No, SEO should not be your first priority if you're a new business that needs customers right away. Start with ways to generate leads sooner, such as Google Ads, local advertising, referrals, and reaching out to potential customers.
I've worked in SEO for over eight years, and I still wouldn't recommend putting your entire marketing budget into SEO when you're trying to get your first customers. SEO can take months to produce consistent leads, especially in a competitive market.
Why SEO Shouldn't Be Your Only Starting Point
Google Ads can put your business in front of people searching for your services as soon as your campaigns are running. That doesn't guarantee leads or sales, and you'll need to watch your costs, but it gives you a way to test which searches bring customers.
SEO works differently. New pages need time to be discovered, indexed, and earn search visibility. Publishing a website or a blog post doesn't mean customers will find it the next day.
When Should You Start SEO?
Start with the parts you can do without slowing down your efforts to get customers. Set up your Google Business Profile if you're eligible, create clear service pages, and make sure customers can contact you easily.
Once you have leads coming in and a better idea of which services make money, you can put more of your budget toward SEO. That way, you're building a source of future leads without depending on it to pay this month's bills.
SEO is worth investing in, but for a new business, getting paying customers comes first.