Key Takeaways
This guide breaks down SEO partners who actually get how startups grow. Teams built to drive results, not just rankings.
You’ll find a mix of consultants and agencies, each with a clear focus on revenue growth specifically for startups.
Most startup founders have been burned by SEO promises before.
You invest precious runway dollars only to get vanity metrics and excuses instead of actual growth.
I’ve seen it countless times: agencies selling “traffic growth” while your conversion rates flatline.
Or worse – locking you into long-term contracts with little to show after six months.
The truth? Most SEO companies simply aren’t built for the unique challenges startups face.
They don’t understand your funding pressure, tight runways, or need for quick validation.
But there are exceptions.
This list features eight SEO partners who understand exactly what startups need:
Quick wins that prove their value within weeks, not months
Pricing models that work for pre-Series A companies
Strategies focused on metrics investors actually care about
Hands-on experts who become an extension of your lean team
No more wasted months or burned budget on approaches that don’t deliver.
These are the partners I’d trust with my own startup’s growth engine.
Best 8 Startup SEO Companies You Should Consider
1. Taylor Scher Consulting
I’m an independent SEO consultant with over 5 years of experience building SEO strategies for early-stage startups.
Across tech, SaaS, legal, and retail.
I’m not here to increase vanity metrics like traffic or rankings or hand you a dashboard filled with meaningless numbers.
I focus on one thing: building SEO strategies that drive conversions at the lowest possible acquisition cost.
Every SEO strategy is:
Custom-built for your product and ICP
Designed and executed by me
Focused on short-term wins and long-term scalability
Think of me less as a vendor and more as a growth partner dedicated to scaling your startup.
I only work with clients where there’s a clear fit on both sides.
Meaning, we align on your goals, your product, and how we’ll work together.
If it’s not a match, I’ll let you know upfront.
My services are best for early-stage SaaS and tech startups looking for a hands-on SEO strategist who can easily integrate with their team.
Core Services Include:
SEO Audits
SEO Consulting
Fractional SEO Services
Content Creation
Link Building
2. Mike Khorev
Mike Khorev helps SaaS and tech startups grow through organic search.
With over a decade of experience, he’s worked with brands like BuildFire and Time Doctor.
His own site generates over 30,000 organic clicks every month.
He understands how to turn SEO into a growth engine for startups.
Every strategy focuses on driving measurable results, not just rankings.
If you’re a SaaS startup looking for growth-focused SEO, Mike knows the playbook.
SEO Strategy
SEO Consulting
Content Marketing
Link Building
Technical SEO
Best For: SaaS and tech startups looking for a data-driven SEO expert with a track record of scaling organic traffic.
Client Testimonials:
“Mike is one of the most knowledgeable SEOs I’ve worked with. His strategies are always up-to-date and ROI-focused.” — Paul
“Mike worked closely with our team to improve our SEO across multiple brands, resulting in consistent first-page rankings.” — Michael
3. SureOak
Sure Oak builds long-term, scalable SEO strategies for growing startups.
They’ve been driving results since 2009 with technical SEO, content optimization, and link building.
They also have somenotable results too:
For one SaaS client, they increased inbound leads by 44%.
For an eCommerce brand, they achieved a 91% spike in referral sales.
For a B2B company, they delivered a 35% revenue boost from organic search.
Brands like Event Mobi and Wendell Estate Honey trust them to drive growth.
Best for funded startups looking for full-service SEO focused on real revenue impact.
Their SEO services include:
SEO audits
Technical SEO
Conversion rate optimization
Pay Per Click
Content marketing
Social media marketing
YouTube SEO
The industries they serve include:
Ecommerce
Financial Services
Medical
Information Technology
Client Testimonials:
Sophie Macpherson: SureOak proved to be excellent partners in optimising our SEO. They began with an in-depth site review, offering bespoke recommendations that our web developer could readily implement, ensuring targeted improvements. Additionally, they set us up on GA4, allowing us to effectively track key events and performance metrics. From the initial meeting through onboarding and final handovers, every team member we worked with made their recommendations clear and easy to follow, always ready to explain further or offer additional help if needed. We now feel fully prepared to start tracking and measuring our progress, thanks to SureOak’s expertise and support.
