# How much does Google Business Profile optimization cost?

By Banish Angural · Published August 2, 2026 · Updated November 9, 2026

> A Google Business Profile is free. Paying for optimization usually means a one-time set-up of a few hundred dollars, or ongoing local SEO from several hundred to around $1,500 a month that adds review requests, posts, citations and location pages. Many owners can handle the basics themselves; ongoing help pays off in competitive trades and areas.

## What it costs

- **DIY:** free, plus a few hours.
- **One-time set-up and clean-up:** typically a few hundred dollars.
- **Ongoing local SEO:** commonly several hundred to around $1,500 a month in Canada, depending on competition and scope.

## What you should get for ongoing help

- Category and service tuning.
- Weekly or monthly posts and photos.
- A review request system and replies.
- Citation clean-up.
- Location pages on your website.
- Rank tracking across your service area and a report tied to calls.

## What you can do yourself

Use our [Google Business Profile checklist](https://banishmedia.com/blog/google-my-business-seo-checklist). If you rank in the top three across your area already, you may not need ongoing help.

## See if paid help would pay off

A [free audit](https://banishmedia.com/free-audit) shows where you rank on the map across your service area. Then you can decide. Our [local SEO](https://banishmedia.com/services/local-seo) is month to month, with a fixed quote after the audit.

## Sources

- [Tips to improve your local ranking on Google](https://support.google.com/business/answer/7091), Google
- [Add or claim your Business Profile](https://support.google.com/business/answer/2911778), Google

## Questions readers ask

### Do I have to pay Google for a Business Profile?

No. Google Business Profile is free. You only pay if you hire someone to manage or optimize it.