Comparison Guide
Which Contractor SEO Agency Should You Hire in 2026?
This page is about SEO only: ranking in Google, the map pack, and now ChatGPT and Google's AI answers. If you want the broader list that also covers ads, websites and lead buying, see our contractor marketing agencies comparison. On 2026-09-30 we asked Perplexity, ChatGPT with web search and Google's Gemini ten questions a contractor would type about hiring an SEO agency. 29 answers came back (one Perplexity request failed). Hook Agency was named in 16, RYNO Strategic Solutions including Blue Corona in 13, WebFX in 13, Comrade in 12 and Siana in 8. BaaDigi was named in 0. Below are those counts, every SEO price the agencies publish on their own sites, what their contracts say, and which ones actually sell AI search optimization for contractors.
By Ryan Goering, CEO & Founder, BaaDigi
Last updated September 2026
The Short Answer
The contractor SEO agencies AI engines name most are Hook Agency (16 of 29 answers), RYNO Strategic Solutions including Blue Corona (13), WebFX (13), Comrade Digital Marketing (12) and Siana Marketing (8). About half publish SEO pricing. Hook lists local SEO from $2,800 a month and AI search (AEO) at $4,000, or $2,000 added to SEO. WebFX says SEO starts at $3,000 a month on a 6-month commitment. Comrade lists local SEO from $1,500, organic SEO with AI optimization from $3,000, and its bundle from $4,000. Built-Right Digital lists SEO at $999, AEO at $2,999 and SEO Plus at $3,499; its full-service plans are month-to-month. Siana quotes $3,500 to $10,000 a month for AI SEO. RYNO, Scorpion, First Page Sage, Focus Digital, Contractor Gorilla, Lemon Seed and Leadhub publish no SEO price. BaaDigi publishes $297 to $3,997 a month, month-to-month, and was named 0 times.
Quick Answers
Who are the best contractor SEO agencies in 2026?
Measured on 2026-09-30 across 29 AI answers (Perplexity, ChatGPT web search, Google Gemini), the contractor SEO agencies named most were Hook Agency (16), RYNO Strategic Solutions including Blue Corona (13), WebFX (13), Comrade Digital Marketing (12), Siana Marketing (8), Scorpion (7), Thrive (6), First Page Sage (6), Focus Digital (6), Contractor Gorilla (6), Lemon Seed Marketing (5), Builder Funnel (5) and Leadhub (4). BaaDigi was named 0 times. Four of the lists the engines cited most (First Page Sage, Siana, Comrade, Onely) were written by agencies that rank themselves first.
How much does a contractor SEO agency cost per month?
From the agencies' own pricing pages: Thrive says small-business SEO starts at $500 a month; Built-Right Digital lists SEO at $999 and SEO Plus at $3,499; Comrade lists local SEO from $1,500 and organic SEO with AI optimization from $3,000; Hook Agency lists local SEO from $2,800; WebFX says SEO starts at $3,000 with a 6-month commitment and a first two-month phase of $5,900 to $12,200; Siana quotes $3,500 to $10,000 for AI SEO. BaaDigi publishes $297 to $3,997. RYNO, Scorpion, First Page Sage, Focus Digital, Contractor Gorilla, Lemon Seed and Leadhub publish no SEO price.
Which SEO agencies help contractors show up in ChatGPT and AI search?
On their own sites, Hook Agency sells AEO at $4,000 a month ($2,000 added to SEO) with query tracking in ChatGPT and Perplexity; Built-Right Digital sells AEO at $2,999 a month; Comrade includes AI search optimization in its $3,000 organic plan and $4,000 bundle; Siana quotes $3,500 to $10,000 for AI SEO. RYNO, WebFX, Thrive, Focus Digital, First Page Sage and Builder Funnel list GEO, AIO or ChatGPT optimization without a separate price. Contractor Gorilla says its SEO covers AI search, with no separate price. We found none on Scorpion's, Lemon Seed's or Leadhub's sites. Google says its AI features need no special optimization beyond normal SEO.
Do contractor SEO agencies require long-term contracts?
