Your Local Small-Business Growth Partner

Local SEO & Websites for
Minnesota Small Businesses

Customers now ask Google and ChatGPT who to call. We make you the answer.

We build websites and local SEO systems that move independently-owned businesses higher in Google's local results and into the recommendations AI assistants give. Your site is live in 30 days and ranking movement typically starts in 60, at a fraction of what national agencies charge.

Call or Text
$599
Starting / month
30
Day setup
0
Long-term contracts
5–10×
Less expensive than big agencies
No downtown office. No account managers. No markups. Just local SEO work done by the person you talk to.
30
Days to go live
Most agencies take 60–90 days just to onboard.
100%
Hyper-local focused
Before we build a page, we research your exact competitors and what Google is rewarding in your city. You get a site built for your market, not copied from a national template.
0
Long-term contracts
Month-to-month. Stay because it works.
What We Do

Everything a local business needs to own local search

01
Website Design & Build

We build custom websites for Minnesota small businesses that load fast, work on mobile, and turn local searchers into calls. Built for your specific business and city, not a recycled template.

Included in all packages
Learn more →
02
Local SEO Optimization

Local SEO gets your business in front of Minnesota customers searching for what you offer right now. We handle on-page optimization, city-specific pages, and keyword targeting so Google sends traffic to you, not your competitors. Every site we build is also structured so AI assistants like ChatGPT can find you and recommend you.

Ongoing monthly
Learn more →
03
Google Business Profile

Google Business Profile is the single most important ranking factor for local search. We set it up, optimize every field, and maintain it monthly so you rank in the map pack, where 70% of local clicks go.

Ongoing monthly
Learn more →
04
Review Generation

More Google reviews means higher local rankings and more trust from new customers. We build an automated system that makes it easy for happy customers to leave 5-star reviews without you having to ask every time.

Momentum & Dominate
05
Local Content & Blogs

Blog posts written for your specific Minnesota service area rank for long-tail searches and build your authority as the local expert. Two posts per month, written for real customers, not search engines.

Dominate only
06
Plain-English Reporting

Every month you get a plain-English report showing calls, clicks, and rankings, no dashboards to decode, no agency jargon. You see exactly what your investment is producing.

Included in all packages
How It Works

You'll see traction in your first 30 days

No 90-day ramp-up. No waiting for results that never come. Here's exactly what happens after you say yes.

01
Days 1–3
Deep Audit

Before we touch anything, we use AI research tools to map your exact market, find every ranking gap, and study the competitors who are already beating you. You will know their names, their review counts, and exactly what they did to earn that ranking, all before we build a single page.

02
Days 4–10
Build

Your new website goes live. Google Business Profile is claimed, fully optimized, and loaded with the photos, categories, and keywords that drive map pack rankings in your city.

03
Days 11–21
Launch

Local SEO targeting your city and service keywords goes live. Review generation system activated. GBP posts scheduled. Your competitors start losing ground.

04
Day 30
First Report

A plain-English report lands in your inbox: calls, clicks, and early ranking movement vs. named competitors. Month 2 strategy is set. Most clients in lower-competition markets are already getting new Google calls by this point.

One-time setup fee. 3-month start, then month-to-month. 30-day setup guarantee, your site is live in 30 days or your first month is free.
How We Compare

Big agencies aren't built for your business

National agencies charge 5–10× more, lock you into contracts, and hand you to a junior rep who doesn't know Big Lake from Minneapolis. Here's the real picture.

We use AI to do the work, humans to check the quality. That's how we deliver what a $3,000 agency charges for at $599.

What Matters ✦ The Refiners Co Big Agencies
Monthly pricing$599 – $1,099/mo$1,500 – $5,000+/mo
Commitment✓ 90-day start, then month-to-month6–12 month contracts
Local market knowledge✓ Hyper-local focusGeneric, non-local
Hyper-local MN focus✓ Minnesota-basedNational, non-local
Real human you can call✓ Direct accessAccount rep rotation
Website included✓ All packagesUsually extra cost
Setup time✓ 30 days60–90 days typical
Understands MN seasonality✓ Built for itGeneric strategy
Pre-build market research✓ AI-powered competitor analysisStandard checklist audit

* Competitor pricing from publicly available agency sites and industry reports, May 2026.

Pricing

Simple packages. No surprises.

Foundation
Foundation
$599/mo

+ $299 one-time setup fee

Get found by the people already searching for what you do. Right for businesses with no real Google presence today.

