Top 10 Offshore SEO Services for Agencies

Table of Contents

1. Comparison of features, costs and more

2. Top 10 agencies to offshore SEO

3. Criteria for selecting top offshore SEO agencies

4. Cost analysis and pricing models

5. FAQs

Comparison of Features, Costs and More 🚀

🏢 Company	🌍 HQ	🌐 Location of Services	🛠️ Key Services	👥 Top Clients	💵 Pricing	🤝 Engagement	🌟 USP
Versatile.club	Global	Global (US/UK time zone aligned)	Full-service SEO, Content-led, Technical SEO, Strategy	LinkedIn, Giant Eagle, Xalts	Usage-based, Custom plans, Discounts for long-term	Full-time, Projects, Custom	Scalable delivery, Fast onboarding, Culture-fit talent
Mavlers	India	North America, UK, AU	Local, eCommerce, Technical SEO, White-label	Disney, National Geographic, Amazon Prime	Fixed retainers, Bulk pricing, Project-based	Agency partner, Hourly, Monthly	100+ SEO specialists, Timezone overlap
Devenup SEO	Ukraine	US, EU, MENA	Niche SEO, Tech audits, Link building, Strategy	CURE Medical, Real Estate Webmasters	Custom plans based on niche	Hourly, Sprint-based, Projects	Niche expertise (Crypto, Health, SaaS)
Aweb SEO	Ukraine	EU, UK, US	Technical SEO, Local SEO, CRO, Link building	Domik.ua, Allbiz	Custom packages, Free consults	Fixed plans, Local SEO bundles	15+ years, In-house, Multilingual SEO
Delante	Poland	Global (US, UK, EU)	International SEO, eCommerce SEO, Content	Notino, LuxCamp, Fellowes	Retainers, Performance-based available	Long-term, One-off consults	Multilingual SEO, Global scaling
SEOtonic	India	US, UK, AU, Canada	On/Off-page SEO, Local SEO, PPC + SEO	People 2.0, HCL, Pyramidion	Low-cost monthly packages	Dedicated teams, White-label	15+ yrs experience, white-label focus
StudioHawk	Australia	AU, UK, US (global ops)	Technical SEO, Local SEO, Content SEO	Officeworks, New Balance, Mecca	Custom retainers & project quotes	Retainers, White-label, eComm focused	SEO-only agency, award-winning
OutsourceSEM	India	US, UK, Canada	White-label SEO, Local SEO, Link building	Confidential agency clients	Low-cost fixed pricing, custom	White-label only, Hourly/project	Quick delivery, agency-friendly
EZ Rankings	India	US, UK, UAE, AU	Global/Local SEO, Reseller SEO, ORM	Yatra, Casio India, Koenig	SEO reseller packages, fixed rates	White-label, Dedicated team	28+ countries, strong link building
iMark Infotech	India	US, UK, AU, Canada	Shopify SEO, Technical SEO, ORM, Link Building	Rayvat, Scooterlay	Fixed plans, Shopify bundles	Reseller plans, Dedicated teams	Shopify SEO, white-label focused

Top 10 Agencies to Offshore SEO

Below are detailed overviews of the top 10 agencies, highlighting their services, key offerings, industries they cater to, and unique selling propositions (USPs). This context highlights how each firm leverages offshoring to deliver top-tier SEO services.

1. Versatile.club

📌 Category	📝 Details
🏢 Company Name	🔗 Versatile.club
🌍 Location	📍 Serving clients globally
📅 Year Established	2021
🛠️ Services Provided	✔️ Global Offshore SEO Services ✔️ Full-service SEO Execution for SaaS, B2B, and Agencies ✔️ Content-Led Organic Growth Campaigns ✔️ Technical SEO and Cleanup Projects ✔️ White-Label SEO Support for Marketing Firms
Location of Services	🌍 Globally
🧠 SEO Tools & Platforms	✔️ Ahrefs ✔️ SEMrush ✔️ Screaming Frog ✔️ Surfer SEO ✔️ Google Search Console & GA4
👥 Top Clients	•LinkedIn •Giant Eagle •Xalts
💵 Pricing Model	• Usage-based pricing with flexible monthly plans • Custom SEO packages tailored to deliverables • Discounts for long-term and multi-domain engagements
📄 Compliance & Reporting	✔️ NDA-secured SEO delivery ✔️ Weekly/monthly performance tracking ✔️ Transparent backlink and keyword reporting ✔️ Client-specific project documentation and ownership
🤝 Engagement Models	✔️ Monthly SEO retainers ✔️ Project-based audits and optimization ✔️ Agency partnership with white-label delivery ✔️ SEO + content bundles for full-scale campaigns
🌟 USP for Offshore SEO	✔️ Dedicated SEO specialists aligned to US/UK time zones ✔️ Top 3% talent with deep technical expertise ✔️ Proven track record across SaaS, marketplaces, and content-driven businesses ✔️ Scalable delivery model with quick onboarding
🏆 Client Testimonials	“Versatile is a great partner to work with! They have the ability to understand and adapt to a complex domain environment and deliver world-class projects in a very short time.” — Climate Connect Digital “Versatile's designer displayed professionalism throughout the project within his expertise, and his communication was clear.” — Nucash

