going independent - making it as a freelance web professional - trinud rdu codecamp

GOING INDEPENDENTA Developer’s Guide to Making it Solo

Monday, November 12, 2012

FAT PENGUIN


INTRODUCTIONS

Michael Kimsal

Web since 1995, PHP since 1996, ASP, Java, etc

Solo developer since 2007 (2nd time around)

Podcaster, publisher, author, blogger, developer


CONFUSED ABOUTGETTING STARTED?


IT CAN BE SCARY!

Not sure where to begin?

Too stressful?

Not enough savings?

Too many things to do?


RELAX!


WHY ARE YOU GOING

INDEPENDENT?Extra part time income?

Be your own boss?Enjoy new things?

Freedom / flexibility?Recently laid off?

Bootstrapping other idea?


TIME FRAME?

Already independent? Near future? (<6 months)


TODAY’S TOPICS

Getting set up

Finding work

Doing the work

Getting paid


GETTING SET UP

• Organization / structure type

• Legal / financial issues

• Contracts

• What are you selling?

• Work environment

• Hardware, software, tools


TYPES OF STRUCTURE

• LLC

• C Corp

• S Corp

• Sole proprietor

• Other?


FIND A GOOD LAWYER


FIND A GOOD LAWYER

• Experience with software

• Experience with services

• Ideally, referral from someone you know already


FIND A GOOD ACCOUNTANT


FIND A GOOD ACCOUNTANT

• Experience with software

• Experience with services

• Ideally, referral from someone you know already


WHAT TYPE OF WORK?

• Services

• Hourly or fixed price?

• Products

• Software As A Service

• Desktop Applications

• Mobile Applications


CONTRACTSUsing your own

vsUsing the client’s


CONTRACTSHave clear definitionsof work to be done

and how to determine when you’re “done”


CONTRACTSConsider

accepting or offeringchanges


TOOLSgetting the job done


HARDWARELaptop

Multiple monitorsPrinters

Fax?Extra batteries

Cables / adaptersCarrier bag


SOFTWEARtwo words

spilled coffee

two more wordsspaghetti incident


SOFTWAREBASICS

InvoicingTime trackingScreen sharing

Ticketing / issue system


DEVELOPERSOFTWARE

Are you still using Notepad? :)


DEVELOPERSOFTWARE

IDEsDebuggers

Version control


DESIGNERSOFTWARE

Adobe still rulesPhotoshop

Dreamweaver

GIMP still works for some :)pixelmator for mac


SMARTPHONE?Time tracking

InvoicingPresentationsVoice calls!


PHONE/VOICE

SYSTEMSTwilio with OpenVBX

or Google Voice

one or more numbersto follow you around

openvbx is full-featured voice system


TYPE OF WORK

(image from sitepoint.com)


FINDING CLIENTS


NETWORKIN’Local events

Regional eventsChamber of Commerce

inside919User groups


RECRUITERS

Major recruiting companiesare more open today to working on short term

contract placements

Some have teams that docs on short term only


JOB BOARDSCraigslist

Authentic JobsIndeed.com

SimplyHired.com

Monster / HotJobs / Dice


WORK SITESODeskElance

etc

for most types of software dev work, you’re competing in a race to the bottom

with these marketplaces


BEING FINDABLE


MAIN SITEProfile site - main hubContact information

Links toportfolioresume

blogphone


PORTFOLIODesigned sites, samples

Code samples orlinks to projects

“github is the new resume”


SOCIAL MEDIA

LinkedInFacebookTwitter

StackOverflowetc


GETTING PAIDWhat we’re all doing this for :)


RATESWill vary by regionDon’t forget taxes!Keep competitive


RATESUS ExampleOriginal rate-15.3% SE Tax-20% Income Tax1200 billable hrs

$50/hour$42.35$33.88

$40,656


INVOICINGTerms


INVOICE LIKE CLOCKWORK!

Weekly? Bi weekly? Never get too far behind


MAKING IT EASY TO PAYPayPal, Google Checkout, merchant accounts, paper checks


COLLECTIONS!Arbitration, small claims court

Should you hire a collections firm?


REPEAT!Keeping the cycle going


INSURANCELife, health, business, disability


LIFE INSURANCE

Term life insurance

Insure people left behind - spouse, children, etc.

No dependents?

Consider skipping it...


BUSINESS INSURANCE

General liability

Errors and Omissions

Cheaper if you document your processes with contracts


HEALTH INSURANCE

Shouldn’t be the only thing holding you back

Everyone’s situation is different

Consider high-deductible, and build up savings to cover it

You will *not* have to pay deductibles immediately


MULTIPLE STREAMS OF

INCOMEMultiple clients

Multiple projectsRecurring revenue

(hosting, content sites,info products, etc)


BUILD A SUPPORT NETWORKFind like-minded people to support you

Have specific skills to bring in on short notice - be a tech backup for someone else too!


QUESTIONS?


Michael Kimsal

@mgkimsal

michaelkimsal.com

919.827.4724

THANK YOUINDIECONF “TRINUG” 20% OFF


http://www.michaelkimsal.com

http://www.michaelkimsal.com

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