Google SEO costs nothing if you do it yourself, since Google doesn't charge for organic rankings. The cost comes from the time and expertise needed to execute effectively. Professional SEO services in Canada typically range from $500 to $5,000 per month for small to mid-sized businesses, with enterprise contracts often starting at $10,000–$15,000+ monthly. Pricing depends on several factors. Local SEO for a single-location business in Ottawa might cost $750–$1,500 monthly, while a national e-commerce site competing in saturated markets could require $3,000–$8,000 monthly just to move the needle. The difference lies in keyword difficulty, content volume needs, technical complexity, and link acquisition costs. One-time SEO projects exist but are less common. An SEO audit runs $1,500–$5,000, while a complete site optimization and content overhaul might cost $5,000–$15,000 upfront. These work for businesses that can handle ongoing optimization internally after the foundation is set. Hourly SEO consulting ranges from $100–$300 per hour in major Canadian markets. This model suits businesses needing strategic direction rather than execution, though most agencies prefer retainers since SEO results require sustained effort over 6–12 months minimum. At Ottawa SEO Inc., we've seen the biggest cost variable is whether you need new content creation. Writing and optimizing 4–8 solid articles monthly can add $1,000–$2,500 to any retainer. Technical SEO and link building are more fixed costs, but content scales with your ambition. Beware of $99–$299 monthly SEO packages. They either use automated tools that violate Google's guidelines, outsource to low-quality content farms, or simply don't allocate enough hours to compete. Effective SEO for even a local business requires 10–20 hours monthly minimum when you account for research, optimization, content, outreach, and reporting. The math doesn't work below $750–$1,000 monthly unless you're subsidizing with other services. Budget 6–12 months before expecting ROI. SEO is a compounding investment, not a quick fix, and pricing should reflect the sustained expertise required to outrank competitors who've been optimizing for years.