Also read 📖 : Top 10 Offshore Digital Marketing Agencies 

2. Mavlers

📌 Category	📝 Details
🏢 Company Name	🔗 Mavlers
🌍 Location	📍 India (serving global clients)
📅 Year Established	2006 (as Uplers, rebranded as Mavlers)
🛠️ Services Provided	✔️ On-page & Off-page SEO ✔️ Local SEO Optimization ✔️ eCommerce & Technical SEO ✔️ Enterprise-level SEO Services ✔️ White-label SEO Delivery
Location of Services	🌍 Global (primarily North America, Europe, Australia)
🧠 SEO Tools & Platforms	✔️ Ahrefs ✔️ Moz ✔️ Google Search Console & GA4 ✔️ SEMrush ✔️ Screaming Frog
👥 Top Clients	• Disney • National Geographic • Amazon Prime Video
💵 Pricing Model	• Fixed monthly retainers • Custom project-based pricing • Bulk pricing for agencies and resellers
📄 Compliance & Reporting	✔️ NDA-backed white-label SEO ✔️ Real-time dashboard access ✔️ Monthly performance reports ✔️ Transparent keyword & backlink tracking
🤝 Engagement Models	✔️ Monthly SEO retainers ✔️ Project-based campaigns ✔️ Agency white-label partnerships ✔️ Hourly SEO support
🌟 USP for Offshore SEO	✔️ 100+ in-house SEO specialists ✔️ Seamless timezone overlap with US/UK clients ✔️ Focus on result-driven SEO across verticals ✔️ Scalable teams with quick onboarding
🏆 Client Testimonials	“You can always count on Mavlers to be extremely responsive and thorough in their work. They work very quickly and the quality of their work is always exceptional.” — Simply Wall St “They are expert at their digital marketing approach; they have helped me gain great footfall traffic for my business within a short span of time.” — Richard Quinn

3. Devenup SEO

📌 Category	📝 Details
🏢 Company Name	🔗 Devenup SEO Agency
🌍 Location	📍 Ukraine (serving clients globally)
📅 Year Established	2015
🛠️ Services Provided	✔️ Technical & On-Page SEO ✔️ SEO Audit & Strategy ✔️ Link Building Services ✔️ Content Optimization ✔️ Niche SEO (SaaS, HealthTech, Crypto, etc.)
Location of Services	🌍 Global, with focus on US, EU, and MENA markets
🧠 SEO Tools & Platforms	✔️ Ahrefs ✔️ Google Search Console ✔️ Google Analytics ✔️ Screaming Frog ✔️ SE Ranking
👥 Top Clients	• CURE Medical Centers • Real Estate Webmasters • Biohacking SaaS startups
💵 Pricing Model	• Custom pricing based on business niche and goals • Monthly SEO retainers • One-time SEO audit & consulting
📄 Compliance & Reporting	✔️ Full transparency via Google Sheets dashboards ✔️ Monthly progress and KPI reports ✔️ NDA agreements for sensitive campaigns
🤝 Engagement Models	✔️ Monthly retainers ✔️ Hourly expert consultation ✔️ Project-based campaigns ✔️ Startup-focused SEO sprints
🌟 USP for Offshore SEO	✔️ Deep niche expertise (Health, Crypto, SaaS) ✔️ Small agile team with personalized delivery ✔️ Strategic consulting + execution combined ✔️ Transparent, goal-driven SEO methodology
🏆 Client Testimonials	“So far, our experience with Devenup SEO has been outstanding.” — First Financial “What I found most impressive and unique about this company is their strong emphasis on building relationships and their commitment to exceeding expectations." — BIO-LABOR Hemer

