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To become a software consultant, avoid letting clients pay you for code (2017)

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Re: To become a software consultant, avoid letting clients pay you for code (2017)

#131

Post by tptacek »

01100011 wrote: post #129
mrhappyunhappy wrote: post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seems backwards, your friend should be the one making 200+

Why? He doesn't have to pay a sales team, marketing department, IT guy, etc. He also doesn't have a building full of engineers who he can query if he runs into something he can't handle. I would never pay an individual, regardless of whether or not they're a corp, more than I'd pay a company which provides engineering talent.

Not that the specific number is worth litigating, but worth mentioning: a sales team, marketing department, IT guy, and all that are part of the competing consultants cost basis, and not so much the value they offer clients. Unless you're selling gypsum, for the most part, nobody is buying based on your cost basis. You're either doing something worth $X, or you're not.

Re: To become a software consultant, avoid letting clients pay you for code (2017)

#132

Post by tptacek »

01100011 wrote: post #130
mrhappyunhappy wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

$3200 per day? Where do I find those people... This is Dev consulting?

Yeah, I call bullshit. Unless you're one of the top 1% of engineers in the valley or in FinTech you're not getting near that.

Yeah, you're wrong about this, and I'm not just talking about my own field.

Re: To become a software consultant, avoid letting clients pay you for code (2017)

#133

Post by 01100011 »

tptacek wrote: post #131
01100011 wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why? He doesn't have to pay a sales team, marketing department, IT guy, etc. He also doesn't have a building full of engineers who he can query if he runs into something he can't handle. I would never pay an individual, regardless of whether or not they're a corp, more than I'd pay a company which provides engineering talent.

Not that the specific number is worth litigating, but worth mentioning: a sales team, marketing department, IT guy, and all that are part of the competing consultants cost basis , and not so much the value they offer clients . Unless you're selling gypsum, for the most part, nobody is buying based on your cost basis. You're either doing something worth $X, or you're not.

Not going to litigate the number but I will say that sales teams often do add value. They provide a human point of contact to escalate issues and manage customer expectations. They also may act as a single point of contact for flexible staffing needs - i.e. if they need a second body to meet a schedule, they don't have to hit the open market but can simply buy more engineering talent.

That said, I've often felt like the sales team doesn't provide much value. It depends on the company.

I will say though that companies are generally more comfortable paying a higher rate to another company vs. one guy working out of his house. There is a greater expectation of responsibility. Also, many companies will not even deal with you as an individual corporation unless certain rules are met. One rule might be that no more than, say, 30% of your income can come from the company looking to hire you. They want to see a diverse revenue stream and a well established business.

Re: To become a software consultant, avoid letting clients pay you for code (2017)

#134

Post by 01100011 »

tptacek wrote: post #132
01100011 wrote: post #130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, I call bullshit. Unless you're one of the top 1% of engineers in the valley or in FinTech you're not getting near that.

Yeah, you're wrong about this, and I'm not just talking about my own field.

That's fine, but I'm not buying it without evidence. I don't expect you to bend over backwards trying to convince a stranger on the internet so I think we're done discussing it.

Re: To become a software consultant, avoid letting clients pay you for code (2017)

#135

Post by tptacek »

01100011 wrote: post #134
tptacek wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, you're wrong about this, and I'm not just talking about my own field.

That's fine, but I'm not buying it without evidence. I don't expect you to bend over backwards trying to convince a stranger on the internet so I think we're done discussing it.

Well, for starters, that number is less than my bill rate was at NCC.
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