Comments on: Should I quit making my boss so much money and be a freelance web developer?

By: sbinlb

sbinlb — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:40:59 +0000

Your biggest hurdle isn’t finding work. It’s that freelance web developers have a very poor reputation. Check out the questions here and on craigslist.
If you are prepared to understand the true scope of the project, create detailed project plans, communicate with the customer, and follow through with the project = then you are primed for success. The problem is that if that doesn’t happen, you are just another unreliable web developer.

Also, right now you make $28000. You don’t have to provide your own equipment or pay complete taxes. So the $3000 you can get, doesn’t go as far. As the $28000 as an employee.
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By: BruceLee

BruceLee — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:58:59 +0000

I understand your predicament. However there are some important factors which you shuld consider before making any decision. First of all, the USA and Uk and most other major countries are in a recession. Jobs are at an all time low, people who have given 20+ years service to companies are being handed redundancy packages as employers canot meet the payroll costs. Graduates are struggling to find work, employers have frozen recruitment programmes aimed at graduates as they can’t afford training costs and find it cheaper to hire experienced staff at a lower cost to the company. I think that at the moment, you should look for another job. You have excellent credntials and good work experience. Perhaps you could ask your clients for testemonials upon completion of their projects, build up a portfolio of client comments to take to a potential job interview. As you’re only 25, there is alot of time ahead for you to work for yourself, but the opportunity to meet clients and work on different projects at no risk to yourself is only available through your current job.

Once you start receiving client feedback, that’s when you’ll have an idea of whether to stick it on your own or not. It is true that you have to take a risk to reap a reward, but make sure you can afford to take the risk. I find whenever planning achange, always account for failure, so if you do go freelance and it doesn’t work out, make sure you have something to fall back on. What you should start doing is to make an action plan for the next 5 years, your ultimate goal at 30 should be to be self employed. Everything you do between now and then must be geared toward you achieving that goal.
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By: Loadnabox

Loadnabox — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:50:59 +0000

Owning a business is very tough. The #1 issue you will face will be talking to the clients. This sounds sooo simple, but developing a working relationship takes a lot of face time and smiling pleasantries. IF you can do it, go for it, more power to you!

You could also start trying to peddle your abilities on the side to make money for yourself, but you would need to be careful not to get caught or you will have royally fudged yourself.

Running a business is harder than you think but well worth it if you can do it!
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personal experience