- Challenge
- Like most local contractors, the business was nearly invisible in organic search for high-intent “near me” queries and leaned heavily on word-of-mouth and paid leads. It needed consistent organic visibility for its service-area pages.
- Approach
- A structured SEO plan focused on the service and location pages a hardscaping contractor converts on — paver patios, retaining walls, driveways and walkways, and outdoor-living spaces, paired with city and “near me” service-area pages — plus technical clean-up and steady content production, executed methodically week over week against the client’s own Google Search Console baseline.
- Result
- +64% organic clicks
Foundgrove is an SEO agency for US service businesses. We combine traditional SEO with Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) so you rank in Google, AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and Perplexity. Engagements start at $2,500/mo on the Growth tier — month-to-month, no minimum, no lock-in.
SEO · Updated July 2026
SEO Agency for Service Businesses
Rank in Google search, AI Overviews, and ChatGPT.
Definition
What is SEO?
SEO, GEO & AEO is a retained service that delivers more qualified leads from search and ai for US service businesses. We combine strategy, execution, tracking, and reporting in one engagement led by a senior strategist. We combine traditional SEO with Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) so your business shows up everywhere prospects search — Google, AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini.
Getting cited by AI search is part of this program too. We break the AI-specific work out into dedicated generative engine optimization (GEO) and AI SEO pages — the same discipline under the names buyers search for, run alongside the SEO foundations above.
The audit is also where we tell you if the site itself is the constraint. When a rebuild beats patching, we quote that work separately as a website design engagement rather than band-aid a broken foundation.
Rank for what buyers actually type
We target high-intent commercial keywords your competitors ignore — the long-tail queries that convert far better than generic terms.
Get cited by AI search
AI Overviews appear on 20.5% of keywords, and on 21.4% of informational queries (Ahrefs, 146M SERPs, September 2025). We structure your content for passage-level extraction so ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity recommend you.
Compounding monthly returns
Unlike paid ads, SEO traffic compounds. Most clients see a 60-90 day ramp, then lead growth that builds month over month as rankings and AI citations accumulate.
Process
How does our SEO process work?
Our SEO process runs in four phases — audit, strategy, execute, optimize — on a month-to-month engagement with no minimum and no lock-in. Phase one delivers a written audit and roadmap inside 14 days. Phase two builds the strategy. Phase three executes against revenue KPIs. Phase four turns reporting into compounding optimizations every month.
- Step 01
Audit
Technical, on-page, off-page, and AI visibility audit. We benchmark you against your top 5 competitors and flag the highest-leverage fixes.
- Step 02
Strategy
Keyword map, content roadmap, link plan, and a 90-day target list. We prioritize commercial-intent keywords with clear conversion potential.
- Step 03
Execute
Technical fixes, content production, schema deployment, internal linking, and digital PR. Everything publishes on your site, in your brand voice.
- Step 04
Optimize
Monthly reporting on rankings, traffic, leads, and AI citations. Quarterly content refresh on top pages. Continuous CRO on landing pages.
Scope
What's included in SEO services?
Every SEO retainer includes the full deliverable list below — no à la carte upsells, no surprise scope creep. Each item is owned by a named strategist on our side and tracked weekly inside your live dashboard. Larger accounts add volume (more content, more campaigns, more pages) rather than line items.
- Monthly technical SEO audit and fixes
- 4-8 long-form articles per month written by industry-experienced writers
- On-page optimization for 10-20 priority pages monthly
- Schema markup deployment (Organization, FAQPage, Service, Article)
- 5-10 high-quality backlinks per month from DR40+ sites
- Google Business Profile optimization and review management
- AI search tracking across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Google AI Overviews
- Monthly reporting call with the strategist who runs your account
Case studies
Real SEO client results.
Real, anonymized SEO engagements — organic-click results measured in each client's own Google Search Console. Names withheld for confidentiality.
- Challenge
- Competing in a crowded managed-IT market where established players dominated the search results for commercial-intent keywords, the firm struggled to be found for the services it most wanted to sell.
- Approach
- A focused SEO program targeting the firm’s core managed-services categories — managed IT and help-desk support, cybersecurity, and cloud and co-managed services — on the commercial-intent pages that attract qualified, sales-ready inquiries, supported by ongoing content and technical optimization with steady weekly output.
