Benchmark · updated August 2026

Search Everywhere Optimization cost benchmarks (2026)

Last reviewed: August 2026 · prices in USD · every figure computed from the cost-guide pricing engine

Managed Search Everywhere Optimization for an SMB runs $2,450–$5,900/mo at the national baseline (August 2026 refresh). DIY starts at $500/mo. Enterprise tops out at $49,000/mo. New York, the priciest metro at +18%, pushes the SMB ceiling to $6,800/mo.

Every figure here comes straight out of the pricing engine behind the Search Everywhere Optimization cost guide — seed ranges synthesized from published market pricing, drifted within ±8% by a monthly refresh. No survey numbers, no third-party stats.

Just 1 of 15 metros prices at the national baseline. New York's premium—+18%—is the steepest in the bunch, pushing the top of the SMB range from $5,900 to $6,800 a month.

Benchmark figures

Search Everywhere Optimization headline benchmarks, August 2026
BenchmarkFigureWhat it is
SMB sweet spot$2,450–$5,900/moManaged service, typical small business
DIY floor$500/moCheapest self-serve entry point
Top published tier$19,800–$49,000/moEnterprise
Metro premium ceiling+18%New York: SMB range $2,850–$6,800/mo

National tier table

Search Everywhere Optimization cost by tier, national baseline, August 2026
TierTypical rangeWhat it covers
Starter (priority channels)$500–$2,450/moGoogle + one AI engine + one more surface, focused
SMB full bundle$2,450–$5,900/moGoogle, AI engines, maps, social, and marketplaces together
Mid-market$4,950–$14,800/moMulti-location or competitive categories
Enterprise$19,800–$49,000/moBrand-wide, every surface, dedicated strategy

SMB range across 15 metros

Search Everywhere Optimization: managed-SMB range by metro, August 2026
MetroModifierSMB range
New York, NY+18%$2,850–$6,800/mo
San Francisco, CA+17%$2,850–$6,800/mo
Seattle, WA+13%$2,750–$6,600/mo
Washington, DC, DC+12%$2,700–$6,500/mo
Boston, MA+11%$2,700–$6,500/mo
Los Angeles, CA+9%$2,650–$6,400/mo
Miami, FL+8%$2,650–$6,300/mo
Atlanta, GA+6%$2,600–$6,200/mo
Chicago, IL+6%$2,600–$6,200/mo
Denver, CO+6%$2,600–$6,200/mo
Austin, TX+4%$2,550–$6,100/mo
Dallas, TX+4%$2,550–$6,100/mo
Phoenix, AZ+4%$2,550–$6,100/mo
Charlotte, NC+3%$2,550–$6,100/mo
Houston, TXbaseline (0%)$2,450–$5,900/mo

Go deeper: the cost guides behind these numbers

Methodology: ranges are synthesized from published 2026 market pricing across vendors, agencies, and platforms, reviewed and refreshed monthly (last refresh: August 2026). Metro figures apply a cost-of-doing-business index (built from 2026 local cost-of-living and labor data) that we scale per price tier: self-serve tools are priced nationally and barely move between cities, while managed and enterprise work — which is delivered by local labor — carries the full local premium. That is why the same city shifts a done-for-you retainer far more than a DIY subscription. Prices are in USD and describe typical market rates, not quotes; a real quote for your business takes minutes through a verified provider on the hashtag.org network.