Decide who you want to contract as, a developer or a product manager? Then decide if you want to go direct or through an agency. Then get legal protection, insurance and contracts. Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVkLVRt6c1U
Ask HN: How do you start contracting?
81–90 of 116 posts
Re: Ask HN: How do you start contracting?
#82Finding clients is basically the hardest part. Not going to lie: Most of my clients come from my network and their referrals. Most of my freelancer friends’ clients come from their network and their network referring clients to them. While it is possible to find clients organically through advertising, it’s much easier if you can build a network to pull from. You can start by simply contacting people you know and ask…
> Don’t underestimate how good a stable, big company job is right now. This. Also don't underestimate how hard it is to get the money from a client if they decide not to pay you, even if you did a good job.
In broad strokes, what does one typically do here? Say it’s for a cheap job, maybe $20k, where it might not make sense to litigate.
Re: Ask HN: How do you start contracting?
#83Does any other country have the same concept and size of contracting market as we have in the UK? Here you go to a website such as Jobserve, type in eg “React Contract” and apply to one of thousands of daily rate contracts. (Inventory is a bit low today due to start of the year, but will be 1000+ in a few weeks.) After a short interview process, typically you will start a contract for 3-6 months, but can often stay f…
Absolutely my own experience too. Are you implying that this sort of working arrangement isn't actually common outside of this country? I didn't know that, I presumed we just did what other countries did too.
Re: Ask HN: How do you start contracting?
#84No post body was provided.
Re: Ask HN: How do you start contracting?
#85Earlier quoted context omitted.
My day job company pays upwards of $1000/hr to short-term contract leadership people. I guess it's really more consulting than contracting but the lines seem pretty blurry based on what I've seen. Based on what I've seen for senior/principal engineering contracting, I'd say $500/hr is completely realistic, so my goal of $300 feels realistic. Perhaps I'm in a weird sector of the industry or something, but I don't thin…
The 'key word' in your language that is a bit off is 'leadership'. Yes, usually in a hierarchy, 'leaders' get paid more. But consultants and contractors are not hired for 'leadership' roles, so I'm a bit confused by that. I started a new project and our DB guy was young, we were unsure of ourselves, so we hired some Oracle expert to help with that and they were expensive. So 1 or 2 days consulting on our project. It…
I think some are using leadership to mean the led/lead a project in a tactical sense. My understanding of the term leadership (or leaders as most others are using) is thought/strategic leaders.
Re: Ask HN: How do you start contracting?
#86Finding clients is basically the hardest part. Not going to lie: Most of my clients come from my network and their referrals. Most of my freelancer friends’ clients come from their network and their network referring clients to them. While it is possible to find clients organically through advertising, it’s much easier if you can build a network to pull from. You can start by simply contacting people you know and ask…
> Don’t underestimate how good a stable, big company job is right now.
This, but also don't underestimate the personal satisfaction of "eating what you kill". I feel far less alienated from my labor than I did as an FTE. When I get a tough new task, I get excited thinking of those hours piling up. My reward is directly tied to my efforts and success in a way it never was before, and that has improved my quality of life tremendously.
Re: Ask HN: How do you start contracting?
#87You start by posting on upwork etc and try to grow out. $10/hour clients or $500 per job clients are simple but abusive and not sustainable. $125 / hour clients are really really hard to get and you gotta get 3 or 4 until you are in a derisked position. Finally, staffing companies are great but require a lot of 9-5 commitment but you can build your portfolio.
Re: Ask HN: How do you start contracting?
#88Finding clients is basically the hardest part. Not going to lie: Most of my clients come from my network and their referrals. Most of my freelancer friends’ clients come from their network and their network referring clients to them. While it is possible to find clients organically through advertising, it’s much easier if you can build a network to pull from. You can start by simply contacting people you know and ask…
No post body was provided.
Re: Ask HN: How do you start contracting?
#89Finding clients is basically the hardest part. Not going to lie: Most of my clients come from my network and their referrals. Most of my freelancer friends’ clients come from their network and their network referring clients to them. While it is possible to find clients organically through advertising, it’s much easier if you can build a network to pull from. You can start by simply contacting people you know and ask…
> Don’t underestimate how good a stable, big company job is right now. This. Also don't underestimate how hard it is to get the money from a client if they decide not to pay you, even if you did a good job.
You can mitigate that by asking for (partial) payment upfront, or charge based on a credit system, where the customer pays upfront and draws down.
Re: Ask HN: How do you start contracting?
#90When I started contracting I just applied for a contract role - they're loads in London when I first looked and now find remote pretty easily. Have you tried a job board like Indeed?