Seed teams, Series A operators, Series B+ scaleups and enterprise brands are not buying the same work, and an in-house hire prices differently from an outsourced retainer.
This guide maps GEO pricing by stage, compares in-house versus outsourced delivery, and shows what each band should buy before a finance team approves the line item. Every figure below links to a public source.
Last updated - September 2026
Key Takeaways
- Pricing depends on scope and goals and is shared on a short call.
- Pricing varies widely by scope and provider.
- In-house GEO specialists average about $95,000 a year; outsourced retainers vary widely by scope.
- Pricing depends on scope and goals and is shared on a short call.
How Much Does GEO Cost by Company Stage in 2026?
Pricing depends on scope and goals and is shared on a short call.
Pricing varies widely by scope and provider.
Pricing depends on scope and goals and is shared on a short call.
Sources: stage bands from TripleDart; Austin Heaton row from the pricing page. For agency-only bands without the stage cut, see AEO agency pricing in 2026.
What Should a Seed-Stage GEO Budget Buy?
Seed teams should fix technical foundations first, ship a few high-intent pages, and monitor the surfaces buyers already use.
Budgeting GEO by stage? Book a 30-minute call with Austin Heaton. Pricing depends on scope and goals and is shared on a short call. See pricing.
Heavy digital PR retainers are usually premature before a content library exists.
Series A, Mid-Market and Enterprise GEO Pricing
Series A through mid-market is where most serious GEO retainers live.
Pricing varies widely by scope and provider.
White-label AEO is offered. Engagement details are on /pricing.
In-House vs Outsourced GEO Cost Comparison
In-house GEO specialists average about $95,000 a year with a 68-day hire time. A loaded two-person GEO team runs about $268,000 a year. Hybrid models combine both, per TripleDart.
GEO Cost FAQ
How much does GEO cost in 2026?
Pricing depends on scope and goals and is shared on a short call.
Is GEO cheaper than SEO?
On median agency retainers, yes for now.
How much does Austin Heaton charge for GEO and AEO?
Pricing depends on scope and goals and is shared on a short call. A local AEO add-on is also available. White-label is offered. Details are on /pricing.
What to Do Before You Set a GEO Budget
Run your top five buyer prompts in ChatGPT and Perplexity and write down who gets recommended. That citation gap is what you are pricing, more than headcount or ARR band. Then match stage to a delivery model and demand deliverable counts.
Ready to price GEO for your stage? Book a 30-minute call. Pricing depends on scope and goals and is shared on a short call. Comparing agency bands only? See AEO agency pricing in 2026.