4. Aweb SEO

📌 Category	📝 Details
🏢 Company Name	🔗 Aweb SEO
🌍 Location	📍 Ukraine (offshore SEO for global clients)
📅 Year Established	2006
🛠️ Services Provided	✔️ Comprehensive SEO Audit ✔️ Technical SEO & On-Page Optimization ✔️ Link Building & Outreach ✔️ Local SEO & Google Maps Optimization ✔️ Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)
Location of Services	🌍 Ukraine-based delivery for clients across EU, UK, and US
🧠 SEO Tools & Platforms	✔️ Ahrefs ✔️ SE Ranking ✔️ Google Search Console ✔️ Google Analytics ✔️ Serpstat
👥 Top Clients	• Domik.ua • Allbiz • Car rental, eCommerce, and B2B clients in Europe
💵 Pricing Model	• Monthly SEO retainers • Custom pricing based on industry & region • Free consultation for project scoping
📄 Compliance & Reporting	✔️ Transparent monthly reporting ✔️ Keyword ranking & traffic dashboards ✔️ Data confidentiality via NDAs
🤝 Engagement Models	✔️ Fixed monthly SEO plans ✔️ Local SEO campaigns ✔️ eCommerce SEO optimization ✔️ Industry-specific strategies
🌟 USP for Offshore SEO	✔️ 15+ years of SEO expertise ✔️ Localized strategies tailored for target markets ✔️ In-house team with multilingual capabilities ✔️ Focus on ROI and lead generation
🏆 Client Testimonials	“Aweb allows me to not worry about the whole section of the business that otherwise I need to hire people to run.” —Global Fantasy Sports “I really like that the tasks are performed quickly, and the reaction to changes in search engine algorithms is brilliant." — KyivMetService

5. Delante

📌 Category	📝 Details
🏢 Company Name	🔗 Delante
🌍 Location	📍 Kraków, Poland (serving clients globally)
📅 Year Established	2014
🛠️ Services Provided	✔️ International SEO & E-commerce SEO ✔️ On-site & Off-site SEO ✔️ Content marketing & SEO strategy ✔️ Link building and outreach ✔️ Technical audits and fixes
Location of Services	🌍 Global delivery with focus on US, UK, Australia, and EU markets
🧠 SEO Tools & Platforms	✔️ Ahrefs ✔️ Surfer SEO ✔️ Google Search Console & GA4 ✔️ SEMrush ✔️ Screaming Frog
👥 Top Clients	• Fellowes • LuxCamp • Notino • Best Western
💵 Pricing Model	• Monthly retainer based on scope and region • Flexible pricing for international campaigns • Performance-based SEO plans available
📄 Compliance & Reporting	✔️ Monthly SEO performance reports ✔️ Keyword visibility and traffic updates ✔️ Access to dashboards and analytics ✔️ GDPR-compliant operations for EU clients
🤝 Engagement Models	✔️ Long-term SEO retainers ✔️ Project-based SEO campaigns ✔️ White-label SEO for agencies ✔️ One-time SEO consultations
🌟 USP for Offshore SEO	✔️ Multilingual SEO expertise ✔️ Ranked among top global SEO agencies by Clutch ✔️ Specialization in scaling international brands ✔️ Data-driven strategies with strong ROI focus
🏆 Client Testimonials	“We wanted a company with a great SEO strategy and attention to detail and that's what we got with Delante! — Worldwide Wellness

Also Read 📖: Offshoring vs Outsourcing - Everything you need to know before you start hiring your next talent

