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Lumbago
Norsk Yak Master
3271 Posts |
 Posted - 2011-02-02 : 04:28:03
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| I've been thinking for a while to go in to the consultancy business on my own, doing sql server development along with ssis and ssrs. The market for dwh-people is pretty good these days so but I'm unsure how I get myself started off. I have a quite big morgage on my house and I can't afford to stay out of business for very long at a time... I know some of you guys are in to consulting, do you have any tips for for a startup like me?- LumbagoMy blog-> www.thefirstsql.com |
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Sachin.Nand
2937 Posts |
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russell
Pyro-ma-ni-yak
5072 Posts |
Posted - 2011-02-02 : 09:53:34
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| Following PBUH's link, be sure to read the articles that Tara posted in reply. |
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SwePeso
Patron Saint of Lost Yaks
30421 Posts |
Posted - 2011-02-02 : 16:01:11
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I probably can give some input here, since you are my neighbour.It hard in the beginning. You will have to compete with the established companies and their marketing budgets.Your advantage is that you have less overhead to cover office rent costs and other stuff.Don't think you can bill all your time (8 hours/day).It takes time to visit and sell yourself to a new company. It takes about 10-20 hours to get to know the company and let them know what you can and can't do.And what about support? My experience is that you spend about 1/3 of your time developing and doing the fun stuff.You spend about 1/3 of the time in contact with potential customer regarding new work and existing customer regarding support issues.And you spend about 1/3 of your time doing the book-keeping, marketing, visit seminars, educating yourself, reading books.//Peter
N 56°04'39.26"E 12°55'05.63" |
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jezemine
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker
2886 Posts |
Posted - 2011-02-02 : 16:56:48
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uh oh - will you and peso be competing for the same projects?my conservative advice would be to start slow if possible. that is, if you can do it on the side at the same time as your day job, it's not as much of a risk. if it starts taking off to the point where doing both is impossible, then it's more safe to quit your day job at that point.or, if you have money saved up to the point where you could pay 6 mortgage payments in a row with NO INCOME at all, then quitting day job is a little less risky.
elsasoft.org |
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SwePeso
Patron Saint of Lost Yaks
30421 Posts |
Posted - 2011-02-02 : 17:10:18
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No, I am not taking much freelance these days. I did before the kids were born. Freelancing made me miss my daughters birth.So, I am now contracted until further notice with a company in Malmö to some serious work for them. Maybe I go freelance again when my kids are older. But for now, my fourth kid is expected in may.I do still have some customers which I help out by using Terminal Services. But this happens in the evening, after kids and wife have gone to bed.It makes a fair share of money tough...
N 56°04'39.26"E 12°55'05.63" |
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GilaMonster
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker
4507 Posts |
Posted - 2011-02-02 : 17:11:10
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| Have at least 6 months total expenses in the bank (or plans for an alternate source of income) before you quit. You'll likely need it.--Gail ShawSQL Server MVP |
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dataguru1971
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker
1464 Posts |
Posted - 2011-02-02 : 18:01:13
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Based on the number "DBA's" that post a clear lack of knowledge about their job...there should be no shortage of work. The hard part is those first few deals to build a reputation for your product and services (as was stated above)I would start by doing it on the side at first..seek out small, quick hit part time projects that you can do after hours. Maybe...Just do what other people here do....take jobs you are unqualified for, then post questions on forums to have experts write the code for you.Be sure to include lots of titles in your sig--the more the better--it helps when the experts see that you too are an expert requiring assistance.
Poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part. |
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Jim Beam
Posting Yak Master
137 Posts |
Posted - 2011-02-02 : 18:36:13
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quote:
Originally posted by dataguru1971
Based on the number "DBA's" that post a clear lack of knowledge about their job...there should be no shortage of work.
I don't see what that has to do with it. He'll be developing databases, and then (hopefully) future-proofing them to run hassle-free until such time as their owners need a DBA or BI reporter due to growth. |
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dataguru1971
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker
1464 Posts |
Posted - 2011-02-02 : 18:55:53
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It was a reference to the number of posts here by self-proclaimed DBA's who don't know what a join is :). Not anything directed at his particular intent..I am sure he will do fine of course.
Poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part. |
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Doug G
Constraint Violating Yak Guru
331 Posts |
Posted - 2011-02-02 : 19:32:59
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| Have a good CPA======Doug G====== |
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Lumbago
Norsk Yak Master
3271 Posts |
Posted - 2011-02-03 : 03:35:27
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| A lot of good tips here, thanx alot! Peso is about a 6 hours drive away from me in a different country so I don't think we'll be competing anytime soon :) There is no chance I'll be able to make up 6 months worth of money in the next 10 years with my current job, but luckily the wife has just got a new job as a dentist in a private dental office so her contribution to the family economy will be substantial. That might leave some room for me not having to make as much in the beginning. What I have been thinking is that I want to get in to datawarehouse projects...they have a tendency to last for years at a time and hourly rates are very good. I can't charge what the big consultancy firms charge but even with a 30% cut compared to them, the pay will still be very decent. It's just a matter of finding such a project...or finding a consultancy firm that are willing to use me as a subcontractor :)- LumbagoMy blog-> www.thefirstsql.com |
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Jim Beam
Posting Yak Master
137 Posts |
Posted - 2011-02-03 : 04:44:09
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quote:
Originally posted by dataguru1971
It was a reference to the number of posts here by self-proclaimed DBA's who don't know what a join is :). Not anything directed at his particular intent..I am sure he will do fine of course.
Then I'll put it another way. You wrote, "Based on the number "DBA's" that post a clear lack of knowledge about their job...there should be no shortage of work"The data you entered above, asserting that an abundance of potential Development work was a probability, conditional to prevailing standards of Administration, is factually incorrect.Now...what is this "Join" thing you speak of, young man??!?! :) |
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SwePeso
Patron Saint of Lost Yaks
30421 Posts |
Posted - 2011-02-03 : 05:01:18
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quote:
Originally posted by Lumbago
It's just a matter of finding such a project...or finding a consultancy firm that are willing to use me as a subcontractor :)
In Sweden, there is such a company called eWork. Goto http://www.ework.se/currentProjects.cfm and choose Norway. They are "consultant brokers" and if you have a company of your own you can apply to do the job.
N 56°04'39.26"E 12°55'05.63" |
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Lumbago
Norsk Yak Master
3271 Posts |
Posted - 2011-02-03 : 07:06:17
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| Yeah, I know about eWork...I'm actually a subscriber but no relevant projects have appeared recently.- LumbagoMy blog-> www.thefirstsql.com |
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Jim Beam
Posting Yak Master
137 Posts |
Posted - 2011-02-03 : 07:59:22
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quote:
Originally posted by Lumbago
Yeah, I know about eWork...I'm actually a subscriber but no relevant projects have appeared recently.- LumbagoMy blog-> www.thefirstsql.com
What about direct marketing? Identify the companies likeliest to use your services and approach them directly? |
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Lumbago
Norsk Yak Master
3271 Posts |
Posted - 2011-02-04 : 03:27:31
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| I have called up a few also but no takers so far. Peso: can I ask what your price range was/is? I'm thinking about charging around 700-750 NOK/h (which with the current ex-rate is about 120-130USD). This is about 30-40% less than the consultancy companies charge for BI consultants...do you think that makes sense?- LumbagoMy blog-> www.thefirstsql.com |
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SwePeso
Patron Saint of Lost Yaks
30421 Posts |
Posted - 2011-02-04 : 05:23:50
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I have no fixed price range. It depends on the scope of the project.I have learned to charge not what the gig is worth to me, but what it is worth to the customers.Having a fixed hourly rate makes no sense to me. I mean, it takes different knowledge if I am just going to document and inspect a solution, or build a new application with 4000 simultaneous users.I normally charge between $90 and $150 per hour (more often in the upper side).I have in rare occassions charged as little as $50/h and as much as $770/h.
N 56°04'39.26"E 12°55'05.63" |
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jezemine
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker
2886 Posts |
Posted - 2011-02-04 : 08:13:44
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>> I have in rare occassions charged as little as $50/h and as much as $770/h.dont' forget the lost yaks you save here - $0/hr.
elsasoft.org |
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X002548
Not Just a Number
15586 Posts |
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Sachin.Nand
2937 Posts |
Posted - 2011-02-16 : 03:03:08
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quote:
Originally posted by X002548
I STILL say that GRAZ should start a consulting groupo with the talent here
Do I count ???  PBUH |
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