First, the honest part: almost nobody lists prices
We track what every agency in our directory publishes. The single clearest finding is how few will tell you a number at all — which is exactly why this guide exists.
agencies we track publish a starting price — the rest make you book a call first.
the real range of published starting prices we found, per month, from productized to enterprise.
openly offer month-to-month terms — no long lock-in required.
So treat any single “price” with context. The ranges below are honest, experience-based benchmarks for what clinics actually pay by scope — use them to sanity-check any quote you're given.
The number that trips everyone up: fee vs ad spend
Your real monthly cost = agency fee + ad spend
The agency's fee pays for their time and expertise. Ad spend is separate money that goes straight to Google or Meta to actually buy the clicks. A “$3,000/month” agency might mean a $3k fee plus$2–4k of ads you also fund — so your true cost is closer to $5–7k. Always make them split the two out, or you'll budget for half of what you actually spend.
What you actually pay, by scope
Roughly what the agency fee runs at each level (ad spend on top — see above). More expensive isn't automatically better; the right tier is the one that matches your goal.
One job done well — just your Google Business Profile, just social posting, or a starter ads package.
Often productized and partly automated. Fine for a single specific gap; thin as a whole growth plan.
A couple of channels run properly — say local SEO plus paid ads — with real reporting and a named contact.
The sweet spot for most established single-location clinics.
SEO + ads + content + reputation + reporting, run by an experienced team with senior strategy.
For clinics serious about compounding, multi-channel growth.
Multiple locations or an aggressive land-grab — full-funnel, senior strategists, custom creative.
Priced to the scope and the stakes.
Then budget for the ads themselves
If you're running paid channels, a new clinic usually needs at least $1,500–$5,000 a month in actual ad budget (paid to Google and Meta) for them to gain real traction — on top of the agency's management fee. Too little spend spread across too many platforms is one of the most common ways money gets wasted. Ask every agency: how much ad spend do you recommend for a clinic like mine, and is it included in your fee or separate?
The fine print: setup fees, contracts, and refunds
Where the surprises hide. None of these are dealbreakers on their own — but you want to know them before you sign, not after.
Setup fees
One-time onboarding or setup fees (often $500–$3,000+) are common — for website work, account setup, or an initial audit. Reasonable, but ask exactly what it covers.
Contracts
Many ask for a 3–6 month minimum — SEO genuinely needs time to work. Be wary of a 12-month lock-in with no exit, especially with no results to point to yet.
Refunds
The honest truth from inside the industry: once a month's work is delivered, most agencies won't refund it — the time's already spent. Don't assume you can claw fees back. Get the cancellation terms, and whether any money-back guarantee exists, in writing first.
Getting your money's worth
See who's transparent on pricing
The agencies that actually publish what they charge — no sales-call wall.
Most transparent on pricingHow to choose the right agency
The green flags, the red flags, and the exact questions to ask before you sign.
Read the guideBenchmarks combine real data from the agencies we track with experience-based ranges, and are for guidance only — actual quotes vary by market, scope and clinic. Figures update as we add more agencies to the directory.