Any ideas getting started in freelance software development?

Post by **Kaylee** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 9:36 pm

I'm wondering what I'm going to do next with my career, and one option I'm considering in the next couple of years is the possibility of becoming a freelancer.

I like the idea of working from home and having more control over the code I write. If I see benefit in writing code with a particular tool or technique, I'd like to be able to pursue it without worrying about "well the team might not be trained in it..."

The problem is that I have *always* worked for companies, usually big ones. I'm a very experienced website developer, approaching senior levels, and I know my way very well around systems and several languages.

I have absolutely no idea how I'd go about getting started working for myself: do you take out an ad in the local paper? Are there agencies that will find projects and give them to me? Should I knock on people's doors and say "Hi there, do you have any C# you want refactored?"

Has anybody here got any ideas? I'm canvassing some of my other contacts in the .Net world, although I am very tempted by the idea of moving to Ruby on Rails...

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 11:10 pm

This might seem a little simplistic, but have you tried contacting other freelance software developers, to ask how they got started.

They might be able to give you some pointers, or even, if you're lucky, pass your name on to prospective clients as an alternative if they think you'd be more suited to the task, or if they've got other commitments.

Post by **Best First** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 8:12 am

given the economy is poop, is it also something you could start doing small scale at first, in your spare time, rather than chucking in the job and going whole hog?

God i am old.

Post by **Best First** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 8:13 am

PS - how much to redevelop transfans? tenner?

Post by **Kaylee** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 11:31 am

Yes, it would be a piecemeal transition over the next couple of years.

Is there anything needs doing here? I was working on an Ajax chat client in Perl yonks back but real life got in the way

bumblemusprime · Post by **bumblemusprime** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 4:01 pm

I think Emvee has done stuff like this before, but you might know better than I.

Mr_Tigg · Post by **Mr_Tigg** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 12:56 pm

Best First wrote:given the economy is poop, is it also something you could start doing small scale at first, in your spare time, rather than chucking in the job and going whole hog?

God i am old.

Actually (in London anyway) the current economy is really good for freelancers - agencies don't want to invest in perm staff so they bring in freelancers short term to see projects through. Agency makes more profit that way.

On topic - contacts are always good (having someone recommend you). There are many agencies in London that specialise in arranging jobs for freelancers, although I've heard many are a bit ****, but there a good ones out there - just gotta hunt them down.

Away from agencies - use Linkedin and keep your status updated when you're available.

You should also maybe contact agencies directly, send CVs out, etc.

Post by **Kaylee** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 10:00 pm

Hm sounds like networking is the way to go. Thank you for the advice

I'll try and drum up a little work over the next few months and see if I can build up a client base that might be able to replace work eventually.