# SEO quotation template: what a good SEO quote should include

By Banish Angural · Published May 16, 2026 · Updated November 9, 2026

> A good SEO quotation states the client’s goals, what the audit found, the specific work each month, the price for each part, what is not included, how results will be reported and the contract terms. If a quote cannot tell you what will be done each month, it is not a quote, it is a guess.

Whether you are an agency writing a quote or a business owner comparing three of them, the same structure tells you if a proposal is serious. Use the template below as a starting point, then read the checklist for comparing quotes.

## The SEO quotation template

Copy these sections into your own document, in this order:

1. **Summary.** One paragraph: the business, the goal and the recommended plan in plain words.
2. **Goals.** Measurable ones, tied to the business: more calls for a service, rankings in named towns, more booked jobs. Not just "more traffic".
3. **What we found.** The three to five most important findings from the audit: technical problems, missing pages, Google Business Profile gaps, competitor strengths.
4. **The work.** What happens in month one, then every month after: pages written, fixes made, listings built, reviews requested.
5. **Not included.** Ad spend, photography, copy the client must supply, anything else outside scope.
6. **Price.** Set-up fee if any, monthly fee, and what each line buys. Taxes stated.
7. **Reporting.** What you will report (calls, forms, rankings, Search Console data), how often, and who explains it.
8. **Terms.** Contract length, notice period, who owns the website, content and accounts.
9. **Proof.** Real examples or references. Never invented numbers.

## What makes a quote easy to say yes to

- **It is specific to the business.** It names their services, towns and competitors.
- **It is short.** Two to four pages beats twenty.
- **It prices outcomes the client cares about,** and explains how they will be measured.
- **It is honest about timing.** Local SEO often moves within a few months; competitive city-wide rankings take longer.

## Red flags when you are comparing SEO quotes

- Guaranteed number-one rankings. Nobody controls Google’s results.
- No list of monthly work, only "ongoing optimization".
- Bulk backlinks or link packages. Buying links to manipulate rankings breaks Google’s spam policies.
- The agency owns your website or Google Business Profile.
- Long lock-in contracts with no exit.

## How much should an SEO quote be?

For local businesses around Edmonton, monthly SEO retainers commonly run from several hundred to a few thousand dollars, depending on competition, the number of services and towns, and how much content is needed. Read our breakdown of [what SEO costs in Edmonton](https://banishmedia.com/blog/how-much-seo-cost-edmonton) or ask for a [free audit](https://banishmedia.com/free-audit) and a written quote.

## Want a real quote instead of a template?

Ask for a [free audit](https://banishmedia.com/free-audit). We look at your site, Google Business Profile and competitors, then send a plain-language plan with exactly what we would do each month and what it costs. No lock-in contract, and you keep the audit either way. See our [SEO service](https://banishmedia.com/services/seo) for the full scope.

## Sources

- [Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Starter Guide](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/seo-starter-guide), Google Search Central
- [Spam policies for Google web search](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/essentials/spam-policies), Google Search Central

## Questions readers ask

### What should an SEO quotation include?

Goals, audit findings, the specific monthly work, what is excluded, price per item, how results are reported, and contract terms including who owns the accounts.

### Is a guaranteed ranking in an SEO quote a good sign?

No. Google controls its results, so no honest agency can guarantee a position. Look for guarantees about work delivered and reporting instead.

### Can I get a free SEO quote?

Yes. Most agencies, including us, quote for free after a short audit of your website, Google Business Profile and competitors.