Anyone here own their own software consulting business?
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I'm looking for start my own software consulting business & I was hoping to get advice from anyone who's gone down this path. Or even some books or websites you can recommend. A little background on me...I've been developing in most of the popular microsoft technologies for the past 8 years. For the past year, I've been doing some basic consulting for a friend's business on the side & I've found I really love the consulting side over a typical corporate job, so I now want to turn this into a full time business. I'm trying to find advice & info in regards to client pricing, marketing, setup, etc. Does anyone know of any good websites for this or can you recommend any good books? Thanks
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I'm looking for start my own software consulting business & I was hoping to get advice from anyone who's gone down this path. Or even some books or websites you can recommend. A little background on me...I've been developing in most of the popular microsoft technologies for the past 8 years. For the past year, I've been doing some basic consulting for a friend's business on the side & I've found I really love the consulting side over a typical corporate job, so I now want to turn this into a full time business. I'm trying to find advice & info in regards to client pricing, marketing, setup, etc. Does anyone know of any good websites for this or can you recommend any good books? Thanks
I recommend starting out as a consultant by going through a well known software consulting service. After you build up a consulting portfolio and have referenceable clients, you can consider going independent. Even though you may be a technically competent developer, you currently lack experience in the consulting field which likely makes it difficult for an organization to hire you. /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
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I'm looking for start my own software consulting business & I was hoping to get advice from anyone who's gone down this path. Or even some books or websites you can recommend. A little background on me...I've been developing in most of the popular microsoft technologies for the past 8 years. For the past year, I've been doing some basic consulting for a friend's business on the side & I've found I really love the consulting side over a typical corporate job, so I now want to turn this into a full time business. I'm trying to find advice & info in regards to client pricing, marketing, setup, etc. Does anyone know of any good websites for this or can you recommend any good books? Thanks
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I'm looking for start my own software consulting business & I was hoping to get advice from anyone who's gone down this path. Or even some books or websites you can recommend. A little background on me...I've been developing in most of the popular microsoft technologies for the past 8 years. For the past year, I've been doing some basic consulting for a friend's business on the side & I've found I really love the consulting side over a typical corporate job, so I now want to turn this into a full time business. I'm trying to find advice & info in regards to client pricing, marketing, setup, etc. Does anyone know of any good websites for this or can you recommend any good books? Thanks
You have to choose a business entity. In the US you pick one of these (there may be more): Limited Liability Corporation C Corporation S Corporation Sole Proprietor/1099 (Not many companies will hire this type).
Steve Wellens
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I'm looking for start my own software consulting business & I was hoping to get advice from anyone who's gone down this path. Or even some books or websites you can recommend. A little background on me...I've been developing in most of the popular microsoft technologies for the past 8 years. For the past year, I've been doing some basic consulting for a friend's business on the side & I've found I really love the consulting side over a typical corporate job, so I now want to turn this into a full time business. I'm trying to find advice & info in regards to client pricing, marketing, setup, etc. Does anyone know of any good websites for this or can you recommend any good books? Thanks
While I've subcontracted people on occasion to help out, I'm essentially a one-man consultancy. I've never (my own failing) taken the time to create a team and find enough work to support the team, however, I thoroughly enjoy working solo. I will honestly admit that I frequently find other devs impossible to work with because they tend to be stuck-up and incompetent, but there have been exceptions! Which brings me to two points: 1. A successful consultancy is not based on writing software. It's based on landing contracts. And that means, immediately stop doing dev work and start doing marketing work. Which means, find people who have contacts in industry, have the ear of the decision maker, and get them motivated to find contracts for your consultancy. 2. Surround yourself with devs you trust and you can work with. Delegate the work to them because you will need to be doing #1. 3. While you may have a lot of skills in the most popular Microsoft technologies, consider these: a. you will need experts in tech you are not an expert in b. as you do #1 above, you will not only lose those skills, but the tech will be constantly changing c. therefore, you need to ensure #2 above, to find people who can fill in the holes, which grow bigger and deeper every day. The mechanics of setting up a business are essentially irrelevant if you don't have any business. Don't get fooled into thinking that just because you have a company name, a filing, an email address, and a pretty web page, that you are doing business. In fact, all that work should be delegated to someone else. Your job is to land contracts by doing #1 and then implement those contracts by doing #2. And you will need help. Be humble. Know your strengths, but more importantly, know your weaknesses and find people to fill in the gaps. Marc
