Just look up SEO shops and call them for rates. If what you're offering is unique, don't tell them. Just get rates on their standard services.
Then you need to assess if your service is unique enough to be more expensive.
How to Calculate Consulting Rate: 7 steps - wikiHow is a pretty basic step by step on how to determine consulting rates.
Ah I think you have this wrong I'm not trying to figure out how much other people charge so I know what to charge for consulting etc. I'm thinking of it from the viewpoint of an established community of say 1,000 users where 10-20 people at a time want clarification on different subjects and are willing to split the cost of bringing in a public authority to answer questions.
Interesting. So, it's like an AMA but not free?
So just think of what area you are proficient in, state it and then how much 5 hours of your time in the above situation would go for.
So it's like a paid forum.
1.) How will the consumers know if the product is good (info is legit)
2.) If the info is legit why would they out it ?
I'd rather suck Dwight off then answer a bunch of questions from dipshits about PageRank sculpting and directory submissions.
Well a lot of normal consumers don't need "cutting edge" trade secrets to justify a seminar. There is so much knowledge already out there that the average small business isn't aware of. Simply curating and sharing this knowledge is enough for most small business owners to find huge value in a $50 a head seminar.
When can I sign up to be an "expert"?
When:
A. You get off your ass and get a seminar up and running.
or
B. When you have enough of a reputation for someone to invite you to speak at a seminar.