"I have all the client work I need, but I'm exhausted each night, grumpy as hell, and my body feels like dogshit!”  Congratulations, you’re probably burned out!  Freelancing, contracting, and consulting can be a way to avoid burnout in the first place: it gives you more control of your schedule (one common source of stress … Continue reading How to avoid & manage burnout →

Is freelancing worth it? I don’t think it’s for everyone—and you have to decide if the tradeoffs fit your life and personality.  Here, I’ll do my best to help you choose for yourself.  Let’s walk through a few trade-offs you should consider. Downsides 1. You can’t just code anymore. You suddenly have to spend at … Continue reading “Is it worth it—for me?” Pros and cons →

How do you know when you’re ready to start working as an independent freelancer, contractor, or consultant? It’s tempting just to say: “Do you know how to ship software? Great, quit your job and find your first client!” But if you’re like me, you want to think things through first. Let’s try this: I’ll walk … Continue reading “Am I ready?” A five-point checklist →

“When I start working for clients, what should my rate be?”: easily one of the most common questions I see from developers thinking about making the jump.  I stressed out over this myself in the beginning. “Please tell me there is a standard algorithm to figure this out!” I’ve seen a bunch of different answers. … Continue reading What should your hourly rate be? →

Ok, so you've landed a project or contract with a client. Great! That means you've already built some trust and rapport with them. Now it's time to deepen that trust further. "I'm building solid software for them. Isn't that enough? I'm a good programmer!" Yes, that's the foundation: the meat and potatoes. But I already … Continue reading Ten ways to make clients love you →