6. SEO Tonic

📌 Category	📝 Details
🏢 Company Name	🔗 SEOtonic
🌍 Location	📍 Bhopal, India (serving clients globally)
📅 Year Established	2006
🛠️ Services Provided	✔️ On-Page & Off-Page SEO ✔️ Local SEO & Citation Building ✔️ Link Building & Outreach ✔️ Technical SEO Audits ✔️ PPC & SEO Combo Campaigns
Location of Services	🌍 Global — Focus on US, UK, Australia & Canada
🧠 SEO Tools & Platforms	✔️ Ahrefs ✔️ Moz Pro ✔️ SEMrush ✔️ Google Search Console & Analytics ✔️ Screaming Frog
👥 Top Clients	• HCL Technologies • People 2.0 • Pyramidion Solutions • Global SMBs and agencies
💵 Pricing Model	• Monthly retainers • Project-based SEO campaigns • Custom pricing based on competition and scope
📄 Compliance & Reporting	✔️ NDA-compliant service delivery ✔️ Detailed keyword tracking and backlink reporting ✔️ Bi-weekly and monthly reports ✔️ Goal-based performance updates
🤝 Engagement Models	✔️ Dedicated SEO teams ✔️ Monthly SEO packages ✔️ White-label delivery for agencies ✔️ PPC + SEO bundled offerings
🌟 USP for Offshore SEO	✔️ 15+ years of proven SEO success ✔️ ROI-centric SEO strategy execution ✔️ Strong white-label experience ✔️ Full-service digital marketing under one roof
🏆 Client Testimonials	“Their ability to think like a partner, not just a service provider, was also incredibly refreshing." — XONIK Technologies Pvt. Ltd. “Can't say enough about SEOtonic. We have gotten wonderful results with them! They are very attentive to all of our needs and always get right back to us." — Century Type

7. Studio Hawk

📌 Category	📝 Details
🏢 Company Name	🔗 StudioHawk
🌍 Location	📍 Melbourne, Australia (offices in London & globally serving)
📅 Year Established	2015
🛠️ Services Provided	✔️ Technical SEO Audits ✔️ Content Strategy & Optimization ✔️ Link Building & Outreach ✔️ E-commerce SEO ✔️ Local SEO (Google Maps, Citations)
Location of Services	🌍 Primarily Australia, UK, and US; offshore-ready teams for global brands
🧠 SEO Tools & Platforms	✔️ SEMrush ✔️ Ahrefs ✔️ Google Search Console & GA4 ✔️ Screaming Frog ✔️ Surfer SEO
👥 Top Clients	• Mecca • Officeworks • New Balance • Frankie4
💵 Pricing Model	• Monthly SEO retainers • Project-based SEO packages • Bespoke pricing based on audits & goals
📄 Compliance & Reporting	✔️ Transparent KPI-focused reporting ✔️ Monthly dashboards with keyword rankings ✔️ SEO health tracking & competitor benchmarks ✔️ NDA-compliant for agency partnerships
🤝 Engagement Models	✔️ Long-term SEO partnerships ✔️ Agency white-label SEO ✔️ Startup and eCommerce-specific strategies ✔️ International SEO campaigns
🌟 USP for Offshore SEO	✔️ 100% SEO-specialized agency (no paid ads) ✔️ Winner of SEMrush AU Search Awards ✔️ Dedicated in-house link building team ✔️ Fast onboarding & strategic alignment
🏆 Client Testimonials	“StudioHawk are experts in SEO and content, and are great to work with. " — DR.VEGAN “We have been working with StudioHawk for over a year now and have been impressed with their efficiency, professionalism and results." —Naturisimo

8. OutsourceSEM

📌 Category	📝 Details
🏢 Company Name	🔗 OutsourceSEM
🌍 Location	📍 India (offshore delivery with US-facing operations)
📅 Year Established	2011
🛠️ Services Provided	✔️ White-label SEO for agencies ✔️ On-page SEO & content strategy ✔️ Link building & authority growth ✔️ Local SEO for US businesses ✔️ Technical SEO & core vitals optimization
Location of Services	🌍 Offshore teams based in India serving clients across the US, UK, and Canada
🧠 SEO Tools & Platforms	✔️ Ahrefs ✔️ Moz ✔️ Google Search Console ✔️ Google Analytics ✔️ SE Ranking
👥 Top Clients	• Confidential white-label agency partners • Real estate, medical, and legal firms in the US • B2B marketing consultants & SMBs
💵 Pricing Model	• Low-cost fixed monthly plans • White-label bulk SEO pricing • Custom deliverables per campaign
📄 Compliance & Reporting	✔️ Transparent monthly reports ✔️ Keyword & traffic growth dashboards ✔️ NDAs and private-label delivery for partners
🤝 Engagement Models	✔️ White-label SEO for agencies ✔️ Dedicated SEO team outsourcing ✔️ Project-based SEO campaigns ✔️ Monthly fixed or hourly rates
🌟 USP for Offshore SEO	✔️ 100% white-label focused model ✔️ Cost-effective US-market SEO delivery ✔️ Quick turnaround & scalable ops ✔️ Emphasis on ROI-focused link acquisition
🏆 Client Testimonials	" It has been an amazing experience working with OutsourceSEM and the quality of work it provides. I am looking forward in using their services and also recommend anyone looking for white label SEO resellers." — John Smith "OutsourceSEM has a great team for Search Engine Optimisation. They are very professional and quick in responding to our queries." — Josh Mathew

