RE: FN-FORUM Advice on going it alone

date posted 29th September 2002 22:29

I got your first reply email a good 30 minutes after I'd replied to the
original post, so quite how you figure I was aiming my reply at you I
don't know. I've been on the list for some time now and the question has
cropped up more than once. I was relating my experience of replies then,

Hutch

-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL REMOVED]
[EMAIL REMOVED] On Behalf Of Mark Peter
Mansell
Sent: 29 September 2002 21:31
To: [EMAIL REMOVED]
Subject: Re: FN-FORUM Advice on going it alone


----- Original Message -----
From: "Andy Hutchinson" [EMAIL REMOVED]
To: [EMAIL REMOVED]
Sent: Sunday, September 29, 2002 8:16 PM
Subject: RE: FN-FORUM Advice on going it alone


> This question has been asked a few times by people who either had the
> desire to strike out on their own, or had it forced on them. To be
> honest, the responses to such an enquiry to the list surprised me
> because there were lots of negative replies which had an air of 'oh
god
> no, someone else vying for a slice of the cake, lets try and put them
> off the idea'.
>

That was not the point of my answer, and anyone who decides that it was,
on
the basis on the little information they had available maybe needs to go
back and do a bit of re-reading.

Besides which, I can't imagine that a designer in Glasgow is going to
munching much from my cake in the South East and Eastern Europe.

Anyone who has to ask the questions in the original post obviously
doesn't
already have work lined up. If they did, they would be asking the best
way
of starting the business, invoicing, etc.

Starting a business is a painful and difficult experience. Finding new
business is difficult, time consuming and when inexperienced hard to do.
When the Beth stated she was currently between jobs, it became apparent
that
she should be careful not to overstretch herself when the market is poor
and
it could be some time before she again finds regular employment to cover
the
start up costs for her new venture.

By all means look into the possibility. As she stated, it would be silly
to
wait until january and then be even deeper in the mire when she may find
some work in the meantime, but anyone in this situation should just be
careful.

Put together a portfolio, talk to people about what kind of skills she
may
need to supply, talk to people who she may be able to subcontract stuff
outside of her skillset and then go hunt for jobs. Just don't rely on it
as
a future until it becomes established and don't let an unsteady income
from
clients who may be slow paying prevent her from getting a solid job.


> The bottom line is that there is plenty of work out there if you're
> determined enough to get the clients and talented enough to hang onto
> them once you've snared them. If you hear comments about lack of work
in
> this marketplace from people then consider two things - maybe the
people
> saying there isn't much work aren't very good or maybe they're just
> sitting back and expecting lucrative contracts to land in their laps.
We
> (that's WebUnlimited - me, my wife and a smallish group of trusted
> database, Flash, server, ecommerce, SEO and marketing specialists) are
> up to our ears in work, because we never take the next gig for granted
> and we work hard to keep existing clients happy so that they come back
> regularly for more.
>
That is true, but getting and keeping work takes time that a one man
band
doesn't always have because they are busy working. A trusted group of
people
have a better chance, but if you don't have that then you could be in
for
feast and famine.


> So if you're happy that you have the sort of skillset a client might
> use, get yourself an accountant (first session will be free and
they'll
> let you know precisely what to do), get yourself a web site, get
> yourself some contacts to do the bits that you can't and get out there
> and hustle,
>

And an ideal way to fill the time while waiting for more work. Still
think
about training courses though.



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