SEOMoz released a survey of the SEO industry in 2012 that found that the majority of people working in SEO made upwards of $50,000 a year. Owners raked in the most money, with some making upwards of $150,000. If you are thinking about starting an SEO business, you’re entering at the right time. The industry is big, but not yet so crowded that it’s super competitive for entry.

That said, you are likely to be one of the 50% of start up businesses that fall flat on their face and close doors by the end of the first five years if you do not run a tight ship. Here is our three point guide on how to start an SEO business.

1. Get the Appropriate Tools

The age of making money from nothing, at least as far as the internet is concerned, is largely over. From the same SEOMoz survey, we can see that about 17% of SEOers spend upwards of $1,000 on tools and software. Another 18% spent between $100 and $300. In other words, you can’t just run your SEO company from Microsoft Excel Continue reading →