Latest Article: C# and Ruby Classes: A Deep Dive
My Blog -
While I've subcontracted people on occasion to help out, I'm essentially a one-man consultancy. I've never (my own failing) taken the time to create a team and find enough work to support the team, however, I thoroughly enjoy working solo. I will honestly admit that I frequently find other devs impossible to work with because they tend to be stuck-up and incompetent, but there have been exceptions! Which brings me to two points: 1. A successful consultancy is not based on writing software. It's based on landing contracts. And that means, immediately stop doing dev work and start doing marketing work. Which means, find people who have contacts in industry, have the ear of the decision maker, and get them motivated to find contracts for your consultancy. 2. Surround yourself with devs you trust and you can work with. Delegate the work to them because you will need to be doing #1. 3. While you may have a lot of skills in the most popular Microsoft technologies, consider these: a. you will need experts in tech you are not an expert in b. as you do #1 above, you will not only lose those skills, but the tech will be constantly changing c. therefore, you need to ensure #2 above, to find people who can fill in the holes, which grow bigger and deeper every day. The mechanics of setting up a business are essentially irrelevant if you don't have any business. Don't get fooled into thinking that just because you have a company name, a filing, an email address, and a pretty web page, that you are doing business. In fact, all that work should be delegated to someone else. Your job is to land contracts by doing #1 and then implement those contracts by doing #2. And you will need help. Be humble. Know your strengths, but more importantly, know your weaknesses and find people to fill in the gaps. Marc
Latest Article: C# and Ruby Classes: A Deep Dive
My BlogThese comments are totally apposite. My experiences over the last 25 years as a "consultant" would be very similar. A corollary would be "what skills should a business partner have"? If you are the engineer then ideally they should be the business manager with skills in finance, contracts sales etc. Do not forget the legal and insurance aspects of being a consultant.
Peter Wasser Art is making something out of nothing and selling it. Frank Zappa
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I'm looking for start my own software consulting business & I was hoping to get advice from anyone who's gone down this path. Or even some books or websites you can recommend. A little background on me...I've been developing in most of the popular microsoft technologies for the past 8 years. For the past year, I've been doing some basic consulting for a friend's business on the side & I've found I really love the consulting side over a typical corporate job, so I now want to turn this into a full time business. I'm trying to find advice & info in regards to client pricing, marketing, setup, etc. Does anyone know of any good websites for this or can you recommend any good books? Thanks
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I'm looking for start my own software consulting business & I was hoping to get advice from anyone who's gone down this path. Or even some books or websites you can recommend. A little background on me...I've been developing in most of the popular microsoft technologies for the past 8 years. For the past year, I've been doing some basic consulting for a friend's business on the side & I've found I really love the consulting side over a typical corporate job, so I now want to turn this into a full time business. I'm trying to find advice & info in regards to client pricing, marketing, setup, etc. Does anyone know of any good websites for this or can you recommend any good books? Thanks
I started my consultancy business in 1979. Over the years, I have had as many as 7 staff and as few as 1 (Me - that's where I am now.) The success you have will be determined not so much by your skills as a programmer and developer, as your skills as a salesman. the hardest part of the job is finding new work. so, if you are not a "salesman" then find a partner who is. Be prepared to work 18 hours a day. Always, Always, Always get the agreement in writing, clearly defining what you are supposed to do, when it is supposed to be finished and how and when you will get paid.
Ed Aymami
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I'm looking for start my own software consulting business & I was hoping to get advice from anyone who's gone down this path. Or even some books or websites you can recommend. A little background on me...I've been developing in most of the popular microsoft technologies for the past 8 years. For the past year, I've been doing some basic consulting for a friend's business on the side & I've found I really love the consulting side over a typical corporate job, so I now want to turn this into a full time business. I'm trying to find advice & info in regards to client pricing, marketing, setup, etc. Does anyone know of any good websites for this or can you recommend any good books? Thanks