I just started free-lancing in web design. I am in the very beginning stages of it. I have technically been doing it now for 1.5 weeks - 2 weeks, at least that is when I received my first client (1.5 weeks ago). I am modeling my business plan to become a company, but until I have some work under my belt, I don't feel I can even call myself that. I am filling my sales pipeline at a moderate pace for now as I am just starting. I just finished my first clients job, I almost had another client a couple of days ago - I sent the contract and lost them at the very last second, I have 2 meetings this week for new clients, and I have several others I am communicating with.
I will be launching a website I designed for myself this weekend. I know this will help me, so I can show my prospective clients my own design and future work that I do. At least for now, showing my site is something.
I work full time as a market developer as well as a front-end developer. (I love the combination of both marketing/web design). This week between my full time job, my client work, trying to get my business off the ground and general business practices I worked around 80-90 hours. I am fine with doing this for a while and have done it in the past, but I do see it being tougher with a family and being older.
In the past week and a half, I made as much as I do in 3 weeks at my full time job with one client. I know this won't always happen and currently I am clientless for a couple of days until who knows. When I do start getting a continuous stream of clients to where I am working 80-90 hours a week between my job and business and making more than my full time job, how long would you all recommend I do this for? Do I do it until I am denying jobs because I am so busy? I know being tired would eventually catch up to me. I'm sure this answer will be different for everyone. I have job security, but I don't make the most. It pays the bills, though. So, if I have more work then I can do coming to me, would it be wise to say "good-bye" to the job and do this full time at a rate of whatever is coming in - still possibly working 80-90 hours a week? At least then I am sure I will be making MUCH more and getting a company started with work to show.
Now to be even more proactive. If I do that for a while, when is the right time to get an office space and an employee. I am not the best programmer in the world and I know there are better people out there than me. I love the business end to it more than the programming. I know with only 1-2 employees I would still code in order to save on costs, but when should I even think about doing that? I know this will make my overhead go from basically inexistant to thousands a month.
What would you all recommend?
I will be launching a website I designed for myself this weekend. I know this will help me, so I can show my prospective clients my own design and future work that I do. At least for now, showing my site is something.
I work full time as a market developer as well as a front-end developer. (I love the combination of both marketing/web design). This week between my full time job, my client work, trying to get my business off the ground and general business practices I worked around 80-90 hours. I am fine with doing this for a while and have done it in the past, but I do see it being tougher with a family and being older.
In the past week and a half, I made as much as I do in 3 weeks at my full time job with one client. I know this won't always happen and currently I am clientless for a couple of days until who knows. When I do start getting a continuous stream of clients to where I am working 80-90 hours a week between my job and business and making more than my full time job, how long would you all recommend I do this for? Do I do it until I am denying jobs because I am so busy? I know being tired would eventually catch up to me. I'm sure this answer will be different for everyone. I have job security, but I don't make the most. It pays the bills, though. So, if I have more work then I can do coming to me, would it be wise to say "good-bye" to the job and do this full time at a rate of whatever is coming in - still possibly working 80-90 hours a week? At least then I am sure I will be making MUCH more and getting a company started with work to show.
Now to be even more proactive. If I do that for a while, when is the right time to get an office space and an employee. I am not the best programmer in the world and I know there are better people out there than me. I love the business end to it more than the programming. I know with only 1-2 employees I would still code in order to save on costs, but when should I even think about doing that? I know this will make my overhead go from basically inexistant to thousands a month.
What would you all recommend?
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