How to start business as freelance software developer

[bstern]

Hello there,

My question is a complicated one, at least for me.  I am an engineer (not a software engineer), but I have done extensive programming over the years.  Java, Oracle, PHP, and so on.  While I have been able in the past to pick up side work, it has mostly been building websites.  These were mostly for small businesses.  As more and more websites have become easier for people to make on their own, I haven't felt the demand, and particulary, it hasn't interested me that much to setup Wordpress sites.  With Wordpres it seems that the fun part, the programming, is pretty much done.  However, I do enjoy the more challengine aspects of programming, and I am very skilled at it, as I did it almost exclusively for several years.  I wanted to ask if anyone on the forum had advice how to freelance one's software skills and turn it into a self employment business.  I just don't know how to even go about that, and if that possibility really exists in enough quanitity to make a living, or do one, by the very nature of the task, more or less need to be employed by a company to do that sort of work.  How does one get clients, what kind of clients would I go after, and so on.  Obviously, there is the possibility of making a software product and marketing in yourself, but that is not really want I am considering, as I don't really have a product idea.

Thanks
B. Stern

[thewizard]

Can you use a site like this to get started? There was another but I cant remember what it was. Its like Task Rabbit but for developers.

https://www.upwork.com/cat/developers/

Also this thread a little earlier.

https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/entrepreneurship/who-here-has-had-success-with-upwork-or-fiverr/

[MaaS]

Hello there,

My question is a complicated one, at least for me.  I am an engineer (not a software engineer), but I have done extensive programming over the years.  Java, Oracle, PHP, and so on.  While I have been able in the past to pick up side work, it has mostly been building websites.  These were mostly for small businesses.  As more and more websites have become easier for people to make on their own, I haven't felt the demand, and particulary, it hasn't interested me that much to setup Wordpress sites.  With Wordpres it seems that the fun part, the programming, is pretty much done.  However, I do enjoy the more challengine aspects of programming, and I am very skilled at it, as I did it almost exclusively for several years.  I wanted to ask if anyone on the forum had advice how to freelance one's software skills and turn it into a self employment business.  I just don't know how to even go about that, and if that possibility really exists in enough quanitity to make a living, or do one, by the very nature of the task, more or less need to be employed by a company to do that sort of work.  How does one get clients, what kind of clients would I go after, and so on.  Obviously, there is the possibility of making a software product and marketing in yourself, but that is not really want I am considering, as I don't really have a product idea.

Thanks
B. Stern

Here's my idea for you:

Marketing has adopted technology like crazy over the last five years. There are over 5000 solutions being used: https://chiefmartec.com/2018/04/marketing-technology-landscape-supergraphic-2018/

In fact, marketing spends more money on technology than IT does (or will soon, depending on your source).

Internal IT departments (generally) do NOT support the usage and integration of these tools well. There are frequently programming and API projects needed to connect these 5000+ platforms.

Point solutions are integrated through the CRM system (Salesforce) or marketing automation system (Marketo, Hubspot, etc). It's within those platforms that the opportunity exists.

To get to the point:

Study up on the API and developer resources for Marketo and Hubspot (Salesforce is more competitive). They have open communities where you can answer questions and generate leads from users.

Source: I'm a self-employed marketing consultant to who see's this problem constantly. If I enjoyed programming, this is the business I'd start. Besides a Cybersecurity consulting service for SMBs. Another huge, under-served market.

[TheSinner]

Hello there,

My question is a complicated one, at least for me.  I am an engineer (not a software engineer), but I have done extensive programming over the years.  Java, Oracle, PHP, and so on.  While I have been able in the past to pick up side work, it has mostly been building websites.  These were mostly for small businesses.  As more and more websites have become easier for people to make on their own, I haven't felt the demand, and particulary, it hasn't interested me that much to setup Wordpress sites.  With Wordpres it seems that the fun part, the programming, is pretty much done.  However, I do enjoy the more challengine aspects of programming, and I am very skilled at it, as I did it almost exclusively for several years.  I wanted to ask if anyone on the forum had advice how to freelance one's software skills and turn it into a self employment business.  I just don't know how to even go about that, and if that possibility really exists in enough quanitity to make a living, or do one, by the very nature of the task, more or less need to be employed by a company to do that sort of work.  How does one get clients, what kind of clients would I go after, and so on.  Obviously, there is the possibility of making a software product and marketing in yourself, but that is not really want I am considering, as I don't really have a product idea.

Thanks
B. Stern

Any progress so far?

In a couple of months I will FIRE, but I think I might do some freelancing to keep myself stimulated and have some extra cash to burn.
I have quite some experience with Java development, and it's fun to do. Unfortunately I'm not a software engineer either, and most of my work was done on the back-end of a specific product... So I'm not quite sure if I have enough background knowledge...

[bacchi]

Are you talking true freelance work? Unless you're using one of the sites to bid on projects, like upwork, perhaps the only way to do this is to know people. They know that you're capable, they're now either running their own start up or they're a manager, and they contact you to create some RESTful services or build an API.

To get those contacts, you need to have worked on a previous project with them.

It's easier to put yourself in the hands of an agency. The downside is that you get less pay; the upside is that the work is there if your skills have to match. Take a 3-6 month project, write some quality code, and then take a few weeks off. Another downside is that these projects are mostly staffing fill-in gigs; you'll be expected to work 40 hours/week and usually 9-5.

@Rictelae  It's far easier to be a freelancer when you have experience, contacts, and even a stash. Having savings means that if you get asked to write an Abap app, you can confidently turn it down (because, even if you've worked with Abap, you don't want to admit it). Having experience and contacts means that you don't have to market yourself as much.

[davidgreams]

As a freelancer, your job will be to make a project. Most likely something that is useful, but at the very least, something that is useable and pretty.

So go make some projects. Even something really small. Just for fun. Then gradually start adding to them, or starting bigger projects. Then when you feel you're good enough that you could undertake a project for someone else, do it for money.

The hardest part is honestly just seeing things through to the end and actually coming up with a finished project