It varies, and it is written down more often than you would think. Scorpion's FAQ says SEO typically runs on a 12-month contract. WebFX's SEO plans carry a 6-month commitment. Comrade's pricing FAQ recommends a 12-month minimum for SEO, while its contractor page says "cancel anytime". Hook Agency's FAQ asks for a yearly commitment. Thrive and Focus Digital state month-to-month terms, Built-Right Digital says its full-service plans are month-to-month, and First Page Sage says it does not lock clients into long-term contracts. BaaDigi is month-to-month. RYNO, Siana, Lemon Seed and Leadhub do not publish a term.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Agency | Named by AI (of 29 answers) | Published SEO pricing | Contract terms (as published) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hook Agency (contractors, "best fit" over $2M) | 16 (Perplexity 3 · ChatGPT 5 · Google 8) | Local SEO from $2,800/mo; AEO $4,000/mo ($2,000 added to SEO); PPC from $2,000/mo; sites $12k or $24k over 12 months | Yearly commitment (its own FAQ); you own site and ad account |
| RYNO Strategic Solutions incl. Blue Corona (home services) | 13 (2 · 4 · 7) | Not published | Not published; "you own your website outright" |
| WebFX (general, 200+ industries) | 13 (5 · 4 · 4) | SEO from $3,000/mo; first 2 months $5,900–$12,200, then $2,900–$9,200/mo | 6-month commitment on SEO plans |
| Comrade Digital Marketing (contractors + home services) | 12 (5 · 5 · 2) | Local SEO from $1,500/mo; organic SEO + AI optimization from $3,000/mo; bundle from $4,000/mo | Pricing FAQ recommends a 12-month minimum for SEO; contractor page says "cancel anytime" |
| Siana Marketing (architecture, engineering, construction only) | 8 (4 · 4 · 0) | AI SEO "typically" $3,500–$10,000/mo | Not published |
| Scorpion (home services, legal, medical) | 7 (0 · 4 · 3) | Not published | 12-month contract for marketing tech and SEO; ads month-to-month |
| Thrive Internet Marketing (general) | 6 (4 · 1 · 1) | Small-business SEO from $500/mo | Month-to-month; "no long-term contracts" |
| First Page Sage (general, since 2009) | 6 (1 · 3 · 2) | Not published | "We don't believe in locking our clients into long-term contracts" |
| Focus Digital (search-only agency) | 6 (2 · 4 · 0) | Not published | Month to month |
| Contractor Gorilla (contractor websites, 18 years) | 6 (1 · 3 · 2) | Not published | Not published |
| Lemon Seed Marketing (the trades; branding-led) | 5 (2 · 3 · 0) | Not published; SEO not listed in its capabilities | Not published |
| Builder Funnel (remodelers + custom builders only) | 5 (0 · 2 · 3) | No SEO-only price; marketing retainers $3,500 / $5,000 / $7,500/mo after a $15,000 or $25,500 build | Not published |
| BaaDigi (Huntington Beach, CA) | 0 of 29 | Published: $297–$3,997/mo | Month-to-month; you own site, rankings, data |
Hook Agency
Visit sitePricing: Local SEO from $2,800/mo; AEO $4,000/mo ($2,000 with SEO); PPC from $2,000/mo; sites $12k or $24k
Pros
- Named in 16 of 29 AI answers, more than any other agency, and in 8 of 10 Google answers
- Publishes its SEO and AI search prices: local SEO from $2,800 a month, AEO $4,000 a month or $2,000 added to SEO
- AEO page promises query tracking across ChatGPT, Google and Perplexity; you own the site and the ad account
Cons
- Says it is usually the best fit for contractors over $2M and "we're more expensive than many companies"
- Its pricing-page FAQ asks for a yearly commitment
- Custom sites run $24,000 over 12 months, and "up to 50k" for complex builds
Best for: Contractors above about $2M who want SEO and AI search from one contractor-only team and can fund a $2,800-plus floor
RYNO Strategic Solutions (formerly Blue Corona)
Visit sitePricing: Not published
Pros
- Named in 13 of 29 answers, 7 of them on Google, mostly still under the Blue Corona name
- Lists generative engine optimization as a service alongside SEO, LSA and call tracking
- Says you own your website outright: "the code, content, imagery... everything"
Cons
- No SEO price or contract term published
- SEO is one service line in a large full-service shop
- AI engines still describe Blue Corona and RYNO as two firms; it is one company
Best for: Multi-truck HVAC, plumbing and electrical companies that want SEO tied to call tracking and ServiceTitan
WebFX
