Upgrade to Pro — share decks privately, control downloads, hide ads and more …

The Business Side of Freelancing: DMIT Presenta...

The Business Side of Freelancing: DMIT Presentation 2013

DMIT Industry Series Presentation on the business side of freelancing to outgoing students at NAIT.

Ashley Janssen

January 22, 2013
Tweet

More Decks by Ashley Janssen

Other Decks in Business

Transcript

  1. www.agilestyle.com Topics to Cover • How do I know if

    freelancing is for me? • Getting Your Business Started • Managing Clients • Some Things I Have Learned 2
  2. www.agilestyle.com • Make mistakes on someone else’s dime • Gain

    invaluable learning opportunities to polish and expand your skills • See how your employer runs their business • Gain confidence in your skills Why Not? 5
  3. www.agilestyle.com How do I know if freelancing is for me?

    • Are you self-motivated? • Do you love what you do? • Are you organized? • Are you a very good communicator? 6
  4. www.agilestyle.com Your Roles • Sales • Marketing • Bookkeeper •

    Project Manager • Customer Support • Designer • Developer • Writer • Researcher • Custodian 7
  5. www.agilestyle.com Getting Your Business Started • Setting Up • Client

    acquisition • Managing your money • Establishing project & business processes • Building a Solid Contract 8
  6. www.agilestyle.com • Get incorporated • Get a lawyer • Get

    a business license • Get an accountant • Get a bank account • Get business cards If you are going to be a professional, act like one 10
  7. www.agilestyle.com What should my starting rate be? Freelancing Freelancing Freelancing

    Freelancing $/hr 3 hrs/day /wk /mo 50 $150 $750 $3,000 60 $180 $900 $3,600 70 $210 $1,050 $4,200 80 $240 $1,200 $4,800 Otherwise Employed Otherwise Employed Otherwise Employed Otherwise Employed $/hr 8 hrs/day /wk /mo 15 $120 $600 $2,400 20 $160 $800 $3,200 25 $200 $1,000 $4,000 30 $240 $1,200 $4,800 11
  8. www.agilestyle.com • Kijiji.ca • Craigslist.ca • FreelanceSwitch.com • DigitalMediaJobs.ca •

    Twitter.com • AdClubEdm.com • DigitalAlberta.com Some Freelance Job Sites 13
  9. www.agilestyle.com Don’t waste time on your own website • Get

    it up as fast as possible • Show your 3-4 best pieces of work • For speed: • http://www.squarespace.com/ • http://www.behance.net/prosite • https://about.me/ 14
  10. www.agilestyle.com • Always get paid up front • Never start

    work without payment • Never do anything for free • Do not rely on cheques coming on time • Explore other sources of revenue • Keep a nest egg of cash built up Words to Live By 16
  11. www.agilestyle.com Why do I need a nest egg? Potential Initial

    Costs Potential Initial Costs Incorporation $900 Business License $300 Hardware $2,000 Software $1,500 Office Chair $350 Office Desk $200 General Office Supplies $100 Business Cards $150 Total $5,500 17
  12. www.agilestyle.com Why do I need a nest egg? Potential Annual

    Costs Potential Annual Costs Hardware $2,500 Software $720 Professional Fees $500 Internet $720 Hosting $250 Domain Renewals $40 Office Supplies $350 Merchant Account Fees $400 Phone $720 PO Box $120 Bank Fees $180 Misc $500 Total $7000 18
  13. www.agilestyle.com Examples of Project vs Business Processes Project Processes Business

    Processes User Stories Launch Checklists Wireframes/Prototypes Quote Meeting Questionnaires Monthly Task Lists Design Style Guides Weekly Task Lists 20
  14. www.agilestyle.com Sample Monthly Tasks • Bookkeeping • Paying Bills •

    Invoicing • Monthly Newsletter • Check Community Events 21
  15. www.agilestyle.com Sample Weekly Tasks • Answer Email - Daily •

    Twitter post - Daily • Track your time - Daily • List & Prioritize tasks for the week - Monday • Review meeting schedule - Monday • Check if any bills are due this week - Monday • Any overdue invoices? - Monday • Check job boards - Wednesday • Write a blog post - Wednesday • Send project summary updates to all clients - Friday 22
  16. www.agilestyle.com Building a Solid Contract • Exit clauses • Items

    the contract includes • Items the contract does NOT include • Under what circumstances will additional fees be applied • What the client is responsible for • Who has ownership of what, and when 24
  17. www.agilestyle.com Manage Expectations • Under promise, over deliver • Always

    be clear about what will and will not cost extra • Over-estimate how long something will take • Don’t burn yourself out 26
  18. www.agilestyle.com • With great power comes great responsibility • Be

    careful which bridges you burn • You are the master of your own fate Some Things to Think About 33