Local SEO opportunity calculator
For a local service business the question is simple: what would more local enquiries actually be worth? Enter your numbers to estimate the extra sales, revenue and gross profit from reaching a target enquiry level, and whether the likely SEO cost is worth it.
How it works
The calculator works out how many extra enquiries a month it would take to move from where you are now to your target, turns those into likely jobs using your conversion rate, and then values them at your average job value and gross margin. The bottom line compares the extra gross profit against the monthly cost of the SEO work, because revenue alone does not pay for the marketing.
Gross profit is the right number to weigh here: it is what is left after the direct cost of delivering each job, so it is the money actually available to cover the SEO spend and still leave you better off.
How to use the result
Treat the target as a planning lever. If the extra gross profit comfortably clears the cost, the target is worth pursuing where it is realistic for your area. If it does not, raise the target, win a higher share of the enquiries you already get, or focus on higher-value jobs before committing to the spend.
SME Brief uses anonymised, aggregated UK service-sector enquiry data as a directional signal. It measures enquiry demand, not completed work or total market size.
This is a planning estimate based on your inputs, not a guarantee of rankings or enquiries. Local results depend on competition, reviews, your Google Business Profile and more.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between current and target monthly enquiries, and how do I set the target?
- Current is the local enquiries you already get in a typical month. Target is the higher level you hope SEO would help you reach. The tool only counts the gap between them, so if your target is the same or lower than current, additional enquiries show as zero. Set a target that is realistic for your area, not just an aspiration.
- Why does the tool judge SEO cost against gross profit instead of revenue?
- Revenue includes the direct cost of delivering each job, so it overstates what is actually available to pay for marketing. Gross profit is what remains after those direct costs, which is the real money that can cover the SEO spend and still leave you better off. That is why the verdict compares additional gross profit, not revenue, against the monthly cost.
- What does the verdict mean when it says the target is worth pursuing?
- It means the extra gross profit at your target enquiry level is clearly above your monthly SEO cost, so the maths supports the spend if the target is realistic for your area. If it shows the opposite, the extra profit falls below the cost. The tool flags the case but does not decide for you; competition and your area still matter.
- The result looks too good. What is a common mistake when filling this in?
- Overstating the sales conversion rate is the usual one. That field is the share of enquiries that actually become paid jobs, not the share you quote for. Be honest about it. Also check that gross margin reflects the cost of delivering the work, and that average job value is typical rather than your best job, or every output will be inflated.
- If the numbers look strong, can I treat this as a guarantee that SEO will pay off?
- No. This is a planning estimate based on the figures you enter, not a guarantee of rankings or enquiries. Whether you reach the target depends on competition, reviews, your Google Business Profile and more. Use it to see whether a target is worth pursuing, and treat the enquiry data as a directional signal of demand, not completed work. It is not financial advice.