The agencies you are talking to put the majority of revenue into sales and marketing while the actual seo work will be done by a couple guys in the Philippines.

I’m not trying to be outrageous or funny. I’m being serious

You want an agency with a small sales staff or none at all because the revenue should go for top SEO talent, not sales talent

You want an agency based in the US and get something in writing that the actual SEO work will be done by a US citizens.

Business owners keep falling for this same trap over and over.

Excellent sales people=run away