Visit sitePricing: SEO from $3,000/mo; 2-month launch $5,900–$12,200, then $2,900–$9,200/mo for 4 months
Pros
- Named in 13 of 29 answers and one of the most-cited domains in our test
- Publishes its SEO plans: $5,900 to $12,200 for the first two months, then $2,900 to $9,200 a month
- Has a dedicated ChatGPT optimization service
Cons
- Six-month commitment on SEO plans
- General agency across 200-plus industries, not contractor-only
- Floor of $3,000 a month prices out most one- and two-truck shops
Best for: Regional or multi-location contractors who want a large agency with published SEO tiers
Comrade Digital Marketing
Visit sitePricing: Local SEO from $1,500/mo; organic + AI from $3,000/mo; bundle from $4,000/mo
Pros
- Named in 12 of 29 answers; Perplexity picked it as the agency that "gets contractors the most leads"
- Publishes à la carte SEO prices: local SEO from $1,500, organic SEO with AI optimization from $3,000
- AI search optimization is included in the bundle rather than sold as an add-on
Cons
- The Perplexity pick came from Comrade's own "best agencies" list, which ranks Comrade first
- Pricing FAQ recommends a 12-month minimum for SEO, while its contractor page says "cancel anytime"; get the term in writing
- Bundle starts at $4,000 a month before ad spend
Best for: Contractors doing $1M to $20M who want local SEO first and the option to add AI search
Siana Marketing
Visit sitePricing: AI SEO "typically" $3,500–$10,000/mo
Pros
- Named in 8 of 29 answers, 4 on Perplexity and 4 on ChatGPT
- Works only with architecture, engineering, construction and real estate firms, with AI search built into the pitch
- Publishes a price range for AI SEO: $3,500 to $10,000 a month
Cons
- Its "top local SEO agencies for contractors" list, which the engines cite, ranks Siana first
- Built for commercial and AEC buyers more than residential service calls
- No contract terms published
Best for: Commercial and general contractors who sell to developers and want AI search as the main goal
Built-Right Digital
Visit sitePricing: SEO $999/mo; AEO $2,999/mo; SEO Plus $3,499/mo
Pros
- The most complete published SEO rate card in the set: SEO $999, AEO $2,999, SEO Plus $3,499 a month
- Full-service plans are month-to-month and you keep the website, domain and hosting
- No percentage of ad spend
Cons
- Named in only 3 of 29 answers
- Its septic page has shown a different tier set from its pricing page, so confirm the quote in writing
- Website builds are a separate $5,750 to $14,390 one-time fee
Best for: Small and mid-size contractors who want an SEO or AEO line item with a price on it
Scorpion
Visit sitePricing: Not published
Pros
- Named in 7 of 29 answers, 4 on ChatGPT
- Large home-services client base; all-in-one website, SEO, ads and reviews
Cons
- Its FAQ says SEO and marketing technology typically run on a 12-month contract
- On exit you get static site files and must rebuild with another vendor, because the CMS is proprietary
- No published pricing
Best for: Larger multi-location home-services companies that want one platform and accept a 12-month term
How we tested which SEO agencies AI engines recommend to contractors
On 2026-09-30 we asked ten questions a contractor might type, including "Best SEO agency for contractors?", "Affordable SEO agency for a small contracting business?", "What agency helps contractors show up in ChatGPT and AI search?" and "Which SEO agencies publish their pricing for contractors?", to Perplexity (sonar), ChatGPT with web search (gpt-4o) and Google's Gemini with Search grounding. That is 30 requests; one Perplexity request failed on a rate limit, so 29 answers. We counted each answer that named an agency, merged Blue Corona into RYNO because they are one company, and left software and directories (ServiceTitan, Clutch, DesignRush) out of the table. BaaDigi was named in 0 of 29. Perplexity did cite our contractor SEO page as a source once without naming us, which is its own lesson about AI search.
Added after a re-tally: Contractor Gorilla (6 answers) and Builder Funnel (5) were named often enough to earn table rows. Built-Right Digital (3 answers) dropped out of the table to keep it readable, but its published SEO prices appear below because they are among the most complete in the category.
Who wrote the lists the AI engines are reading?