- Result
- +75% organic clicks
Pricing
How much does SEO cost?
SEO starts at $2,500/mo on the Growth tier. Pricing scales based on market competition, content volume, and the number of locations or service lines. Most engagements include the full deliverable list with no add-on fees.
- Growth tier — full audit, strategy, execution, and reporting from day one.
- Month-to-month — cancel anytime. No minimum, no lock-in. No setup fee.
- Quarterly business reviews, monthly reporting calls, and a live dashboard included.
Fit
Who is SEO right for?
SEO is best for established US service businesses with at least $500K in annual revenue, a defined ideal customer, and the operational capacity to handle more leads. We work with single-location practices through 50-location franchises across healthcare, legal, home services, B2B SaaS, and local services. SEO is not a fit for pre-revenue startups or businesses that need leads tomorrow — for those we recommend starting with Paid Ads.
Industries we serve with SEO
- Dental Practices
- HVAC Companies
- Personal Injury Law Firms
- SaaS Startups
- Plumbing Companies
- Restaurants
- See all 53 industries →
States we serve with SEO
Further reading
Go deeper on SEO.
Our in-depth SEO guides break down the strategy, tactics, and benchmarks behind everything above.
FAQs
What are the most common questions about SEO?
The most common questions we get from prospects evaluating SEO. If yours is not here, book a free 30-minute call and we will answer it directly.
How long until I see SEO results?
Most clients see early ranking movement within 30-60 days, meaningful traffic gains by month 3, and compounding lead growth through month 6 and beyond. SEO compounds — the work you fund in month one drives results 6-12 months later. We are transparent: if your site has technical debt or no domain authority, expect a slower ramp.
What is the difference between SEO, GEO, and AEO?
SEO ranks you in Google's blue links. GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) gets your content cited by AI Overviews and Perplexity. AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) gets you recommended by chat assistants like ChatGPT and Claude. All three use overlapping foundations but require distinct optimization tactics. We do all three under one retainer.
Do you do local SEO and Google Business Profile management?
Yes. Local SEO is included in every retainer for service-area businesses. We handle GBP optimization, citation cleanup across 50+ directories, review request workflows, and local content production. For multi-location businesses, we set up location-specific landing pages and manage each GBP profile.
How much does SEO cost?
Our SEO retainers start at $2,500/month for service-area businesses and scale to $10,000+/month for competitive verticals or multi-location operations. Pricing is based on your market competition, content production volume, and link-building scope. There is no setup fee, and engagements are month-to-month — cancel anytime, no minimum, no lock-in.
Can you guarantee rankings?
No legitimate agency can guarantee Google rankings — anyone who does is lying. What we can guarantee is the work: the audit, the strategy, the content, the links, the schema, and the reporting. We share live dashboards, send weekly updates, and meet monthly. If we are not delivering on the agreed scope, cancel anytime — month-to-month, no minimum, no lock-in.
What if my site has technical problems?
We fix them. Most agencies bill technical SEO separately or pass it to your developer. We handle Core Web Vitals, crawlability, indexation, redirects, and migrations in-house at no extra cost. If your site needs a rebuild, we will tell you honestly and quote the work separately rather than band-aid a broken foundation.
Do I own the content and backlinks?
Yes, fully. All content, schema, on-page changes, and earned backlinks belong to you. If you cancel, your rankings and traffic continue. We do not use private blog networks, link farms, or any tactics that put your domain at risk. Every link we earn is editorial and would survive a Google penalty review.
Do you offer AI SEO and generative engine optimization?
Yes — it is core to what we do. Our SEO retainer includes generative engine optimization (GEO) and answer engine optimization (AEO), so your business shows up in Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini, not just blue-link rankings. AI SEO services like passage-level content structuring, schema, and llms.txt are built in. If GEO is your main priority, we also offer it as a dedicated generative engine optimization service with its own AI-visibility tracking.
Ready to see what we can do?
Free 30-minute audit and a written SEO growth plan within 48 hours.
Written by Hyder Shah, Founder & CEO · Updated July 2026