Advice on entering the Freelance/Consulting World
I'm strongly considering entering the freelance or consulting world for a period of time. Anyone who's done it have any tips or advice?
1 comments
Few things I've learned in just 3 weeks of freelance:
1. It's easy to feel guilty charging a client high rates while you tackle an unfamiliar project, which requires you spend more time learning than producing. For me, consulting has been a constant tradeoff between taking jobs at high prices where I don't learn new things vs. lower prices when entering unfamiliar territory. I don't know if pricing services according to your ability to execute is best though. At the end of the day, you don't want to find your saying to your client: "I did not execute as promised for whatever reason, but hey I didn't charge much!" This situation shouldn't arise often if you are honest about your skills from the beginning.
2. Under promise and Over delivery
3. Spec out a project as well as possible beforehand. But agree upfront to a mid-way spec because projects change so fast that you may find yourself conducting tasks you should charge a lot more to do.
4. Build camaraderie with your client but hold your ground if they take advantage. Working with a variety of clients and building a network are advantages of the freelance world. Do you best to build quality relationships with your clients, so they tell your future clients that you are not only a great (insert job function), but also a great person. But I wouldn't go as far as to become so friendly that you feel bad charging them what you'd be making on another project.
Hope this helps
1. It's easy to feel guilty charging a client high rates while you tackle an unfamiliar project, which requires you spend more time learning than producing. For me, consulting has been a constant tradeoff between taking jobs at high prices where I don't learn new things vs. lower prices when entering unfamiliar territory. I don't know if pricing services according to your ability to execute is best though. At the end of the day, you don't want to find your saying to your client: "I did not execute as promised for whatever reason, but hey I didn't charge much!" This situation shouldn't arise often if you are honest about your skills from the beginning.
2. Under promise and Over delivery
3. Spec out a project as well as possible beforehand. But agree upfront to a mid-way spec because projects change so fast that you may find yourself conducting tasks you should charge a lot more to do.
4. Build camaraderie with your client but hold your ground if they take advantage. Working with a variety of clients and building a network are advantages of the freelance world. Do you best to build quality relationships with your clients, so they tell your future clients that you are not only a great (insert job function), but also a great person. But I wouldn't go as far as to become so friendly that you feel bad charging them what you'd be making on another project.
Hope this helps