Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

So You Want to be A Freelancer

samuelmullen.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 85 posts

Re: So You Want to be A Freelancer

#21

Post by zdw »

Anyone charging less than $100/hr is probably underselling themselves.

The only time you should charge less than that is on very long term contracts with hundreds or thousands of hours, and then, only hesitantly.

People make assumptions based on what you charge - frankly, I've found that people tended to blow me off when I charged much less than this, and actually listen when they know they're paying a decent amount for your advice. There's a whole psychology to pricing that needs to be taken into account.

Re: So You Want to be A Freelancer

#22

Post by lbolla »

Nursie wrote: post #10

I'd love to go freelance. Luckily here in the UK there is a thriving(ish) market in contract work. Short time, usually project-based, better paying than perm work. So far it's been quite fun.

Can you share your experience? How did you get started contracting in the UK? Did you contact a head-hunter or do you find your own contracts? How?

Re: So You Want to be A Freelancer

#23

Post by ambuj »

lbolla wrote: post #22
Nursie wrote: post #10

I'd love to go freelance. Luckily here in the UK there is a thriving(ish) market in contract work. Short time, usually project-based, better paying than perm work. So far it's been quite fun.

Can you share your experience? How did you get started contracting in the UK? Did you contact a head-hunter or do you find your own contracts? How?

I have been contracting for about 8 years now and yes, it is quite easy to get started in the UK. You can find your own contracts or most likely you'll need to send your CV to head-hunters looking for contractors. Once you get a contract, you've got two options: a) setup a limited company to invoice your client/agency. Many accountants in the market that can help you with that. e.g http://www.sjdaccountancy.com/ or b) go with an umbrella company e.g. http://www.tarpon-uk.com

Re: So You Want to be A Freelancer

#24

Post by gwynp »

lbolla wrote: post #22
Nursie wrote: post #10

I'd love to go freelance. Luckily here in the UK there is a thriving(ish) market in contract work. Short time, usually project-based, better paying than perm work. So far it's been quite fun.

Can you share your experience? How did you get started contracting in the UK? Did you contact a head-hunter or do you find your own contracts? How?

I used to contract in the UK a few years ago (since emigrated), and getting started for me was really as simple as sticking a CV on a few of the job boards and making sure it emphasised I was only looking for contract work. If your skills/experience are a match for open contracts the headhunters will find you.

Re: So You Want to be A Freelancer

#25

Post by boothead »

ambuj wrote: post #23
lbolla wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you share your experience? How did you get started contracting in the UK? Did you contact a head-hunter or do you find your own contracts? How?

I have been contracting for about 8 years now and yes, it is quite easy to get started in the UK. You can find your own contracts or most likely you'll need to send your CV to head-hunters looking for contractors. Once you get a contract, you've got two options: a) setup a limited company to invoice your client/agency. Many accountants in the market that can help you with that. e.g http://www.sjdaccountancy.com/ or b…

Agree except for recommending SJD. They are a good accountancy firm but when I was with them they would only do my accounts through a really horrid excel spreadsheet. This time round I've gone with http://www.nimblejackaccounting.co.uk/ who bundle an account with freeagent (which is probably the best contractor accounting package out there) AND the set up of your limited company in their monthly fee.

If you're going to go contracting don't bother with an umbrella company! It's absolutely ridiculous how tax efficient you can be as a limited company (especially if you can set up you significant other as a director). You're looking at just under £40k per director completely free of personal tax and NI if you set it up right. You still have to pay corporation tax and some VAT on that amount and there's all the overhead of managing the company, but it's seriously worth it - especially with a good accountant!

Re: So You Want to be A Freelancer

#26

Post by rodly »

bpatrianakos wrote: post #19

I can relate so much. This is so true. Three years ago I was in a position where the only way to get into the business was freelancing. I quit my job at a place that I'm so embarrassed to have worked for I won't mention it (it was fast good) and started freelancing. I did it for two years and still take on side work now after getting a full time position as a developer at a tech company. I was lucky to make that tran…

It doesn't matter what the layman price website building at. If it did, gasoline would be 5 cents and movie tickets would be free with your $10 popcorn.

Re: So You Want to be A Freelancer

#27

Post by ambuj »

boothead wrote: post #25
ambuj wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have been contracting for about 8 years now and yes, it is quite easy to get started in the UK. You can find your own contracts or most likely you'll need to send your CV to head-hunters looking for contractors. Once you get a contract, you've got two options: a) setup a limited company to invoice your client/agency. Many accountants in the market that can help you with that. e.g http://www.sjdaccountancy.com/ or b…

Agree except for recommending SJD. They are a good accountancy firm but when I was with them they would only do my accounts through a really horrid excel spreadsheet. This time round I've gone with http://www.nimblejackaccounting.co.uk/ who bundle an account with freeagent (which is probably the best contractor accounting package out there) AND the set up of your limited company in their monthly fee. If you're going…

Agree about the umbrella company! Should be your last option! But something worth considering if you are not 100% sure about contracting and whether you want to do it for long term.

I'm with SJD and yes, they still do have that horrid excel spreadsheet!

Re: So You Want to be A Freelancer

#28

Post by Kurtz79 »

davedx wrote: post #9

Taking your annual salary and dividing by 1000 could be a sure fire way to sell yourself short and pick up terrible clients. I would suggest instead to look at what the better freelancers charge (in the US, somewhere in the 50-100 USD range) and figure out where you fit in that based on your skills, experience, portfolio and available work.

Um, wouldn't 50-100 USD per hour correspond more or less to an average annual salary divided by 1000 ?

I assume the annual salary is already a good summary of what an employer is willing to pay you based on your area,skill and experience, and the "divide by 1000" is just a rule of thumb to translate it to your rate.

Re: So You Want to be A Freelancer

#29

Post by alinajaf »

bpatrianakos wrote: post #19

I can relate so much. This is so true. Three years ago I was in a position where the only way to get into the business was freelancing. I quit my job at a place that I'm so embarrassed to have worked for I won't mention it (it was fast good) and started freelancing. I did it for two years and still take on side work now after getting a full time position as a developer at a tech company. I was lucky to make that tran…

I think there's a distinction to be made between a web site and web application developer. One builds posters on the internet and the other builds software that just happens to use HTTP.

I've found the latter to be considerably more lucrative and engaging. The work I've done ranges from language teaching software to automated trading bots for second hand books.

The market for this sort of work is so screamingly hot right now that if I did all the work that my current clients are asking for in series, I'd be booked into early 2015. And that at a daily rate that the me of three years ago would have trouble even asking for at the negotiation table.

Re: So You Want to be A Freelancer

#30

Post by boothead »

ambuj wrote: post #27
boothead wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agree except for recommending SJD. They are a good accountancy firm but when I was with them they would only do my accounts through a really horrid excel spreadsheet. This time round I've gone with http://www.nimblejackaccounting.co.uk/ who bundle an account with freeagent (which is probably the best contractor accounting package out there) AND the set up of your limited company in their monthly fee. If you're going…

Agree about the umbrella company! Should be your last option! But something worth considering if you are not 100% sure about contracting and whether you want to do it for long term. I'm with SJD and yes, they still do have that horrid excel spreadsheet!

Poor you... Seriously there's no competition in my mind: freeagent compared to that spreadsheet is like being fed ferrero rocher by Angelina Jolie at the ambassadors ball verses having faeces flung at you by drunk chimps at the zoo!
Post reply on HN