The consulting tag has no wiki summary.
14
votes
7answers
1k views
How can I determine a good rate for freelancing?
I've currently got a startup and a full-time job. I'm looking to transition to part-time freelancing so I can focus more on my startup. However, I'm walking into this completely blind, and I need ...
14
votes
6answers
786 views
Software consultants VS Software houses profitability
Let me preface by providing a specific definition of the two types of companies I am interested in.
Consultants: Software companies that generally provide their services on an hourly basis to create ...
12
votes
4answers
2k views
How can I quit from my own company
I co-founded a consulting company in Vancouver 4 years ago with 2 partners. One of us is working full-time with the company and getting a modest salary. Me and my other partner are doing couple of ...
12
votes
2answers
362 views
Sales pipelines. Should you only have 1 in a B2B software development company?
So you understand our scope: We are a custom software development company who have 2 primary markets
Mid sized companies who have ongoing internal needs for automation
...
10
votes
6answers
647 views
Using consulting to bootstrap your software startup
I've been through some pretty brutal experiences recently with venture capitalists and I'm looking into ways I can start a company without VC money.
Has anyone out there used consulting to bootstrap ...
9
votes
11answers
2k views
Build in-house or outsource?
I'm working with a SaaS business with a non-technical founder/CEO and am looking for pros and cons for (1) building the software in-house vs (2) outsourcing version 1.0 to a consulting firm.
From ...
9
votes
6answers
904 views
Communicating a Rate Increase to my Clients
I currently run a two person web development team. My partner and I offer Ruby on Rails programming for our clients (small companies). We typically charge $75/hr for most of our clients but we have ...
8
votes
5answers
600 views
Should software developer charge for Specs Gathering Time?
As a software developer who charge on per hour basis, should one charge on the specification and requirement understanding/gathering time? And what about the time for testing and debugging?
I ...
8
votes
9answers
3k views
Should I pursue someone who stole my idea?
I consult to companies. I specialize in problem resolution, project management, research and occasionally, if there's a call for it, development.
Recently, I was contacted by a development manager at ...
7
votes
4answers
228 views
Does it make sense for a SaaS company to also do consulting work?
As a SaaS company we have an entire team in place to do web and application development. Effectively, we have one client: ourselves. Would it make sense for us to take on consulting clients as an ...
7
votes
3answers
132 views
How do I increase my clients' ownership for ther own change orders?
We are working on a complex online sales and marketing tool (website with CRM integration) We have laid it out as several small "baby step" projects. Each step needs approval and "sign-off" before ...
7
votes
2answers
372 views
Books / Advice on running an outsource software development shop?
So there's tons of documentation and books on project management, agile development, how to manage outsourcing projects, how to send our project offshore, etc...
But I'm on the other side, I'm ...
6
votes
5answers
390 views
tired of freelancing for other people. how to meet customer directly?
I've been out of college for about 4 years now. Have a full time job and recently have been dabling in the freelance field on the side. doing Rails/PHP work + I have friends who are security analysts ...
5
votes
6answers
5k views
How to calculate the price to quote for a service?
Is there a logical way to come up with pricing for a service such as below that my friend came up with. Are these valid ?
Split down the service into as many
small steps as possible. Make sure
to ...
5
votes
2answers
151 views
How much to charge for the initial analysis?
I just started my own consulting firm and was talking to a client who has a rather large project. After spending an hour, he then suggests we book another 2.5 hour long call to go through one of the ...
5
votes
3answers
416 views
How do you get involved with RFPs from government?
I am thinking that I should somehow find end users of my software that I had developed. I don't have lot of money for advertising but the software can be modified enough to fit the needs of ...
4
votes
5answers
1k views
Ethicality of leaving a consulting company to work for a client [closed]
I am currently an intern at a small consulting firm, and we do primarily web design. It's time for me to graduate and I've spoken with my boss and they want to keep me on.
The problem comes in with ...
4
votes
5answers
893 views
Is a non-compete enforceable if you are not an employee of the company?
My wife has an offer from a company in NYC and the contract says specifically that she would be an independent consultant for a 3 month trial period, and not an employee of the company during that ...
4
votes
2answers
585 views
Good 'starter' SOW or Contracts for Consultant business?
I run a consulting biz on the side (just me), doing odd IT jobs ranging from web development / design / db management etc;
I have typically made small contracts or statements of work for the jobs, ...
4
votes
3answers
258 views
How do I choose an accountant for my small business?
I want to register a small work from home business and do yearly audits. I have found a tax consultant and we exchanged more than dozen emails. After I asked him about where he got his certification ...
4
votes
2answers
133 views
Consulting while bootstrapping. How to organise company?
I'm a developer who has just sorted out part time consultancy work which I would like to use to maintain myself while bootstrapping a SAAS startup as a solo (for now) founder.
Given that I'd like to ...
4
votes
2answers
296 views
Starting a technology consulting company and working as a subcontractors
I have a decade experience in software developement and specially web related applications. As a geek, I have a nice contacts but I do not see any of my contact turning into a perspective client. ...
3
votes
7answers
508 views
Underestimate and therefore undercharge your clients— what would you do?
As a software consultant, one must be able to accurately estimate the amount of time needed for a software project, because the clients demand it anyway. But we all know how complex software ...
3
votes
4answers
1k views
Is this teired commission schedule for referrals fair?
I'm an independent software consultant who is looking for referrals.
I've paid for referrals before and have noticed that sometimes I was happy with the price and sometimes I was not. For example, ...
3
votes
2answers
134 views
Does it make sense to give the customer the option to either pay by the hour or a fixed rate?
I am a freelance software developer
My process of getting work is typically:
Find out about potential work through some channel (people I know, former employers, job postings etc.)