  • 5-page website built to turn searches into calls
  • Google Business Profile setup, so you show up on the map
  • Local SEO that puts your city and service in the results
  • Mobile-first design, where most local searches happen
  • Monthly plain-English report: calls, clicks, rankings
Dominate
Dominate
$1,099/mo

+ $549 one-time setup fee

Get found in every town you serve, not just your own. Built for competitive markets.

  • Everything in Momentum
  • 2 blog posts/month answering what your customers search
  • Citations on 40+ directories Google cross-checks
  • Geo pages that get you found in nearby cities + suburbs
  • Monthly strategy call
  • Priority support

The math is simple: one new customer a month covers the fee. For a trades business, a single job can pay for months of service.

Not sure which plan fits? See the full local SEO checklist to understand what the work involves →

Phone / Text
Based In
Big Lake, MN
Hours
Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm CT
Who You're Working With

Local business owner.
Not a big agency.

I'm Chad. I run The Refiners Co out of Big Lake. Not a national agency with 50 account reps. A local business owner who got tired of watching great small businesses stay invisible on Google while inferior competitors showed up first.

I built this for locally-owned Minnesota businesses: bakeries, barbershops, dental offices, restaurants, contractors, salons, retailers, and any independent business that deserves to show up when their neighbors search for them.

Based in Big Lake. I know your market
Direct line to me, not a junior account rep
100% focused on local businesses like yours
Plain-English reports every month
Every site built to ADA accessibility standards
By the numbers
MN
Statewide
30
Day setup
$0
To cancel
1–2
New clients to break even

"Your neighbors are searching for your services right now. The only question is whether they find you or your competitor."

Chad Sevre, Founder · The Refiners Co · Big Lake, MN
Limited Pilot Offer

Be one of the first. Get the best rate.

We are onboarding our first clients across central Minnesota now. To document real local results, we are offering a limited number of pilot spots at a reduced rate, in exchange for an honest review once results are in.

01
First 3 clients

Get the Foundation plan at a pilot rate. Full service, documented results, no long-term commitment.

02
We do the work

Website, GBP, local SEO: everything live within 30 days. You stay focused on running your business.

03
You share results

An honest Google review once results are in. That is it: no obligation to continue, no pressure.

Claim a Pilot Spot

Pilot pricing available to the first 3 businesses in the area. One per niche per city.

What's Happening Right Now

We're early. That works in your favor.

We launched with a small pilot program across central Minnesota. First client is active. Case study results are coming. Here's what that means for you.

In Progress
First Local Client

New website and local SEO system active for a service business in the area. Results tracking starts now.

Case study expected: August 2026
Coming Soon
Free Local Ranking Check

A public tool showing exactly where your business ranks on Google in your Minnesota market, no signup required.

Launching alongside first case study
2 Spots Left
Pilot Program: One Per Niche

3 pilot spots total. 1 filled. The two remaining businesses get pilot pricing, priority setup, and the most attention we'll ever give a single client.

Claim a spot before they're gone →
Get the case study when it drops.
Real before/after numbers from a real local business. No fluff.
Where We Work

Serving independently-owned
businesses across Minnesota

HVAC & Plumbing Contractors Auto Repair Landscaping Restaurants Barbershops Dental & Medical Pet Services + Any Local Business
Business types we serve
Dental & Medical HVAC & Plumbing Electricians Barbershops & Salons Restaurants Auto Repair Landscaping General Contractors Roofing & Siding + More
Your neighbors are searching for your services right now.

Every day you're not showing up on Google is a day a competitor gets that call. We change that, starting in 30 days, with no long-term contract required.

