>>Hi everybody,
>>
>>Where can I find a basic stuff regarding becoming a consultant? What are "billing terms"?
>>
>>Thanks in advance.


>The Software Developer's Guide from Hentzenwerke. The 1999 edition is out of print and the new one is being written.

Nadya;

A couple of years ago, Whil Hentzen gave a talk at a VFP user group meeting in San Francisco, about that very topic, just before his book on that subject was published. Somehow you should get a copy of Whils book to read. He has great ideas and will open your eyes.

Having worked as a consultant at home and at clients businesses, as well as a full time employee, I have my own comments to add.

If you are an outstanding developer with no sense of business and consulting, you will have problems. Try to separate the various elements of the business – there are many. If you work full time, I think that is the best time to try consulting, as a part time job. Look at it as a professional and not with the concept of “doing people favors”. This is a business and if you want to be a success look at the entire picture. Writing code is fun – as for the rest of it that goes along with application development, that can be a different story!

How will you charge? Fixed bid or hourly rate? I have found that the majority of clients have budgets (really?) and will not consider the possibility of you having a “blank check” so to speak, with the companies Bank account. That is just my reality – others will disagree with me. Just be ready for anything and have a plan before you act! Have a contract and use it. Define what will be done (it always changes) and define your hourly rate for changes to the agreed contract.

Some “customers” will have you spend hours talking to them for a variety of reasons. Some want you to solve their problems for free, others just want to get ideas and both are a waste of your time and effort – unless you are being paid.

Invest in a Lap Top – Notebook, etc. computer for demos and deliverables. Use Install Shield or a similar product. Get a CD Burner if you do not have one. For $50 to $100 a CD burner company will but your art work on a CD (a one time charge). Use your logo on the art work. Put the cost into the contract. The end result is a professional looking CD. After you test it will cost about $10 to $50 to have the CD burner company burn 1 to 10 copies with your art work. I do this and it looks great! Customers love it.

Understand all aspects of development – needs analysis, testing, installing, training, documentation, legal aspects and be ready to work long hours. Use a tool like MM, VFE or VMP and ask questions on user forums that are designed for such tools – this will be your extended community.

Good luck.

Tom