How Much Does SEO Cost for Cleaning Businesses?
From running a cleaning company to helping them grow—here’s what I’ve learned about SEO.
Quick Answers for Busy Owners
What I Learned Doing SEO for My Own Cleaning Company
I’m in a rare position to answer the question of how much SEO services for a cleaning business should cost.
I used to own a commercial cleaning business—and like most owners, I knew SEO was important but didn’t have the time or technical skills to manage it. I hired a few different SEO companies, but the results were slow, vague, and honestly, disappointing.
Eventually, I decided to take matters into my own hands.
I spent years learning SEO from the ground up—studying what worked, testing strategies, rebuilding my website, and learning how to rank locally. That work paid off. After selling that cleaning business, I went all-in on digital marketing, and today I manage SEO for cleaning businesses across the U.S.—from single-location shops to regional players.
That experience gives me a unique advantage: I know what it’s like to be in your shoes. I also know what it takes to get results.
What to Watch Out For (Red Flags)
There’s no shortage of SEO “experts” who will gladly take your money every month—even if it takes a year or more to see meaningful results.
One of the most common traps is the low-cost SEO package, typically $300–$500/month.
These providers often:
- Use outdated or automated tactics
- Offer little to no transparency
- Lock you into long-term contracts
- Can’t show clear progress
Real SEO is time-intensive. It requires writing content, optimizing pages, building backlinks, and tracking performance weekly—not just sending you a generic report once a month.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
How to Tell If SEO Is Working
SEO is a long-term game, but that doesn’t mean you should be left in the dark for six months.
Early progress should show up within a few miles of your business location, even if your Google Business Profile address is hidden.
For example, I recently took over SEO for AMR US Commercial Cleaning in Rockville, MD. When we started, they ranked #17 in the map pack within a 1-mile radius of their office. Within a few months, they were #1 in that same radius.
That’s not their whole service area, but it’s a clear sign that things are moving in the right direction.
Tip: If your SEO provider can’t show this kind of progress, or they don’t provide clear reporting, something’s wrong.
To better understand what SEO work should be happening, read my article on the 6 Pillars of SEO. It’ll help you ask better questions—and avoid paying for smoke and mirrors.
What Real SEO Costs—and Why
Let’s talk real numbers.
For Single-Location Cleaning Businesses:
You should expect to pay $1,000–$2,000/month for quality SEO. This covers:
- GBP optimization and posting
- On-page SEO for your website
- Backlink building and citation work
- Technical fixes and performance monitoring
- Custom local content and keyword tracking
The final price depends on:
- Your competition
- How optimized your site already is
- How far you want to reach beyond your office area
For Multi-Location Businesses:
Each additional location means another GBP, another area to rank in, and more work to build authority. Expect $500–$1,000/month per additional location.
It’s not just about spinning up more service pages—it’s about building real local presence in each market.
Enterprise-Level SEO: Why Some Companies Pay $10K+
Some large cleaning companies spend $10,000/month or more on SEO—and for good reason.
If you’re competing across multiple major cities, you’ll need:
- Dozens (or hundreds) of high-quality, localized content pieces
- A massive backlink profile to build authority in each region
- Technical SEO support across a complex website
- Ongoing GBP management for each location
- In-depth reporting across all properties
This level of work isn’t necessary for every business. But if you want to dominate at scale, it’s the cost of entry.
The Rise of GBP-First SEO
Let’s be honest—most customers don’t scroll.
If you search “commercial cleaning near me”, you’ll see: Ads, Google Map Pack, & Organic results (way down the page)
That Map Pack—those Google Business Profiles—is where the action happens.
Too many SEO providers still focus only on your website. Yes, location pages and keyword content are important—but your GBP is the front door to your business. If your provider isn’t optimizing it monthly, posting updates, managing reviews, and improving its visibility, they’re missing a huge piece of the puzzle.
Final Thoughts
Here’s what to take away:
- Real SEO for a single-location cleaning business will cost $1k–$2k/month
- Each new location adds $500–$1k/month
- Large, competitive businesses often spend $10k+/month for multi-region SEO
- Low-cost providers almost always underdeliver
- You should be able to see and track progress every month
Whether you’re just getting started or ready to expand into new areas, SEO is one of the best long-term investments for a cleaning business. Just make sure you’re working with someone who understands both your industry and the search landscape.
Get a Free SEO Evaluation
Click below to receive:
- A custom visibility report for your business
- 3 actionable tips to boost your local rankings
- A GBP audit with screenshots of your current standing
