Question 1

Do you require long-term SEO contracts?

Accepted Answer

We require an initial 6-month commitment. SEO strategies need time to take effect, and anything less than 6 months does not allow for a realistic assessment of ROI. After 6 months, we shift to a month-to-month agreement. The 6-month minimum reflects the reality of how SEO compounds — 90-day windows are insufficient to evaluate whether the program is working.

Question 2

Are there setup fees for SEO?

Accepted Answer

No. Your first month's retainer covers all initial onboarding, auditing, and strategy development. Some agencies charge separate audit / strategy fees on top of monthly retainers; we don't. The work all happens; it's just billed transparently inside the retainer.

Question 3

What is your SEO pricing structure?

Accepted Answer

We operate on flat-rate monthly retainers starting at C$1,500/mo. Pricing scales based on the complexity of your site, the competitiveness of your industry, and the speed at which you want to grow. Common Canadian retainer ranges: local SEO (1 location) C$1,500-C$2,800/mo; multi-location local C$2,500-C$5,500/mo; national content programs C$3,500-C$8,000/mo; enterprise programs C$8,000-C$15,000+/mo. See our Pricing page for full details.

Question 4

What is the typical cost of SEO services in Canada in 2026?

Accepted Answer

Canadian SEO retainers in 2026 typically range from C$1,500-C$15,000+/month depending on scope. The breakdown: solo consultants C$80-C$180/hr, mid-market agencies C$2,500-C$8,000/mo flat retainer, premium / specialist agencies C$5,000-C$15,000+/mo, enterprise C$15,000-C$50,000+/mo. Project work (audits, migrations) is typically C$5,000-C$50,000 fixed-scope. Hourly billing is uncommon at the agency tier; flat retainers dominate.

Question 5

What is not included in a typical SEO retainer?

Accepted Answer

Most SEO retainers do not include: paid media spend (ads), large website rebuilds, legal review of content (relevant for healthcare, legal, financial verticals), translation services for bilingual sites (typically billed separately), or third-party tool licenses for client-side use (Ahrefs, Surfer, etc. are agency-side). These are all available, billed transparently, and clearly itemised in the SOW.

Question 6

How do payment terms work for Canadian SEO retainers?

Accepted Answer

Standard terms: monthly invoicing, due net-15 or net-30 from invoice date. We accept e-transfer, cheque, credit card (with 2.9% processing surcharge), and ACH for US-based clients (USD billing available on request). Pre-payment discounts: 5% for quarterly pre-payment, 10% for annual. Late-payment terms apply per signed SOW.

Question 7

Do you offer performance-based or pay-for-rankings SEO pricing?

Accepted Answer

No. Performance-based SEO pricing models (pay-per-ranking, revenue-share) consistently misalign incentives — agencies optimize for the metric they're paid on rather than the business outcome. We charge a flat monthly retainer that aligns us to long-term partnership rather than to chasing whatever metric is easiest to move. The market reality: every major Canadian SEO success story we've seen runs on flat retainer pricing.

Question 8

How much does a one-time SEO audit cost in Canada?

Accepted Answer

Canadian SEO audits typically cost C$3,500-C$15,000 depending on site size and audit depth. Solo-consultant audits start around C$2,000-C$4,000; mid-market agency audits C$5,000-C$10,000; enterprise audits with implementation specs C$10,000-C$30,000. The output is a written audit document with prioritised findings, implementation specs, and a recommended roadmap. Audit-only engagements work; pair with implementation help for fastest results.

Question 9

Does monthly SEO budget materially affect results?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but with diminishing returns. A C$3,000/mo retainer typically delivers 2-4 articles published, regular technical hygiene, GBP management, and monthly reporting. A C$8,000/mo retainer adds substantive link-earning, deeper content investment, more aggressive technical projects, and faster content cadence. Above C$15,000/mo, returns scale with team capacity and topical breadth — useful for enterprise programs covering multiple verticals or geos.

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