Working for yourself.

rc26 · Post by **rc26** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 3:53 am

Is anyone here self-employed? How do you drum up your business? I'm making a push to work for myself doing IT related services and wouldn't mind some input. Where to find clients, etc. I've heard that joining the local Chamber of Commerce is a good idea for networking?

MATPOC · Post by **MATPOC** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 4:54 am

there are all kinds of local networking groups in every town, but they are all full of sales critters.
One of my friends was attending "B-to-B" or some thing but eventually quit cause of all the bullshit.
You need to find a broker/headhunter who will find you work and take the cut, less money but less hustle

rolly · Post by **rolly** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 5:03 am

Sorry, not laughing and crying at you, I've just thrown in the towel and am getting myself a mcwarehouse job. It'll be nice to have money again.

So I'm totally underqualified to be giving advice, but I'll offer some anyway:

1. You are a business, not a guy who does stuff.
Obvious, right? No, this is important! You're asking people to give money to a complete stranger, why should they trust you? You want to embody slick professionalism to get their confidence.

2. Advertise.
Doesn't matter how good you are if no one knows it. Figure out who your customers are and introduce yourself somehow.

Also, there needs to be a reason someone should choose RC26 Information Services over the other guy.

xtian · Post by **xtian** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 5:53 am

Disclaimer : I don't know shit about running a business.

+1 on being a pro and not a guy who does stuff.
never be ashamed of asking money (but I guess that's more of an european complex), never do anything for free or they may think that the rest of the time, you are just stealing their money (does not apply to UTMC'ers requests).

When fixing a price, be as specific as possible ("no, it's not just artsy fooling around, it's a 3 days job + expensive computer hardware and software, a $30 brush and 15 years of experience) it will reassure the customer and they will know what they pay for.

One thing that surprised me and that allowed me to live as a freelance for the last 9 month: Be positive and do the job and don't lie ! People are happily surprised when they call you if you pick up the phone, (not all people do) come with solutions and a will to work (don't just sight and complain about how difficult the job will be, do that with your wife, not with the customer) send a reasonable price quickly (60% of people don't) not to high but not too low or you will degrade your image of someone serious enough, go to the appointment on time (another 30% don't) and deliver the job done in time (the last 5% won't). It's not that easy to find someone to work and that you can trust, customers value that.

And avoid trying to do your work when you can't do it in good situations, a good builder cannot build a wall with poor bricks and sand instead of mortar but it is his ass that will be kicked when the wall comes crushing down. Always demand the good elements and situation to do your work properly or tell them that you are sorry to have to refuse to do it.

And good luck on finding THE guy in THE company that just need you RIGHT NOW.

@Rolly, sorry to hear that you had to give up on the option for some time, don't give up, one step back two steps forward !

rolly · Post by **rolly** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 9:34 am

Oh yeah, I'm not dropping right out of the game, I just need to refill my accounts. The irony is the same day I started looking for forklift gigs I had a meet downtown with a potentially really good client, but they won't need me right away, and it's not definite.

Sisyphus · Post by **Sisyphus** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 9:44 am

Basically get used to the idea of busting your ass for about five years, scraping by. I've been at it for... I dunno, five years! Lol.. and I've had maybe two really good years but last year and the one before were pretty much the nadir. My next 12 months or so are already booked, however. I've got to hire someone and build a shop, too. It's getting kind of freaky and I'm worried about dropping the ball.
It takes time to develop a business, more than anything else. You have to bust your ass. You have to get out there and figuratively go places and try to get work. Meet people. Put on the face. And yes, advertise. As much as you might dislike the idea of talking about yourself and talking yourself up, you have to do it. You have to. Otherwise, nobody knows you.
So, a few lean years of suffering mightily, unless you get really lucky. After that, if you haven't gotten steady work, I guess it all depends on how bad you want to make it work. Just my opinion.

Also, always, always always make sure your costs are covered.

guitargeek · Post by **guitargeek** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 12:12 pm

I operated a guitar and amplifier repair service out of my home, when I lived in Texas. I operated a business, but more importantly I was a guy who did stuff. Word of mouth was my only advertisement. I kept musician-friendly hours, so if I got a frantic call at 2:00 AM along the lines of, "I broke my baby! I have to use it at the big show tomorrow! HELP MEEEEE!" I'd say, "Hey, it's okay, come on by when you hit town." They'd bring me their broken gear and I'd fix it while they waited and watched. I'd offer them good strong coffee or good beer or whatever else I had handy, then I'd charge them a reasonable price. I usually got a decent tip, too.

This worked pretty well until 9/11, when people stopped going out to see live music.

goose · Post by **goose** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 12:26 pm

for me, getting business was never the hard part. Network and go to industry related functions. Teach some classes to the consumers in your field (I do free legal classes for realtors all the time) HAVE PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS (cards, brochures). When I go out on my own, I always have more work than I can do.

Now the hard part . . . chasing the money. I found that I spent half the day chasing work, and the other half chasing money for the work I already did. Now you're asking "when did you find time to do the work?" The answer is, no sleep. I was run ragged!

Next time I do this I will rethink my billing and payment procedures. It's not always possible to get paid up front, but I'm thinking that work that get's billed to people I don't know too well may be worth skipping. Dunno, getting paid can be difficult.

Sisyphus · Post by **Sisyphus** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 12:53 pm

^ good points. I once did a job worth $10,000+ and they stiffed me. Took awhile to get payment but I finally got it. Then like a sucker I did another job for them for like 500 bucks. That was almost a year ago.
I think I'm done with those guys, and I'll tell them as much next time they call.
That was a non-profit, so I was kind of sympathetic. Now not so much.
But yeah, chase the money. Offer something nobody else can for the price. They'll come.

goose · Post by **goose** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 6:03 pm

Rev wrote:Marry up.

Awesomesauce! For some reason, I burst out laughing when I saw this and was nodding my head the whole time!

emphatic +1!

Sisyphus · Post by **Sisyphus** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 6:13 pm

Weeping

Drift · Post by **Drift** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 3:05 pm

When I opened my sign shop I joined a business networking group called LeTip. I stayed in it until I closed the shop a few years later.

They're good because they only let one person per profession in the group and they all commit to either using each others services or providing tips to each other on possible new clients.

http://www.letip.com/

Another organization is called BNI.

They really helped when I started out and when things were slow, I always had jobs from them. The IT guy in my group KILLED it. He was busy all the time.

Going solo is tough bro. Good luck.

rc26 · Post by **rc26** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 5:43 pm

Rev wrote:Marry up.

Best idea I've heard so far.

guitargeek · Post by **guitargeek** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 10:15 pm

rc26 wrote:
Rev wrote:Marry up.
Best idea I've heard so far.

I've said for years that I need a rich girl with a drinking problem.

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