Is it possible that you have specific skills with a stack or technology that the younger engineering cohorts aren't familiar with?
When you started your consulting business where you advertising or through networking to find clients?
1. My experience and skill set is not that common. Most EEs and MEs have eschewed this field because it has, outside of FAANG-type companies, paid less.
2. If you go the formal accreditation route, getting up to speed in EMC/Product Compliance/Corporate Conformity, depending on the industry sector, is approx 4 to 7 years.
3. Most of my original client contacts came from attending various IEEE Society symposiums. New business contacts are through former/current clients.