Freelance Consulting

I’m coming up with ways to find work on the side. Here’s my initial brainstorm

1. Start a blog
2. set up a portfolio on github
3. find communities on linkedIN and reddit
4. hacker news https://ycombinator.com
5. create a dream client list
6. work with start ups — — but realize you might have difficulty getting paid. You might get paid later or have to accept equity as payment.
7. Know your worth — -

The average senior software engineer’s salary in Austin, TX is $120,000 a year. Now consider that the senior engineering consultant charges $120 /hr. That’s $234,000 a year working 8 hours per day. I’d be junior. Maybe I can work up to that one day. My goal is just to pay back my student loans and feed myself.

Some general tips — -

If you are self employed, you have to pay a self employment tax. It’s good to get a tax adviser. If you’re running your own business part-time, you’re eligible for write-offs such as home offices (as a percent of your rent/mortgage) and travel expenses.

Some other tips for building relationships with clients — treat your high ticket clients to sporting events, think long term, send thank you notes.

Be sure to offer regular invoices. As much as possible, describe the benefits that the work for your client provided. This helps them rationalize the price.

Track your time — software like Harvest and Freshbooks will help you keep track of this.

Use paypal to collect on your invoices

BANT — Budget, authority (do they need approval from their boss?), need- do they need this now?, timeline

create business cards

get referrals from existing clients