GEO & AI Search
GEO Service Pricing: What to Charge and Why
Quick Answer
GEO services typically cost $1,500-$10,000 per month, with enterprise packages reaching $30,000+. Tier 1 packages ($1,500-$3,000) cover basic optimization and list placements. Tier 2 ($3,000-$7,000) adds content creation and monitoring. Tier 3 ($7,000-$10,000) includes full reputation management and PR coordination. GEO commands premium rates because it requires multi-platform optimization, entity management, and specialized skills that traditional SEO doesn't demand.
You've learned GEO. You understand how to optimize for ChatGPT, Perplexity, and AI Overviews. You can explain the difference between entity signals and backlink profiles.
But when a client asks "How much does this cost?"—you hesitate.
Underpricing GEO services is the most common mistake agency owners make. Traditional SEO has established market rates. GEO is newer, more complex, and delivers higher-value outcomes—but without industry-standard pricing, many agencies charge too little and undermine their own sustainability. The agencies charging premium rates aren't just confident; they understand what GEO actually requires and what it's worth.
GEO Pricing Tiers: What Agencies Charge
Based on market research across leading GEO agencies, pricing falls into distinct tiers based on service scope and deliverables.
Tier 1: Foundation
$1,500-$3,000/moEntry-level GEO for brands testing AI visibility optimization with limited budgets.
- • Basic list placements on ranking industry websites
- • Monthly AI visibility audit and tracking
- • Schema markup optimization
- • Basic entity establishment on owned properties
Best for: Small businesses validating GEO before larger investment
Tier 2: Growth
Comprehensive GEO for growing brands seeking consistent AI visibility and citation frequency.
- • Everything in Tier 1
- • 1-2 SEO-optimized "superlative list" articles monthly
- • Cross-platform visibility monitoring (ChatGPT, Perplexity, AI Overviews)
- • Review monitoring on industry-specific platforms
- • Monthly competitive benchmarking reports
Best for: Established brands building sustainable AI visibility
Tier 3: Authority
$7,000-$10,000/moFull-service GEO for brands requiring comprehensive reputation and citation authority building.
- • Everything in Tier 2
- • 3-5 superlative list articles monthly plus metrics articles
- • PR coordination for earned media placements
- • Full reputation management and response strategy
- • Authority statement placement on high-trust domains
- • Custom dashboard and weekly reporting
Best for: Enterprise brands and competitive industries
Enterprise Custom
$10,000-$30,000+/moCustom GEO programs for complex enterprise requirements or highly competitive markets.
Includes: Multi-brand management, international GEO, custom API integrations, dedicated account team, C-suite reporting
Pricing data sourced from First Page Sage and PageTraffic market research.
What Affects GEO Pricing
GEO pricing isn't arbitrary. Three primary factors determine where a client falls within pricing tiers.
1. Strategy Complexity
Advanced topic clustering, multi-entity management, and comprehensive content systems require extensive research, planning, and ongoing optimization. Simple single-brand, single-location campaigns cost less than multi-market or multi-entity programs.
2. Reputation Scope
Brand mentions signal trust and credibility to AI engines. Brands needing significant reputation repair or building from scratch require more PR outreach, authority placements, and ongoing monitoring than those with established positive presence.
3. E-E-A-T Investment
Building AI-recognizable E-E-A-T signals requires expert authors, original research, fact-checking, and careful editing. Industries demanding high trust (finance, health, legal) need more intensive E-E-A-T investment than general consumer brands.
Key Insight
AI search visitors convert at 4.4x to 23x the rate of traditional organic traffic
According to Semrush research, AI referral traffic converts significantly higher than traditional organic. This conversion lift justifies premium GEO pricing—clients aren't paying for traffic volume, they're paying for traffic quality.
GEO vs Traditional SEO Pricing
GEO typically costs 50-100% more than comparable SEO services. Here's why the premium is justified:
Service Comparison: SEO vs GEO
| Factor | Traditional SEO | GEO |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | $500-$1,000/mo | $1,500-$3,000/mo |
| Mid-market | $2,000-$5,000/mo | $3,000-$7,000/mo |
| Platform scope | Google + Bing | ChatGPT + Perplexity + Claude + Gemini + AI Overviews |
| Skills required | Content + Technical + Links | SEO + PR + Entity Management + Review Management + Social |
| Traffic quality | 2.8% average conversion | 14.2% average conversion (4.4x higher) |
The pricing premium reflects the complexity. According to SE Ranking research, 64% of SEO agencies charge below $1,000/month, while GEO entry points start at $1,500. The difference represents the multi-platform optimization, entity management, and specialized tracking that GEO demands.