Claim Your Free Audit
Common Questions

Everything you want to
know before you call

Local SEO is the process of making sure your business shows up when nearby customers search for your services on Google, in the map pack, local listings, and organic results. When someone types "dentist near me" or "HVAC Big Lake MN," local SEO determines whether they find you or a competitor. For most small businesses, the majority of new customers start with a Google search. Not ranking means leaving money on the table every single day.
Most clients see measurable improvements within 30 to 90 days, more calls, more Google Business Profile views, better map rankings. Reaching page one for competitive terms typically takes 3 to 6 months of consistent work. SEO compounds over time and keeps working long after the initial effort. We track everything so you can see exactly what is moving.
Your free audit covers five areas: Google Business Profile health, how you appear in local map results, your website's technical SEO and page speed, citation consistency across 40-plus directories (Yelp, BBB, Bing Places, etc.), and a competitor gap analysis. We send it within one business day and walk you through it on a free call, no pressure, just honest data.
We start with a 3-month minimum so there is enough time to do the work right. After that, everything is month-to-month. We keep clients by delivering results, not by trapping them in long agreements. To pause or cancel after the first 3 months, just give us 30 days notice, no fees, no penalties, no awkward conversations.
Absolutely. Many clients come to us with an existing site. We start with an honest audit of what you have, identify what is hurting your rankings (slow load times, missing local signals, poor mobile experience), and either optimize your current site or recommend a rebuild if it is holding you back. You get a clear assessment before we touch anything.
Two things set us apart. First, research depth: before we build a single page, we use AI tools to study your exact competitors, what they are doing to outrank you, and what Google is rewarding in your specific city. Many agencies skip this step or charge separately for a generic audit. Second, the price: that research process is what lets us charge $599 instead of $1,500 or more. AI compresses research work that used to take days, and we pass that savings to you instead of marking it up. You also get direct access to the person doing the work, not a junior rep who relays messages.
Google is the priority because it drives the most traffic, but our work goes further. We optimize your Bing Places and Apple Maps listings, clean up citations across 40-plus directories, and help you build a review strategy that works across platforms. A strong presence everywhere reinforces your Google rankings and builds customer trust over time.
Results depend on your market, competition, and starting point, but here is what typically happens. A local business starting with no Google presence usually begins appearing in map pack results within 60 to 90 days. By month 3, most clients see a measurable increase in inbound calls and GBP views. By month 6, businesses in moderately competitive markets are commonly ranking in the top results for their primary service and city. We track all of it and show you the numbers every month, not vague activity reports, but actual ranking movement and call volume. We do not promise to make you number one overnight. Anyone who does is not being straight with you. We do promise consistent, documented progress and a straight conversation when something is not moving the way we expected.
Yes, we work with independently-owned businesses anywhere in Minnesota. Twin Cities suburbs, outstate, small towns. If you are locally owned and want to show up on Google, we want to talk. We are not a national agency running a generic playbook. We research your specific market, your actual local competitors, and the seasonal patterns that affect your niche.
Start with the free audit. Drop your email in the form below, or call us directly at 612-270-9100. We will review your local presence and come back to you with a clear picture of where you stand and what it would take to rank. No sales script, no pressure, just honest information so you can make a smart decision for your business.
Get Started Today

Ready to make your
phone ring more?

Fill in your business details and we'll send you a free local SEO audit, showing exactly where you stand and what it takes to reach the top of Google in your area.

I'll reach out personally to schedule your free audit, no pitch, no pressure, just an honest look at where you stand. No spam, ever.

Resources & Tools

Free Tools & Local SEO Insights

Practical guides for independently-owned Minnesota businesses, and a free tool to see exactly where you stand on Google right now.

Free Tool
Free Google Business Profile Score Checker

Enter your business name and city. We check 10 factors and send you a personalized report within 24 hours, exactly what's hurting your Google ranking and what to fix first. No cost. No sales call.

Check My Score →
Free Assessment
Is Your Business Ready for AI? Find Out in 5 Minutes.

Answer 15 questions about how you run your business. We score your AI readiness and show you exactly where tools would save you time and money. Free. No commitment.

Take the Assessment →
Local SEO Small Business
Why Small Businesses Across Minnesota Lose Customers to Google Every Day

A plumber who can't be found. A restaurant outranked by a chain. Here's why it happens, what it costs in real revenue, and what to fix first.

Read the guide →
Local Study Data
We Checked 327 Small Businesses in Our Local Market. 183 Had No Website.

The full data breakdown, by city, by niche, by score. And what it means for your business if you haven't checked your online presence lately.

Read the study →
HVAC Trades
Why Local HVAC Companies in Minnesota Lose Google Calls to Metro Firms Every Day

The five specific things hurting most HVAC companies on Google, wrong primary category, missing city names, low review count, and more.

Read the breakdown →
Google Maps Local SEO
Not Showing Up on Google Maps? Here Is Why

You claimed your Google Business Profile months ago. You still can't find yourself in search. Five fixable reasons why, and which one to tackle first.

Read the guide →
Reviews Local SEO
How Many Google Reviews Do You Need to Rank?

A 4.9 rating with 14 reviews loses to a 4.6 with 67 almost every time. The real number you need for your market and niche, and how to build them without begging.

Read the guide →
View all articles →