Do I need an SEO agency?

Not always, and a good SEO will tell you that. You need help when you want to scale, organic search can genuinely drive buyers, competitors outrank you, and you don't have time to learn keyword research, content, and technical fixes yourself. You can skip it if word-of-mouth fills your calendar or your market doesn't search Google.

But "agency" isn't the only option. Most small businesses don't need a ten-person team and a fat retainer, they need one person to scope the work, fix the foundations, and check in occasionally. A professional SEO freelancer can do exactly that. Whatever you do, don't choose someone based on who has the slickest sales pitch.