Flora Stuart: If your looking to grow your business with SEO and PPC look no further. They get their clients on the first page in map with organic presence with their skilled SEO strategy .A smaller company gives you the personal attention you need with experienced staff who have been with the company for years. .You can find their clients with PPC on top with ads including LSA ads.
4. Markitors
Markitors is a startup-focused SEO agency built for early-stage growth.
They deliver full-service SEO solutions without draining your budget.
Startups in education, consumer products, and marketing trust their expertise.
Their strategies prioritize quick wins while building long-term growth.
They’re also startup-friendly, with hourly rates between $100–$149.
Best for bootstrapped or early-funded startups looking for cost-effective SEO support.
Their SEO services include:
Technical SEO
White label SEO
Keyword research
Local SEO
Copywriting
Digital PR
Content marketing
The industries they serve include:
Dental
Education
Consumer Products
Advertising & Marketing
Client Testimonials:
Micheal Thompson: They’ve been great at meeting and often exceeding deadlines. We’ve mostly communicated via email (which works best for me). They are always quick to respond and implement changes. They’ve also been fantastic and helping me better understand this SEO world
Dan Reck: We had experience with two previous SEO firms so we knew what we didn’t want. We were pretty frustrated that we could not seem to move the needle on SEO. Markitors was able to address our needs by talking us through the steps that they take. Their responses were detailed and credible and demonstrated an understanding of why our previous efforts did not work.
5. Panem
Panem is a full-service digital agency based in Lviv, Ukraine.
They specialize in SEO, PPC, and conversion optimization for startups.
Early-stage teams trust them to deliver results on tight budgets.
Their services include technical audits, content strategy, and link building.
With packages starting at $1,000/month, they’re built for lean teams.
They also manage PPC, Google Shopping, and analytics campaigns.
Best for startups looking for affordable, hands-on digital growth.
Their digital marketing services include:
SEO strategy
Technical SEO
Content marketing
Keyword research
Conversion rate optimization
Link building
Reputation Management
Industries include:
Real estate
Financial Services
Retail
Medical
6. Smash Digital
Smash Digital isn’t your typical SEO agency.
They’re operators who scale their own brands, not just consultants.
They’ve built and grown 17+ businesses using their proven SEO playbook.
No fluff, no wasted budget.
Just results that actually matter.
They specialize in securing editorial links on sites your competitors can’t access.
In the last year alone, they built over 4,500 backlinks with an average DR of 68.
Every strategy is tested in-house before being deployed for clients.
Best for startups and growing brands serious about building high-quality backlinks and scaling organic traffic.
Their SEO services include:
SEO audits
Strategic link building
Keyword research
Fully managed SEO
Industries include:
E-commerce
Business Services
Media
Consumer Products
7. Boostability
Boostability is a white-label SEO agency built for small to mid-sized businesses.
They help SMBs scale search visibility without enterprise-sized budgets.
With 15+ years of experience, they’ve refined SEO for long-term growth.
Their proprietary LaunchPad platform tracks over 7 million keywords monthly.
It provides real-time data to show exactly how SEO impacts growth.
86% of their clients rank on page one of Google within six months.
They integrate seamlessly with agencies reselling SEO or SMBs needing direct support.
Best for SMBs or agencies looking for scalable, data-driven SEO strategies.
Their SEO services include:
SEO strategy
Keyword research
SEO content writing
Authority link building
Business profile optimization
NAP citation development
8. Smartsites
SmartSites is a full-service digital agency specializing in SEO, PPC, and web design.
They focus on startups across eCommerce, SaaS, legal, and B2B industries.
Founded in 2011, they’ve earned over 1,000 five-star reviews.
Their SEO strategies often double organic traffic within six months.
They integrate PPC and custom web design for scalable growth campaigns.
Clients have seen results like a 500% traffic increase and 6x PPC ROAS.
