21–30 of 58 posts
I'm intrigued that this might be a way to get some small projects done I've been putting off done (like a simple shopping cart app with a few specific functions, that I just can't get interested in.)
I've had experience using online sites to source jobs, and I think this advice is right on. Here are some summary points, generalized away from rent-a-coder: * don't hire Americans to do commodity work (i.e. PHP CRUD) * be clear but not ominous in your job description, and include visual mocks if at all possible * don't try and be secretive - no one wants your dumb idea anyways * make sure someone has a decent reputa…
There is no such thing as "Eastern Europe". That's a silly cliche back from the iron curtain era. Stop using it, as it doesn't make sense in any way. Not economically, not politically, not even geographically. The rest of the advice is pretty good, though.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I should say "relatively rich." It's true some people in Eastern Europe are wealthy, but their wealthy is the equivalent of our middle class, so it's a different scale. And also, the people getting their start on rent-a-coder aren't the rich ones. I wrote this because of something I saw. A friend of mine has a popular iPhone app, and he was pressuring some overseas consultant to lower the final price for some work be…
No - "people in Eastern Europe" aren't wealthy or not in any way that can be approximated to a whole region. "Middle class" is not comparable. It's just a different market. You earn more money and spend more money, but on average it's the same proportion. There are some differences because of country-specific issues - gas prices are completely different for example. Talking about "people in Eastern Europe" is just si…
Proportions of spending are not a good comparison of wealth between countries, only within them. People tend to live approximately at what they can afford, perhaps borrow or save a bit. Most people will spend 30-50% on housing and 10-30% on food, just because they will adjust their tastes to their means.
What you can afford with the X% however differs greatly between countries.
In most of Eastern Europe, spending 30% of your income on housing will get you a 30-year loan for a 600 sq. foot apartment in a "soviet projects" style high-rise apartment block. Only middle class can afford a car, and only the upper middle class or wealthy have more than one car per family and a house in the suburbia. It is common for three generations to live together to save on housing and childcare.
Also, while the prices of services are adjusted to the local labor rates, import goods are not. A new laptop is a significant purchase - similar to how you buy a car in the US.
I've had experience using online sites to source jobs, and I think this advice is right on. Here are some summary points, generalized away from rent-a-coder: * don't hire Americans to do commodity work (i.e. PHP CRUD) * be clear but not ominous in your job description, and include visual mocks if at all possible * don't try and be secretive - no one wants your dumb idea anyways * make sure someone has a decent reputa…
There is no such thing as "Eastern Europe". That's a silly cliche back from the iron curtain era. Stop using it, as it doesn't make sense in any way. Not economically, not politically, not even geographically. The rest of the advice is pretty good, though.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
There is no such thing as "Eastern Europe". That's a silly cliche back from the iron curtain era. Stop using it, as it doesn't make sense in any way. Not economically, not politically, not even geographically. The rest of the advice is pretty good, though.
You think there's no difference between Western and Eastern Europe? Really? You insult both regions, and your pomposity is making me a little nauseated.
Suppose I have a real company, and I want to expense or capitalize this. Does anyone have experience with IRS rules on this? What if the guy is in the U.S.? Do I have to send a 1099 to every coder I rent in this fashion to protect myself and my company?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
There is no such thing as "Eastern Europe". That's a silly cliche back from the iron curtain era. Stop using it, as it doesn't make sense in any way. Not economically, not politically, not even geographically. The rest of the advice is pretty good, though.
You think there's no difference between Western and Eastern Europe? Really? You insult both regions, and your pomposity is making me a little nauseated.
As of culture, South-Eastern Europe is very different from North-Eastern Europe. And Mid-Eastern Europe is totally different thing as well. Some are slavs, some aren't, some has more relations w/ russia, some w/ italy or germany. It varies from country to country A LOT.
Suppose I have a real company, and I want to expense or capitalize this. Does anyone have experience with IRS rules on this? What if the guy is in the U.S.? Do I have to send a 1099 to every coder I rent in this fashion to protect myself and my company?
I used oDesk and found that because it is a corporation, I don't need to send them a 1099. And, because all the people work for you through the company, you don't have to do anything special.