9. EZ Rankings

📌 Category	📝 Details
🏢 Company Name	🔗 EZ Rankings
🌍 Location	📍 Noida, India (serving global clientele)
📅 Year Established	2010
🛠️ Services Provided	✔️ Global SEO Services ✔️ Local & E-commerce SEO ✔️ White-label SEO ✔️ Link Building & Guest Posting ✔️ SEO Reseller Packages
Location of Services	🌍 India-based team delivering SEO to clients across US, UK, Australia, and UAE
🧠 SEO Tools & Platforms	✔️ Ahrefs ✔️ SEMrush ✔️ Moz Pro ✔️ Google Search Console & Analytics ✔️ SE Ranking
👥 Top Clients	• Yatra • Casio India • Koenig Solutions • 300+ SME and agency clients globally
💵 Pricing Model	• Fixed-price SEO packages • Custom campaign pricing • Monthly white-label retainers
📄 Compliance & Reporting	✔️ Transparent white-label delivery ✔️ Weekly/Monthly performance reports ✔️ SEO dashboard & keyword tracking ✔️ NDA support for reseller clients
🤝 Engagement Models	✔️ SEO Reseller Engagement ✔️ Project-based SEO ✔️ Dedicated SEO teams ✔️ Partner agency SEO fulfillment
🌟 USP for Offshore SEO	✔️ End-to-end white-label SEO partner ✔️ Competitive pricing for global scale ✔️ Proven delivery in 28+ countries ✔️ Strong link-building capabilities
🏆 Client Testimonials	"The SEO work done by team EZ Rankings is amazing. The team is very helpful and professional." — anujjindal.in "Their project management and responsiveness were outstanding. Asif, our project manager, was proactive, timely, and professional in guiding next steps." — Schilling IT

10. iMark Infotech Pvt. Ltd.

📌 Category	📝 Details
🏢 Company Name	🔗 iMark Infotech Pvt. Ltd.
🌍 Location	📍 Chandigarh, India (serving global clients)
📅 Year Established	2011
🛠️ Services Provided	✔️ White-label SEO & link building ✔️ E-commerce & Shopify SEO ✔️ Technical audits & on-page SEO ✔️ Local SEO for SMBs ✔️ Reputation management & ORM
Location of Services	🌍 India-based team serving clients in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia
🧠 SEO Tools & Platforms	✔️ Ahrefs ✔️ SEMrush ✔️ Google Search Console & GA4 ✔️ Screaming Frog ✔️ Moz & Whitespark
👥 Top Clients	• Scooterlay • Rayvat Accounting • B2B resellers & Shopify brands globally
💵 Pricing Model	• Fixed monthly packages • White-label pricing tiers • One-time SEO setup + ongoing plans
📄 Compliance & Reporting	✔️ Monthly white-labeled reports ✔️ Client dashboards for real-time tracking ✔️ NDA-compliant operations ✔️ Goal-based campaign documentation
🤝 Engagement Models	✔️ Dedicated offshore SEO teams ✔️ White-label partnerships ✔️ Shopify SEO bundles ✔️ Performance-oriented custom campaigns
🌟 USP for Offshore SEO	✔️ Proven success in scaling Shopify SEO ✔️ Trusted partner for white-label SEO agencies ✔️ Flexible packages & scalable delivery ✔️ In-house link building and outreach team
🏆 Client Testimonials	"We made the decision to go with iMark and have been very satisfied. The onboarding and kickoff were easy. We started seeing results right away." — GovTech SaaS Company "They actually understood our business and worked with us like partners, not just service providers. That trust made a big difference."br> — LoadUp

