If you’ve been building your SEO knowledge for a while or have certifiable qualifications, starting an SEO firm could be a good idea. While the competition in the field is rough, so is the demand, and there’s always going to work for people who can get businesses more visibility on search engines. This is a business with a low barrier of entry too. 

With that being said, there are some things entrepreneurs only realise once they start offering SEO services and while some of these issues might be minor, some of them could end up ruining your business, or worse. Here are some things you should know before you start an SEO business.

You Might Need Some Insurance

This isn’t something many people think about when they start an SEO firm, but it is very important. You may not need insurance at the beginning, but you will need to get some at some point to protect yourself and your brand.

One of the most important insurance policies you’ll need to get is errors and omissions insurance. This will cover you in case a client accuses you of negligence or incomplete work. You might also want to look at things like cyber liability insurance to protect you if there’s a security breach as well as fidelity bonds in case one of your employees steals information or funds from them.

You Should Consider Getting Physical Office Space

At one point, people will want to know if they can see you at your office. You can say that you’re operating remotely and that you can meet them at a random place, but this might be a big turn-off to them. If you can’t get a formal office, at least consider working from a co-working space with conference rooms. That will at least show that you have made an effort and will make you look more professional. If you’re looking for a great co-working space for budding SEOs, you should check out sopershouse.co.uk.

Hire a Lawyer and Accountant

Another thing you will have to do once you start being serious about being an SEO is to hire a lawyer. They will draft contracts for you and make sure that you don’t commit mistakes that could put you in legal or regulatory hot waters.

Next, you’ll need to find a good accountant. So many SEO agencies start without one and end up losing track of their expenses. This is especially true for companies that hire a lot of subcontractors. So, if you’re expecting lots of business and working with lots of people, then working with a competent accountant that is familiar with the industry is a must.

Never Promise Results

The best way to get in trouble and ruin your brand is to promise results in SEO. We know you would like to reassure clients, but it’s not something you can do in a field that is as unpredictable and esoteric as SEO. Focus on what you’ve been doing for other clients but make it clear that there is no guarantee on performance.

These are some of the things you should watch out for when building an SEO company. Take your time to study the field before getting started and understand that this is an actual business that you’re starting and not a hobby.