Google Business Profile Not Showing? 11 Causes and Fixes
You have a Google Business Profile, but customers say they cannot find you.
Typical UK Local SEO Prices
| Service | Typical UK price | What it usually includes |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly local SEO – small town / low competition | £250–£500 per month | Profile management, citations, reviews system, on-page fixes, reporting |
| Monthly local SEO – city / competitive trade | £500–£1,500 per month | All of the above plus content, location pages and link building |
| Multi-location local SEO | £1,000–£5,000+ per month | Profiles, pages, citations and reporting for each branch |
| One-off local SEO audit | £150–£750 | Profile, citations, competitors, website and an action plan |
| Google Business Profile set-up/optimisation | £150–£500 one-off | Categories, services, description, photos and posts set-up |
| Citation clean-up | £100–£400 one-off | Audit and correction of existing listings plus core submissions |
These are typical market ranges, not fixed rules – a freelancer in a small town may charge less, and specialist agencies in London more.
What Changes the Price?
Competition
“Emergency plumber London” takes far more work than “mobile dog groomer Ludlow”. Competitive trades in big cities need more content, more links and more time.
Number of locations and areas
Each branch needs its own profile management and page; each extra service area may need its own location page.
Starting point
A business with a suspended profile, duplicate listings or a website that is not indexed needs fixing before growth work can start.
Content and links
Writing good local content and earning real local links is the most time-consuming part – and the biggest difference between cheap and effective SEO.
What You Should Get for Your Money
- A clear plan based on an audit, not a generic package.
- Ownership of your Google profile, website and every listing created.
- Monthly reporting on rankings (ideally a rank grid), calls, website clicks and enquiries.
- A list of the actual work done each month.
- No long lock-in contracts for small businesses.
Red Flags in Cheap Local SEO
- Guaranteed number one rankings.
- “500 directory submissions” or “1,000 backlinks” packages.
- The agency owns your Google Business Profile or refuses to give access.
- No explanation of what is done each month.
- 12-month contracts with no exit.
Is Local SEO Worth the Cost?
Work it out from your own numbers. If an average job is worth £400 profit and local SEO brings three extra jobs a month, a £500 monthly fee more than pays for itself. For high-value services – roofing, dental implants, conveyancing – one extra client a month often covers the cost.
Our Prices
Our plans start at £299 a month (plus VAT) with no setup fee and 30 days’ notice. See full details on our pricing page or read about affordable local SEO services. Not sure what you need? Start with a free audit.
DIY vs Freelancer vs Agency
| Option | Typical cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | Your time (2–4 hours a week) | Very small budgets, simple markets |
| Freelancer | £200–£600 a month | Single location, owner happy to be involved |
| Specialist local SEO agency | £300–£1,500 a month | Businesses wanting it done properly with reporting |
| Full-service marketing agency | £1,000+ a month | Businesses also needing ads, design and social |
Whichever you choose, insist on owning your accounts and seeing a clear list of work each month.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a reasonable monthly budget for local SEO?
For most UK small businesses, £300–£800 a month is a realistic range. Competitive cities and multi-location businesses need more.
Can I do local SEO for free?
The basics, yes: your Google profile, reviews and citations cost nothing but time. Paying for SEO buys expertise, time and tools.
Why do some agencies charge £100 a month?
Very low prices usually mean automated tasks with little real impact. Check exactly what is done each month before signing.