Tips for being a Freelance

April 25th 2008

Tips for being a Freelance

Freelance Work for fun and profit

I wanted to ask you if you continue with Baar. I would like to publish reflections on the experience of working on your own as a Freelance Web site Developer site. I am considering that possibility; although I have quite a few doubts in the boot, (I have no initial customer base).

I will not say his name, is not having fall in his current job. I know, I know, so that their heads read Earful is pure wishful thinking, but just in case.

I have responded with a list that I leave with you here, if you serve someone who is in the same situation.

Do not leave your current job until you have a mattress. In the savings account, you need money to keep at least six months but failed to any client.

When leaving your customers and brass work, sees that replenished mattress. Always cover for a minimum of six months. No maximum, it depends on what you're thrifty.

Create an account for work and it takes on projects that do. Once a month, get a transfer to your personal account by the amount that you decide will be your salary. The professional account is that: professional. Destroy the card cashier's associated with that account. From her bags for material costs, payments to suppliers, your salary, and so on. The accounts will be much easier and a bit tempted to buy such as tele flat Chula wearing in Carrefour to take the money for paying a cent.

If you can, devotes a room in the house to work. It's your office, and as such, has a timetable. When the day ends, closes the door (physically) and do not enter until the following day. If you want to do things "entertainment" on the computer, use another, elsewhere in the house. If it is physically impossible, replacing physical barriers you say other mental: discipline to have a human schedule, rather than self.

Do not use credit cards. When one is canine, it's easy to think you can pull that card and pay off the debts when you leave this project which is nearing. “The projects fall, customers fail, the promised dates were postponed. The bank does not.

For all the projects you choose to take, make a proposal. All written, with a detailed breakdown of activities, a timetable and budget. When the potential client accepts the proposal, the signatures you and the signing him. That document will be the bible of the project. When you leave a "posyaque" (Towards the login and you do, you could do…) refers to the proposal and replied calmly: "I feel good idea; am sending you the additional budget" I must thank my Elsa friend by this council. Vale a Potosi (the council and it).

Do not be outrage if the customer tries to change the specifications HALF project. Applies the previous point. Regarding this, assumes that part of your job will be to explain what the customer really needs. The rest of the work is performed. Sometimes it costs more effort the first thing the second.

Decides a price per hour and budgeted based on him. Be honest. Sometimes one has the intuition that a potential client is willing to drop a bit more. Okay. Down a little budget, but note that in the bible of the project have to explain why ask how much you ask.

A customer does not make you a favour to handle a project. A customer does not make you a favour to handle a project. A customer does not make you a favour to handle a project. Repeat until it becomes a mantra. You either do it any favors. It is a commercial transaction, without further.

The conditions of a project are written. I know I repeat, but that is all many times they say are few. The verbal agreements are very good and very valid until it ceased.

Look for a good finance you lead roles. If you are as confused as me, you save many headaches.

Never stay on board to sack your rates in an attempt to get customers, no matter how weak it is the market. Enmarronao finished with a project that does not want to do, giving little money and that will become a nightmare. For those bouts is the mattress in the bank (or the mattress in the living room of your parents, who also is an option).

Invoice part of the project in advance. From 30% to 40% and the rest to surrender, after which the customer review and make sure everything is in order. So avoid this situation of "you get with it and what we already seeing."

Be careful when you work for friends. It leaves very, very clear from the outset that the personal relationship is one thing and the professional is another. Separate them with scalpel and not mix talks. If flames by telephone to discuss a term not count during that call the drunk on Saturday. Call at night, when you close the office and Reis at ease.

Make a healthy life as much as possible. Salt to the street, making the sun, eat fruit and vegetables, do a little exercise, talk to people. Talk to people, I repeat. It's easy to break locked in the cave and survive based on cans of cockles, with dark circles and pale and his face difficulties in carrying a conversation that does not include the acronym CSS and / or XHTML. Finished chatting with your Winamp (what good that! Let it rip!) And throwing under the emoticons of Messenger in the talks face to face.

Do not get carried away by Buzzwords. When a client wants to tell you that Ajax, tell that you are more than Mr. Clean.

Already posts seize this unique setting to put the gold brooch to the annotation reminding the audience that if you have a project in mind and you want to prepare a detailed proposal, no more than you get in touch with me (there is a link in the top bar). I will be happy to do so.