are you solving a problem/challenge for them? you are not a consultant, you are a contractor, freelancer or agency.

are you telling them - and help implement the mindset and processes - on how they can solve a problem/challenge? you are a consultant.

or to paraphrase jerry weinberg: a consultant gives advise when asked.

if you are the second, read "secrets of consulting" by weinberg (and "are your lights on").

then, what is your product? what do you want to advise on? and find out why this would be so valuable to pay you 10k, 25k, 50k, ...

then, get a client, anyway you can and make sure you deliver 20x to 100x times the value than what you cost (note: make sure your client can and will execute what you advised, otherwise you did not deliver any value). make the client your reference case, market the reference case, go a month on a vacation, your next two clients will be waiting when you come back.

my consulting company: https://www.f19n.com/