The verdict in three sentences
A useful monthly SEO retainer for a B2B site lists measurable deliverables (pages shipped, technical fixes, keywords tracked) rather than vague "ongoing optimisation". For a Dublin B2B company, the 2026 market ballpark runs from 750 to 4,000 EUR a month, and a mid tier around 1,500 to 2,500 EUR covers most needs. Insist on a weekly report and a 1 to 3 month notice period: that is how you check the work and leave if it is not being done.
Tasks to write into the retainer
A monthly retainer combines content work, technical upkeep and tracking. Each task needs a frequency and a deliverable you can check.
| Task | Frequency | Checkable deliverable | Indicative time |
|---|---|---|---|
| New service or case study pages | 2 to 6 a month | Live URLs and target query | 3 to 6 h per page |
| Optimising existing pages | 2 to 4 a month | Before and after (title, copy, links) | 1 to 2 h per page |
| Technical fixes | Every month | Errors fixed (Search Console, crawl) | 2 to 8 h |
| Rank tracking | Weekly | 50 to 200 keywords, movement | Tool + 1 h |
| Google Business Profile | 2 to 4 posts a month | Screenshots, call stats | 1 to 2 h |
| Link building (if included) | 2 to 6 a month | URL, date, anchor list | Varies |
| Strategy review | Quarterly | Results and next quarter priorities | 2 to 4 h |
Service tiers and costs
Figures are a 2026 market ballpark in Ireland for a 50 to 200 page B2B site.
| Tier | Monthly fee (2026 market ballpark) | Content per month | Keywords tracked | Technical | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | 750 to 1,500 EUR | 2 | 50 | Health checks, simple fixes | Under 50 pages, Dublin focus |
| Mid tier | 1,500 to 2,500 EUR | 3 to 4 | 100 | Routine fixes, speed | Firms selling across Ireland |
| Advanced | 2,500 to 4,000 EUR | 5 to 6 + links | 150 to 200 | Roadmap with developer time | Ireland and UK, strong competition |
| Kolonell (nearshore option) | 152 to 534 EUR a month (Kolonell's prices: Essentiel 152, Growth 305, Premium 534) | By plan | By plan | Included by plan | Tight budget, one point of contact |
Add costs outside the fee: extra copy (2026 ballpark 300 to 650 EUR a page), development billed separately, and tool subscriptions if not included. Fees above are quoted before VAT.
Reports and contract terms
The weekly report fits on one page: priority keyword rankings, pages published or updated, technical errors fixed and quote requests from the site. The quarterly review steps back on trends. In the contract, check four terms: your company owns Search Console, analytics and Google Business Profile; all content and files are handed over at exit; notice is 1 to 3 months; and there is no guaranteed ranking promise. If the provider touches contact data, add a GDPR compliant data processing agreement, which the Irish Data Protection Commission expects for processors.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Ciara, managing director of a Dublin facilities management firm, 80 pages, 10 quote requests a month, average contract worth 20,000 EUR a year at a 25 % margin. She signs a mid tier retainer at 2,000 EUR a month, 24,000 EUR a year.
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After 9 months, 30 new pages and technical fixes lift requests to 17 a month. Closing 1 in 7, she gains one extra contract a month, each worth 5,000 EUR of annual margin. The three contracts won in the last quarter add 15,000 EUR of annual margin; from year two the retainer clearly pays.
FAQ
How much is a monthly SEO retainer in Dublin?
The 2026 market ballpark is 750 to 4,000 EUR a month depending on content volume and technical scope. The mid tier, 1,500 to 2,500 EUR, suits most B2B firms.
How do we check the work is done?
Ask for the list of published URLs and completed fixes every week. If a report shows charts but no deliverables, ask why.
What commitment is reasonable?
An initial 6 month term is fair, then 1 to 3 months' notice. Avoid 24 month contracts with no exit clause.
Weekly report or quarterly review?
Both: a one page weekly report to track deliverables and a quarterly review to adjust strategy. Leadership needs about an hour a month to read them.
Are tools included?
Usually yes above about 1,000 EUR a month. Otherwise allow a 2026 ballpark of 100 to 450 EUR a month in subscriptions.
Get found by the customers already searching for you. Start with a visibility audit at 100,000 FCFA (about 152 EUR), credited against setup if you start within 30 days, then a 12 month Traffic Engine plan with a weekly report on rankings and quote requests: Traffic Engine. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