Criteria for Selecting Top Offshore SEO agencies ✅

1.Vetting Process of Finding Quality Talent 

• Your offshoring partner should have an efficient process to vet good talent
• A portfolio of past projects to showcase talent experience 
• Credible client testimonials and reviews online
• Provide transparency and clarity during the call

2. Culture-fit Compatibility

• Your offshore partner should want to prioritize culture fit
• They shouldn't just be interested in getting the paycheck but want to find good talent that will stay in your company long-term 
• They should have a deep understanding of your goals and business values 

3. Past Client Experience 

• It's very important for your offshore partner to have worked with a client who had a similar project requirement as yours. That way you won't have to go through a testing process
• They have experience handling offshoring for small and medium sized projects
• They have successfully provided quality talent and have a high customer retention rate

4. Transparency in Pricing 

• Communicate the right price from the get go. No unnecessary hidden fees 
• They provide flexible options and room for customization
• There is clear communication about billing, taxation and handling of payroll

5. Timezone and Communication 

• They should provide talent that at-least has 3-4 hours of overlap with your timezone
• They should be proactive and upfront about how they will handle communication between the talent and client

6. Pre- Hire and Post-Hire Communication Process

• They offer free developer replacements
• Can help scale your team quickly 
• Provide support during and after the project

7. NDA, IP Protection and Compliance 

• Handle IP protection, NDAs, and contracts
• They are EOR-compliant if you plan to keep long-term devs without entity setup
• Handle employment, tax, and labor regulations 
  

Cost Comparison Model of Hiring SEO Experts In-house Vs Offshoring

🌍 Country	Junior	Mid-Level	Senior
🇺🇸 United States	$4,500 – $5,500	$6,000 – $7,500	$8,000 – $10,000
🇬🇧 United Kingdom	$3,800 – $4,500	$5,000 – $6,500	$7,000 – $9,000
🇲🇽 Mexico	$1,000 – $1,400	$1,800 – $2,400	$2,500 – $3,200
🇮🇳 India	$700 – $1,000	$1,200 – $1,800	$2,000 – $2,600
🇵🇭 Philippines	$800 – $1,000	$1,300 – $1,700	$1,900 – $2,400

🚀 Ready to Scale Your SEO Without Breaking the Bank?

At Versatile.club, we connect you with top 3% offshore SEO talent who understand your growth goals and execute with precision. Whether you're a startup is aiming to outrank competitors or an agency scaling SEO delivery, we offer flexible hiring models, real-time reporting, and full IP protection. 

Cut costs, not corners.
With Versatile.club, you gain the global SEO advantage faster rankings, better ROI, and scalable results.

👉 Fill the hiring form today and see how offshoring SEO can unlock your next stage of growth.

FAQs ❓

1. Why should I consider hiring offshore SEO experts instead of building an in-house team?

Hiring offshore SEO talent gives you access to a broader talent pool, faster hiring cycles, and significantly lower costs without compromising on expertise. At Versatile.club, you get pre-vetted professionals who’ve worked with global brands ready to plug into your existing workflows without the overhead of recruiting, training, or retaining in-house staff.

2. How does Versatile ensure the offshore SEO talent we get is actually top-tier?

We don’t just rely on resumes. Every SEO expert in our network goes through a rigorous 4-step vetting process that includes skill assessments, real-world case studies, and communication tests. Only the top 3% make it through. We also ensure cultural alignment and role-specific expertise - whether it’s technical SEO, local SEO, or link building.

3. What time zone overlap and communication guarantees can I expect when working with offshore SEO talent?

Our SEO experts work with clients across the US, UK, and EU and offer at least a 4-hour time zone overlap to ensure real-time communication. We also set up clear Slack, Zoom, or project management access to maintain transparency and velocity in collaboration.

4. Can offshore SEO teams truly understand my brand, target market, and local SEO needs?

Yes. Most of our offshore SEO experts have worked with international clients and are trained to perform market research tailored to your region. We ensure your hires come with a proven track record in optimizing for specific geographies, whether you’re targeting local traffic in Chicago or ecommerce audiences in London.

5. What happens if I’m not happy with the performance of the SEO expert or team?

If you’re not satisfied, we offer free replacements within the first 30 days. We also run monthly performance reviews to ensure accountability and can step in at any point to support or escalate if needed.