Set up a ...
3
votes
6answers
1k views
How do I create a pricing scheme for my creative consulting company?
My company consults companies on creating websites, branding, online video promotions, and mobile apps. One aspect of our service is the consulting side, the other is project management, finding the ...
3
votes
6answers
398 views
How does one find an illustrator?
On one hand we have designers readily available, people we can hire to create something with direction or concepts already available.
On the other hand, we have sites like 99 Designs and Crowdspring ...
3
votes
3answers
220 views
Is consulting work subject to my day-job's intellectual-property clause?
Disclaimer: I'm not seeking legal advice here, I will naturally seek actual legal advice before I make any decisions. I'd just like to know the lay of the land, if anyone can help.
I'm in the ...
3
votes
3answers
272 views
Should I post my consulting rates or just tell people to contact me?
I have an android app that I made and it gets a few downloads here and there. It is a business coaching app. It is pretty helpful, but when people require more involved help, I show them a scree ...
3
votes
3answers
443 views
Is it legal using virtual currency in a swapping stuff website?
The site www.listia.com uses credits as a way to buy goods through auctions. These credits are not real money with the exception that you can buy more credits with real money if you desperately want ...
3
votes
3answers
252 views
Is it worth spending money on SEO consulting and services?
Assuming one wants to launch a website with good reviews from beta-testers-users, is it worth spending money on Search Engine Optimization consulting/specialists or does a hacker with good IT skills ...
3
votes
4answers
866 views
When hiring a consultant, what criteria do you use to evaluate them?
Over the years, I have had mixed results with hiring consultants for various jobs. I used to think that if they were referred, then that was good enough but that's not as consistent as I would like. ...
3
votes
3answers
303 views
What is the best way to structure an equity and cash compensation package for a consulting firm?
We are a consulting company that builds web and mobile apps for our clients. We have been asked if we accept some portion of compensation in equity. We do actually want to for some of our clients, but ...
3
votes
2answers
174 views
How To Find Contracting Work
I have a full-time job and do some contracting work on the side but am looking to quit and do full-time contracting work. Historically, my contracting work has come through my personal network, but ...
3
votes
2answers
173 views
How to start consulting “As an Individual or as a company”
I am planning to offer SEO and Web Development services(mainly SEO). It's a case of Bootstrapping. So my confusion is, if I create a website to offer services..
Should I present my website as a brand ...
3
votes
2answers
237 views
Proper Price to Charge Clients for Various SLAs
I am the co-owner of a small web development firm. We offer Ruby on Rails programming for our clients which mostly consist of small companies. We typically charge $80-$110 per hour. For 2/3 of our ...
3
votes
3answers
73 views
Best to market yourself based on technology, industry or system type?
In starting a small software consultancy and figuring out how to market and present ourselves to the world...
Does anyone have any experience as to whether it is best to market yourself based on:
...
3
votes
2answers
131 views
How can I build up a new McKinsey in a niche field?
I would like to build a new consulting company like McKinsey. I do have a significant competitive advantage, (based on software) in a niche field, and now I need advice on how to start creating a ...
2
votes
4answers
224 views
Any good guides on starting out as consultant?
Okay, so my reason for wanting to become a consultant is so it's easier for communication between my clients and future clients. Right now, I've sold myself as a 3 employee start up company, but ...
2
votes
3answers
244 views
If the agreement states IP is owned by the Consultant, is there any room for disagreement?
I am in the process to send a service agreement to my clients. I am stating that Intellectual Property related to all promotional material created while in the service agreement by my company will be ...
2
votes
3answers
206 views
Is hourly worth as a contractor the same as whatever you make at your day job?
I'm having a minor disagreement with a co-founder of a startup.
At our day jobs at software companies, he's a full-time employee and makes $40 an hour. I'm an intern at a different company and make ...
2
votes
6answers
198 views
Precautions to take while getting to know people?
A friend of mine has a startup. I introduce him to people at times, and he's got contacts who are useful to me too. When meeting up with such contacts, what precautions could we follow or how can we ...
2
votes
4answers
126 views
Escalating Ownership in Product Development Firm
A friend of mine has asked me to come on board with him, full time, as a business development consultant. Specifically, he needs me to produce market assessments for his portfolio of product ideas (9 ...
2
votes
3answers
874 views
How much do high-end financial software consultancy firms (like lab49) charge per hour?
How much do high-end financial consultancy firms (like lab49) charge per hour for a c# developer in London? In GBP please.
Obviously the consultancy has to paid the developer + cover their overheads ...
2
votes
1answer
157 views
How do I protect myself contractually while providing software consulting services?
My partner and I are software developers. We have formed an LLC and are starting to take consulting gigs. We have spent most of our careers at larger companies and have never been involved with ...
2
votes
2answers
123 views
How do I start my company?
I have an idea. I started Googling for investors with immaturity. Well, once I got matured enough I thought first starting a company on my own with the little money I have and later I can find ...
2
votes
1answer
34 views
Training for a technology solutions provider startup
I am a trained accountant with banking experience. However, my real interest is finding technology solutions for everyday end user challenges. I understand business very well and technology fairly ...
2
votes
1answer
60 views
How are startup consultants different from business consultants?
In the general sense, I'm wonder how startup consultants might be different from business consultants?
2
votes
1answer
255 views
What are the steps to start a software consulting company to hire consultants
I would like to start a software consulting company to hire software engineers who can be contracted for larger firms.
How to start the company, what type of compnay (thinking of LLC - is that ...
2
votes
1answer
183 views
What is a fair amount to pay for consulting referrals?
I'm an independent software consultant who is looking for referrals.
I've come to the conclusion that perhaps I should pay for them and earlier today posted this question about a teired commision ...