Mostly the agencies themselves. The pages the engines cited most were Clutch (26 citations), First Page Sage (18), Comrade (16), WebFX (16), Thrive (15) and Siana (9). First Page Sage's "Top Contractor SEO Agencies" ranks First Page Sage first. Siana's "Top Local SEO Agencies for Contractors" ranks Siana first. Comrade's contractor SEO list ranks Comrade first, and that is where Perplexity got its answer that Comrade "gets contractors the most leads". Onely's "AI SEO Agencies for Contractors" ranks Onely first and says so in a disclosure. None of that makes the lists wrong, but it explains why a brand can dominate AI answers for a query it wrote the source page for.
One more thing the lists show: First Page Sage ranks Lemon Seed Marketing fifth for contractor SEO, yet Lemon Seed's own capabilities menu lists strategy, branding, social media and graphic design, not SEO. The same list ranks Contractor Gorilla sixth while noting it lacks "pure SEO expertise"; Contractor Gorilla's own site leads with website design. Check the agency's site, not the list.
Which contractor SEO agencies actually sell AI search optimization?
Priced and published: **Hook Agency** sells AEO at $4,000 a month, or $2,000 added to an SEO plan, with query tracking across ChatGPT, Google and Perplexity. **Built-Right Digital** sells AEO at $2,999 a month. **Comrade** folds AI optimization into its organic SEO plan from $3,000 and its $4,000 bundle. **Siana** quotes $3,500 to $10,000 a month for AI SEO.
Listed but not priced: **RYNO** (generative engine optimization), **WebFX** (ChatGPT optimization), **Thrive** (GEO services), **Focus Digital** (GEO, and says AI search has been in every campaign since 2024), **First Page Sage** (AEO services) **Builder Funnel** ("AIO SEO" in its services menu) and **Contractor Gorilla** (says its SEO covers AI search).
Not found on their sites: **Scorpion**, **Lemon Seed** and **Leadhub**.
Before paying extra for it, know what Google says: its AI Overviews and AI Mode need no special optimization, file or schema beyond normal SEO. And the bar is high. SOCi found ChatGPT recommended just 1.2% of the 350,000-plus business locations it studied. So ask any agency selling AI search to show you, in writing, the exact prompts it will track for your trade and city and where you stand today.
What contractors complain about after signing an SEO contract
The complaints that reach the Better Business Bureau are rarely about rankings. They are about terms and control. **Surprise terms.** In a 2026 BBB complaint against Scorpion, an HVAC company says it was told the engagement was month-to-month, paid $4,200 to start, learned within four weeks that $2,000 of it was committed to a 12-month obligation, and was down $26,000 by the end of January 2026 without the leads it expected. Scorpion replied that the 12-month commitment was in the signed agreement and that backlinks and citations were not contracted deliverables. **Losing control on exit.** In another 2026 complaint, a business says Scorpion kept Primary Owner status on its Google Business Profile after the engagement ended, despite three written requests. Scorpion replied that the requests went to an unmonitored inbox and that it transferred ownership on June 29, 2026. Google's own policy says the business should be the owner and the agency a manager, and that control must be handed back within 7 business days of the customer's notice. Ask for reporting on calls and booked jobs by source, not just rankings, before you sign.
What a contractor SEO contract should say
Term: month-to-month, or a short minimum that converts to month-to-month with 30 days notice. Scorpion (12 months), Hook Agency (yearly) and WebFX (6 months) publish their commitments; Thrive, Focus Digital, Built-Right (full-service plans) and BaaDigi publish month-to-month. **Ownership**: the domain, website files, Google Business Profile (you as primary owner), Search Console and GA4 in your name. A proprietary CMS means rebuilding when you leave. **Deliverables**: a written monthly list of pages, fixes and profile work, not "optimization". **Reporting**: calls, form fills and booked jobs by source, not only rankings and impressions. **AI search**: if you pay for it, the tracked prompts and a baseline. **Guarantees**: Google says no one can guarantee a number-one ranking, so treat a ranking guarantee as a red flag.
Which contractor SEO agency fits your size?
Under about $1M, one or two trucks: fix the free things first, a complete Google Business Profile, steady reviews and a site with a page for each service and town. If you hire, look at published entry points: Thrive from $500 (month-to-month), Built-Right's $999 SEO plan or BaaDigi from $297 (month-to-month).
$1M to $5M: $1,500 to $3,500 a month buys real local SEO. Comrade's local SEO from $1,500, Built-Right's SEO Plus at $3,499, or BaaDigi's $1,397 engine with AI visibility tracking included.
