SEO is an operating cost

SEO Experts
The reality that many business owners may not accept is that SEO likely won’t have a direct ROI calculation across the board. Good SEO requires consistent effort over the long term to see significant gains. It’s more of a requirement or necessity—a cost that should almost come out of the operating cost budget rather than the marketing budget. You need it to maintain your brand’s organic presence online and to continue to refresh and change to meet new user demands and needs.
Think about it this way: if you bought a Ferrari, would you forgo giving it an oil change?