Which Pricing Model Works Best
Three pricing models dominate the GEO market. Monthly retainers lead, but each has specific use cases.
Monthly Retainer
Most agencies use monthly retainers because GEO results compound over time. Entity authority and citation frequency build through consistent effort, not one-time projects.
Best for: Ongoing optimization, comprehensive programs, clients committed to 6+ month engagement
Project-Based
One-time GEO projects typically cost $5,000-$30,000 depending on scope. Useful for audits, foundation setup, or specific campaigns with defined deliverables.
Best for: GEO audits, initial setup, clients wanting to validate approach before retainer commitment
Hourly Consulting
GEO consulting rates range from $150-$300/hour for experienced practitioners. Hourly works for strategy sessions, training, or advisory roles.
Best for: In-house teams needing guidance, one-time strategy development, executive advisory
Justifying Premium GEO Rates
Clients will compare GEO pricing to their existing SEO costs. Here's how to justify the premium:
Lead with conversion data
AI referrals convert 4.4x higher than traditional organic traffic. Even if GEO costs 2x more than SEO, the conversion lift more than compensates. Frame the discussion around revenue impact, not traffic volume.
Highlight the skill stack
GEO requires SEO expertise plus digital PR, entity management, review monitoring, and multi-platform tracking. Clients aren't paying for one skill; they're paying for five coordinated capabilities.
Show the visibility gap
Most competitors haven't invested in GEO yet. According to industry research, 76% of marketing firms haven't integrated AI optimization into their service offerings. Early GEO investment creates a competitive moat that late adopters will struggle to close.
Quantify the timeline
GEO ROI follows a predictable pattern: months 1-3 show 0-25% return during foundation building, months 4-6 see 25-75% as entity signals strengthen, months 7-12 reach 75-150%, and year 2+ exceeds 150-300%. Set expectations with concrete timelines.
GEO ROI Timeline
0-25%
Months 1-3
Foundation
25-75%
Months 4-6
Growth
75-150%
Months 7-12
Maturity
150-300%+
Year 2+
Compound
Source: HashMeta GEO ROI Research
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is GEO more expensive than traditional SEO?
GEO requires multiple specialized skills that traditional SEO doesn't: entity management, PR coordination, review monitoring, schema optimization, and multi-platform visibility tracking. The complexity of optimizing for ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and Google AI Overviews simultaneously demands more expertise and ongoing effort than single-platform SEO.
Should I charge hourly or monthly for GEO services?
Monthly retainers work better for GEO because results compound over time. Entity authority and citation frequency build gradually through consistent effort. Hourly billing undervalues long-term relationship building and ongoing optimization. Most successful GEO agencies use monthly retainers ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 depending on scope.
How do I price GEO for clients with existing SEO budgets?
Position GEO as an extension of their SEO investment, not a replacement. Propose allocating 20-30% of existing SEO budget to GEO initially, with potential to increase as results prove out. Many clients find the 4.4x higher conversion rate from AI referrals justifies reallocating budget from traditional SEO.
What ROI should clients expect from GEO investment?
GEO ROI varies by timeline: months 1-3 typically show 0-25% return during foundation building, months 4-6 see 25-75% as entity signals strengthen, months 7-12 reach 75-150% with established authority, and year 2+ can exceed 150-300%+ as compound effects kick in. AI referrals convert 4.4x to 23x higher than traditional organic traffic.
Ready to Price Your GEO Services?
Pricing is just the beginning. Build a complete GEO service offering.
Learn what to include and how to deliver results.
Take the GEO Readiness Quiz →60 seconds · Personalized report · Free
Continue Learning
Dive deeper into AI search with these related articles:
Agency Owner's Playbook: GEO Services and Premium Rates
Add GEO services to your agency. Learn what to offer, how to price, and how to deliver results for AI search optimization.
ROI of GEO: Calculating the Value of an AI Citation
Learn how to calculate the dollar value of AI citations. Practical ROI framework with formulas and benchmarks.
The New SEO Metrics That Matter in AI Search
Traditional SEO metrics are failing. Learn the new metrics that actually matter: AI Citation Frequency, Share of Model Visibility, and more.