They understand how to scale campaigns without draining startup resources.
Best for startups needing an all-in-one partner for SEO, PPC, and web design.
Their full list of digital marketing services include:
SEO
PPC
Web Design
Email Marketing
Social media marketing
Industries Include:
eCommerce
Automotive
Dental
Legal
Medical
Why Listen to Me
I’ve spent the last 5 years in the trenches helping startups build SEO strategies that actually convert.
I don’t just talk about SEO – I implement it daily for early-stage companies with real budget constraints.
I’ve worked across multiple verticals from tech to SaaS to legal, seeing firsthand what works for resource-strapped teams.
My focus has always been growth metrics that founders and investors care about: customer acquisition costs, conversion rates, and revenue – not just traffic.
I’ve made every mistake in the book so you don’t have to (like hiring the wrong agency myself in the early days).
Having been on both the client and service provider side, I know exactly what red flags to watch for when selecting an SEO partner.
Unlike typical “best of” lists, I’m not including agencies based on who paid for placement or who ranks well themselves.
Each company here has proven they understand the unique challenges startups face: limited budgets, pressure to show traction, and the need for strategies that scale.
My Selection Criteria
I didn’t just throw together a random list of SEO companies with good marketing.
Each agency or consultant made this list based on specific criteria that matter for startups:
- Startup-Specific Experience – They understand the unique challenges of early-stage companies and have a track record of helping startups specifically.
- Budget-Conscious Pricing – Their pricing models are built for startups, not enterprise companies with massive marketing budgets.
- Quick-Win Focus – They balance long-term strategy with an emphasis on early wins that can help prove traction.
- Conversion Expertise – They prioritize metrics that truly matter for startup growth: leads, sales, and revenue – not just rankings and traffic.
- Hands-On Approach – They provide direct access to senior team members rather than passing clients off to junior staff after the sale.
I deliberately excluded agencies with enterprise-focused pricing, those requiring long-term contracts without clear deliverables, and those prioritizing vanity metrics over actual growth.
Consultant vs. Agency: Which Is Right For Your Startup?
The right choice between a consultant and agency depends entirely on your specific needs.
Here’s when each makes sense:
Choose a Consultant When You:
- Need expert strategy but have an in-house team for execution
- Are working with limited budget but need high-level expertise
- Want direct access to a senior strategist without account manager layers
- Need someone who can integrate seamlessly with your existing team
- Value flexibility and the ability to pivot strategies quickly
Choose an Agency When You:
- Need full-service execution across multiple channels
- Don’t have any in-house marketing resources
- Require specialized skills across different domains (technical SEO, content, link building)
- Have the budget for a more comprehensive solution
- Need a team that can scale resources up quickly as you grow
For most early-stage startups, a consultant provides the expertise you need without the overhead of a full agency.
As you scale and your needs become more complex, transitioning to an agency with specialized teams often makes more sense.
The most important factor is finding a partner who truly understands startup constraints and focuses on driving meaningful growth metrics.
Your Next Step: Finding Your Startup’s Perfect SEO Match
The right SEO partner can transform your growth trajectory – but the wrong one can waste precious runway and momentum.
Don’t make the mistake of choosing based on impressive case studies from enterprise clients or promises of “page one rankings.”
Your startup needs a partner who:
Understands your specific growth stage and runway constraints
Has proven experience scaling businesses at your exact stage
Focuses obsessively on metrics that matter to your investors and board
Can adapt quickly as your product and positioning evolve
The consultants and agencies on this list have demonstrated they can build sustainable acquisition channels for early-stage companies – not just temporary traffic spikes.
For pre-seed and seed companies, start with a consultant who can work directly with your founding team.
As you approach Series A with more resources, consider agencies with specialized teams that can scale with you.
The most important factor isn’t their size or how many big logos they have – it’s whether they truly understand the unique pressure points of startup growth.
Want to skip the trial and error completely? Let’s talk about your specific growth challenges.
I’ll help you identify exactly which partner on this list is the right fit for your startup’s stage, goals, and budget.