ForumsAdvertising, Sales and Marketing

The most important skill to start an SEO business is the ability to produce a portfolio of current performing key phrases searches (generic SERPs, high-level terms) for multiple sites. Make sure the key phrases are not so niche-specific. If key phrases aren't industy-wide, generic phrases, the SERPs do not mean much.

Cheers!
Karen

Also if your focus is going to be small brick and mortar businesses, your keywords would focus around geo topical terms. For instance, "anycity lawyers" Do you have any previous experience specific to SEO, SEM, PPC or anything similar?

EagleEye
http://www.blitzlocal.com
http://www.avivadirectory.com

The most important skill is communication. I give my clients a package of services I can do and the cost of each. I let them pick what they want based on their situation, and then we brain crank. I have to find out from that new client exactly what is the most important word, phrase or combintion of words they want to rank for. They usually have some idea even if they know nothing about the process. Get them to tell you all about their business. Good descriptive content about the business is very important. After that you can do the analytical work to see what other terms they need. You have to get what they want out of the way first.

Invariably they always have some other issues to deal with. Email configuration or hosting problems or whatever. I have only been doing this for a few months, but it is always this way. Sometimes you have to refer them to someone else to fix their network, configure their programs and email, or what have you. I had a client that really believed I was his "Computer Slave" and wanted me to fix everything. A small business client can work you to death if you let it happen.

So, I guess the most important skill for SEO is your ability to communicate with the client effectively. If you are hanging a shingle saying SEO, I assume you know how to do keyword research, make sitemaps, integrate site navigation and all the other skills we need to be successful. It is communication with the client that is first and foremost.