Above $2M to $3M and competitive metros: the most-named agencies fit here. Hook from $2,800 plus $2,000 for AI search, WebFX from $3,000 on a 6-month commitment, RYNO and Scorpion on custom quotes, Siana at $3,500 to $10,000 for commercial and AEC work.
If you need ads, websites and lead buying compared as well as SEO, use the broader contractor marketing agencies comparison instead of this page.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best SEO agency for contractors?
There is no single best, but the agencies AI engines named most in our 2026-09-30 test of 29 answers were Hook Agency (16), RYNO Strategic Solutions including Blue Corona (13), WebFX (13), Comrade Digital Marketing (12) and Siana Marketing (8). Hook is contractor-only and says it fits companies over $2M. WebFX and Thrive are general agencies. Siana serves architecture, engineering and construction firms. Pick on published price, contract term and who owns the site and Google Business Profile, not on a list the agency wrote itself.
How much should a contractor pay for SEO?
Published prices from agencies AI engines name run from $500 a month (Thrive's small-business starting point) to $999 (Built-Right Digital), $1,500 (Comrade local SEO), $2,800 (Hook Agency), $3,000 (WebFX) and $3,500 to $10,000 (Siana's AI SEO range). BaaDigi publishes $297 to $3,997. Judge it on cost per booked job after six months, not on rankings.
What is AI SEO for contractors, and do I need it?
AI SEO, also sold as AEO or GEO, is work aimed at getting your business named when someone asks ChatGPT, Perplexity or Google's AI for a contractor. Hook Agency charges $4,000 a month for it ($2,000 added to SEO), Built-Right Digital $2,999, and Comrade includes it from $3,000. Google says its AI features need no special optimization beyond sound SEO, so the foundations are the same: a clear site, a complete Google Business Profile, reviews and mentions on other sites. Pay extra only if the agency tracks named prompts for your trade and city.
Should a contractor sign a 12-month SEO contract?
Only with an exit clause and ownership in writing. Scorpion's FAQ says SEO typically runs 12 months, Hook Agency's FAQ asks for a yearly commitment, WebFX's SEO plans carry a 6-month commitment, and Comrade recommends 12 months for SEO. Thrive, Focus Digital and BaaDigi publish month-to-month terms, as does Built-Right Digital for its full-service plans. Whatever the term, the contract should name you as primary owner of the Google Business Profile and owner of the domain, website files, Search Console and GA4.
Which contractor SEO agencies publish their pricing?
Hook Agency (local SEO from $2,800, AEO $4,000), WebFX (SEO from $3,000; $2,900 to $9,200 a month after the first two months), Comrade (local SEO from $1,500, organic plus AI from $3,000, bundle from $4,000), Built-Right Digital (SEO $999, AEO $2,999, SEO Plus $3,499), Thrive (from $500), Siana ($3,500 to $10,000 for AI SEO) and BaaDigi ($297 to $3,997). Builder Funnel publishes marketing retainers of $3,500 to $7,500 a month but no SEO-only price. RYNO/Blue Corona, Scorpion, First Page Sage, Focus Digital, Contractor Gorilla, Lemon Seed and Leadhub do not publish SEO prices.
Is Blue Corona the same company as RYNO?
Yes. Blue Corona merged with RYNO Strategic Solutions in October 2024 under the RYNO name, and RYNO's own site now says "formerly Blue Corona". AI engines still often list them as two separate agencies, so we merged them: together they were named in 13 of 29 answers in our test, 7 of them on Google.

Ryan Goering
CEO & Founder, BaaDigi
U.S. military veteran and digital marketing strategist who built BaaDigi to help contractors generate predictable leads and revenue. 15+ years in SEO, PPC, and AI-powered marketing automation.
Sources & Further Reading
- Google Search Central — do you need an SEO? (no one can guarantee a #1 ranking)
- Google Search Central — AI features and your website (no special optimization required)
- Google Business Profile — working with a third party (owner vs manager, 7 business days to hand back control)
- BBB — complaints and business responses for Scorpion (12-month term dispute; Business Profile ownership)
- SOCi — ChatGPT recommended 1.2% of 350,000+ locations studied
Keep Reading
- Contractor marketing agencies compared (ads, websites and lead buying)
- SEO for contractors: what BaaDigi does
- How to choose a contractor SEO agency
- Free AI search visibility checker for contractors
- Roofing marketing agencies compared
- HVAC marketing agencies compared
- How much should a contractor spend on marketing?
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