SEO Consulting Guide: Start Your $5K/Month SEO Business in 2026
Build a high-paying SEO consulting business from home. 96% of businesses need SEO help - tap into this $80B market.
$75-200/Hour
High Demand
Remote Work
Recurring Revenue
SEO Consulting Income Calculator
Calculate your potential earnings based on service type, pricing model, and client load.
Your SEO Consulting Income
Effective Hourly Rate:
$100.00
Weekly Revenue:
$2,000
Monthly Revenue:
$8,660
Monthly Expenses:
-$693
Net Monthly Profit:
$7,967
Annual Profit:
$95,604
Growth Tip: Consider adding premium services like technical SEO audits and content strategy to increase revenue.
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Essential Gear for SEO Consultants
- Laptop Stand with Cooling Fan - Ergonomic setup for long work sessions
- Mechanical Keyboard - Comfortable typing for writers and VAs
- 1080p HD Webcam - Professional video calls with clients
- Ring Light with Stand - Better lighting for video meetings
How to Start SEO Consulting
1. Build Core SEO Skills
- • Technical SEO (site audits, speed, crawling)
- • On-page optimization (content, keywords, meta)
- • Off-page SEO (link building, outreach)
- • Local SEO (Google Business, citations)
- • Analytics and reporting (GA4, Search Console)
2. Choose Your Niche
- • Local businesses - Easier to rank, recurring clients
- • E-commerce - High value, technical focus
- • SaaS companies - Premium rates, content-heavy
- • Professional services - Law firms, doctors, accountants
3. Set Your Pricing
- • Hourly: $75-200/hour based on expertise
- • Monthly retainers: $1,500-5,000/month
- • Project-based: $2,500-15,000 per project
4. Find Your First Clients
- • Reach out to local businesses with bad SEO
- • Network in business groups and chambers
- • Create case studies from free/discounted work
- • Use Upwork, Fiverr to build initial portfolio
GM
Written by
Glen MeadeSide hustle expert who has personally tested 50+ platforms since 2019. Sharing real earnings data and honest assessments to help you find legitimate income opportunities.
Last updated: January 2026