
| Price list | Published amount | Billing and scope |
|---|---|---|
| Marija Rikić | RSD 8,000–38,000 | One-off optimisation of an existing website; four packages for up to 5, 10, 20 or 30 pages. |
| Rastem | €150 one-off; €100 monthly for articles | Titles, descriptions, structure and speed are a separate service from blog content. Long-term SEO is quoted individually. |
| Happy Media | €250 one-off; €450 or €880 monthly | An audit with a priority plan is separate from monthly work on the website and its content. |
Each provider name links to the original price list. Amounts retain their published currency without conversion. These lists do not explicitly state VAT treatment; confirm tax, price validity, inclusions and extras in a written quote. Listing a price does not endorse a provider’s quality.
Why monthly SEO and one-off optimisation are different services
Before comparing prices, ask for the tasks, deliverables and implementation responsibility. Establish whether the engagement ends with a report or continues with changes to the website.
One-off SEO has an agreed scope and endpoint. It may be an audit with priorities or implementation of specific changes to titles, content, speed or site structure. The quote should distinguish checks from changes actually included.
Monthly SEO involves agreed tasks across billing periods. The plan may include improvements to existing pages, new content, technical fixes and performance monitoring. Agree priorities, capacity and reporting; every project does not need the same number of articles or the same tasks each month.
The amount alone does not reveal hours worked, quality or team size. In the table, for example, blog writing is a separate service. Compare two quotes only after both specify the tasks your website needs.
Monthly work: what the quote should specify
Priorities and scope of changes
Ask for an initial review and the reasoning behind the pages prioritised. The quote should clarify whether it covers recommendations only or changes to code and content, and who handles tasks requiring another developer.
Content and subject review
Agree whether the work covers new articles, existing service pages or both. Specify who provides business and product information, who checks accuracy and which revisions are included. Content scope should follow customers’ questions rather than an arbitrary quota.
Technical work and implementation
For each technical task, establish who implements it and how resolution is verified. A performance review, diagnosis of an indexing issue and the fix itself may be separate items. Larger development changes need their own agreed scope.
Reporting and next steps
The report should connect completed changes with relevant page and query performance. Agree the comparison period, market and next steps. Clicks, sessions and submitted enquiries are different metrics; assess business performance using actual enquiries and goals, with measurement limitations recorded.
One-off tasks and their prices
- Website SEO audit: findings, evidence and priorities. Check whether the fee covers diagnosis only or implementation as well.
- Basic SEO setup: agreed work on page structure, titles, descriptions, the sitemap and tool access. For a new website, check what is already included in the website development price.
- Existing-page optimisation: list the URLs and changes required. Marija Rikić’s example in the table distinguishes packages by page count; it does not establish a universal per-page price.
- SEO consultation: agree the topic, preparation, duration and whether written recommendations are included. Request a price for that specific scope.
A one-off task is a good choice in two situations: when you have just built a website and want it to start with the right setup, and when you suspect something is wrong and need a diagnosis before deciding whether to invest further.
What changes the price
- The website’s starting condition. Technical issues, existing content and system access affect the work required.
- Competition and search intent. A local service and a wider market may need different pages and research.
- Languages and markets. Confirm which languages and locations are covered and who checks local content.
- Content preparation and approval. Writing, subject review and revisions require capacity and affect deadlines.
- Technical implementation. Development or system changes may need a separate estimate.
- Mentions and links. If included, ask about the approach, source relevance and disclosure of paid placements. Link count alone does not describe service quality.
How long it takes to see results
A review period is not a ranking guarantee. Google explains that some changes take effect within hours, others after several months, and some have no noticeable impact. Record the starting point and monitor the same relevant pages and queries. See Google’s guidance on assessing SEO changes over time.
The time needed to fix an issue differs from the time Google needs to process it. If a page is unavailable or accidentally excluded from indexing, verify and address that cause first. For traffic drops, examine the affected pages, queries, devices and periods before choosing further changes.
If a quote promises the first page within a month, ask what is actually guaranteed. Relevant queries, completed tasks and enquiry measurement provide a more useful basis for deciding than a promised position for one phrase.
How to spot a poor proposal
- An unexplained ranking guarantee. Agree work and verification, not a position the provider cannot control.
- Unclear scope. A published package can be a useful starting point, but the final quote should list tasks, limits and access needed for your website.
- A keyword count without intent. A list of phrases does not replace relevant pages, customer questions or measurement.
- Links without source details. Google prohibits links created primarily to manipulate rankings. Risk depends on how links are acquired and labelled, not one magic number. Check Google’s link spam policies.
- A report without verifiable data. An agency spreadsheet can be a useful summary if it identifies sources, periods and completed changes and allows verification in Search Console and the relevant analytics account.
What to ask before signing
- Is the price monthly or one-off, and what happens if we stop after three months?
- Who writes the copy, and is it included in the price?
- Which specific queries will we work on in the first three months?
- What does the report look like, and where does the data come from?
- Will I receive access to Search Console and Analytics in my own name?
- What stays with me if we part ways: copy, reports and accounts?
Agree account access, content ownership and handover if the engagement ends. Keep the baseline, scope and reporting method with the quote so you can later verify what was delivered.
Our prices
For comparison, here are our packages: Basic from €600 per month for the domestic market and lower competition, Plus from €800 per month for the regional market, Premium from €1,600 per month for the global market and high competition. Each includes a monthly report; Basic has no contractual commitment.
These amounts are the monthly prices of our packages. The scope depends on the website’s condition, market and priorities; the amount invested alone does not guarantee a particular position. A detailed breakdown of what each package includes is on our website SEO: pricing and packages page, and if you would like an estimate for your website, send us the address and we will tell you what we see and how much it would cost.
Frequently asked questions
Does SEO make sense for a small local business?
It can make sense when people search for your services. Start by reviewing the website, Google Business Profile, contact details and customers’ questions. The choice between one-off improvements and monthly work depends on the findings, competition and goals; the industry alone does not determine the best model.
Can I do SEO myself?
You can handle useful content, current business information, clear headings and report review. Make technical changes with verification and a way to restore the previous state. If a particular issue requires time or skills you do not have, commission help for that scope.
Why is SEO more expensive than Google advertising?
It is not necessarily more expensive. Compare SEO fees with the total advertising cost, including ad spend and any campaign management. These are different ways of attracting visitors. Content and technical improvements may provide long-term value, but organic visibility is not permanently guaranteed.
What if there are no results after six months?
Check what was delivered, whether recommendations were implemented and how relevant pages and queries changed over comparable periods. Consider technical issues, demand, competition, content and measurement changes. Start with Google’s guide to investigating search traffic drops, then revise priorities or scope based on the findings.
Does the price include content creation?
It depends on the quote. Check whether research, writing, subject review, publishing and later revisions are included. Also specify who supplies photographs and business information. Distinguish new articles from updates to existing pages and agree the scope before work begins.