One of my career goals is to get into independent development, and potentially start my own design business. One of the biggest hurdles, I would assume, is how to get started and get your first clients. How did you do it? I would be interested to hear how you got your "business" off the ground, and any other insightful information you could share would be great too! Thanks!
I started my consulting practice when the company that I was working for closed down…I had planned to one day go into consulting, but the shutdown sped up my timeline.I was lucky in that I had a really good network and started getting work right away.But if I had it to do over again – or if I were giving advice to someone contemplating such a move – I would say:start laying the foundation before giving up your full-time job; maybe do some “moonlighting” as an independent; build your network.Or, if you can go the route Ethan did – set up a contract with your current employer before leaving – all the better!
I started my consulting practice when the company that I was working for closed down…I had planned to one day go into consulting, but the shutdown sped up my timeline.I was lucky in that I had a really good network and started getting work right away.But if I had it to do over again – or if I were giving advice to someone contemplating such a move – I would say:start laying the foundation before giving up your full-time job; maybe do some “moonlighting” as an independent; build your network.Or, if you can go the route Ethan did – set up a contract with your current employer before leaving – all the better!
Exactly the same answer here, but mine was redundancy.
A lot of the details on how to do this can be found here.
Thank you guys for the information. I appreciate the link Bruce.
My wife went into private practice (psychology) in much the same way. The facility she was working for had cutbacks, and she started doing independent counseling on the side with referals from her previous employer...so she basically was able to do the same work, but on her own, and it just snowballed into her own business.
I started my consulting practice when the company that I was working for closed down…I had planned to one day go into consulting, but the shutdown sped up my timeline.I was lucky in that I had a really good network and started getting work right away.But if I had it to do over again – or if I were giving advice to someone contemplating such a move – I would say:start laying the foundation before giving up your full-time job; maybe do some “moonlighting” as an independent; build your network.Or, if you can go the route Ethan did – set up a contract with your current employer before leaving – all the better!
Seconding Sheila's statement here. When our "local" radio station group was bought out by one of the Big Boys of Corporate Broadcasting, I saw the writing on the wall. I knew we'd be downsized nearly to death, so I immediately started searching for opportunities to "get my name out there". Fortunately for me, I lucked into some AMAZING contacts right off the bat, and within a handful of months had built myself a reasonably good first home studio. Which more than paid for itself in a handful of months. Though I lucked my way through the first set of "layoffs", I was nailed the second time around. At that point, I had enough business "in hand" to make a go of being my own boss. It hasn't always been an easy road, but perhaps the most personally rewarding and fulfilling one I've ever traveled. And though I've considered going back into the dreaded broadcast game a few times since, I can't actually bring myself to do it.
I'm spoiled, I guess. (Oh, and for what it's worth: the radio group for which I worked, is down to ONE full-time employee from a programming staff that once topped 13 or more. ONE. Wow, right?)
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I left the company I was with and negotiated a contract deal. So basically I left with a reliable client for my new business.
Good topic, Eric!
I'm interested to see the answers as well!
I started my consulting practice when the company that I was working for closed down… I had planned to one day go into consulting, but the shutdown sped up my timeline. I was lucky in that I had a really good network and started getting work right away. But if I had it to do over again – or if I were giving advice to someone contemplating such a move – I would say: start laying the foundation before giving up your full-time job; maybe do some “moonlighting” as an independent; build your network. Or, if you can go the route Ethan did – set up a contract with your current employer before leaving – all the better!
A lot of the details on how to do this can be found here.
Good luck.
Thank you guys for the information. I appreciate the link Bruce.
My wife went into private practice (psychology) in much the same way. The facility she was working for had cutbacks, and she started doing independent counseling on the side with referals from her previous employer...so she basically was able to do the same work, but on her own, and it just snowballed into her own business.
Seconding Sheila's statement here. When our "local" radio station group was bought out by one of the Big Boys of Corporate Broadcasting, I saw the writing on the wall. I knew we'd be downsized nearly to death, so I immediately started searching for opportunities to "get my name out there". Fortunately for me, I lucked into some AMAZING contacts right off the bat, and within a handful of months had built myself a reasonably good first home studio. Which more than paid for itself in a handful of months. Though I lucked my way through the first set of "layoffs", I was nailed the second time around. At that point, I had enough business "in hand" to make a go of being my own boss. It hasn't always been an easy road, but perhaps the most personally rewarding and fulfilling one I've ever traveled. And though I've considered going back into the dreaded broadcast game a few times since, I can't actually bring myself to do it.
I'm spoiled, I guess. (Oh, and for what it's worth: the radio group for which I worked, is down to ONE full-time employee from a programming staff that once topped 13 or more. ONE. Wow, right?)
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