Contract Work, work from home, etc
Contract Work, work from home, etc
(OP)
I would like to get my certifiation later this year and start doing work part time from home. Basicly start up a design service, drawing conversions etc business. Does anyone here on the list already have something like this set up? How does it work, and what can I expect? Suggestions on how to get it started, fees, etc would be greatly appreciated. I'm trying to start researching this opportunity early because I'm sure there will be a lot involved. My home workstation is set-up and ready to go.
Thanks in advance,
Bloodclot
Thanks in advance,
Bloodclot
I come from a small town where the population NEVER changed. Everytime someone got pregnant, someone left town.






RE: Contract Work, work from home, etc
Flores
SW06 SP3.0
RE: Contract Work, work from home, etc
Best Regards,
Heckler
Sr. Mechanical Engineer
SW2005 SP 5.0 & Pro/E 2001
Dell Precision 370
P4 3.6 GHz, 1GB RAM
XP Pro SP2.0
NVIDIA Quadro FX 1400
o
_`\(,_
(_)/ (_)
RE: Contract Work, work from home, etc
There must be some significant expenses up front for computers and software and other supplies, like you can't raid the office supply cabinet anymore.
The most difficult things to me would be finding the work and then making money from it. When you work for a company the work is given to you, and if you waste a whole day on mistakes and inefficiencies, you still get a paycheck. I think it takes a lot of guts and a lot of talent and business sense to make it work.
RE: Contract Work, work from home, etc
I'm sure there are others out there with more experience, but I can share a few of my experiences: This mainly started out of need... no job + state job assistance. I had to write a business plan, come up with what kind of assistance I would need etc. New computer, office furniture, no software but my VAR was working on that. Got a job offer working full time and I now have my office set-up. I have done some work for friends (friends + hours x rate = nothing to write home about.) Just kidding.. kinda.. Worked with another friend who had a design business and our first quoted project was approved and under way and it was pulled, guy went another route and failed miserably. Things I learned:
1. Working from home can be a challenge, always something else that has to been done around the house, or hunting season.
2. Working all day and coming home and working nights and sometimes weekends.
3. Accounting, getting paid, all the little business things we take for granted working for someone else.
4. Finding the work and maintaining the customer base.
5. It's Friday afternoon I'm sure I could think of more but I'm ready to go home...
Hopefully some others will chime in. Good Luck
Dennis
SolidWorks 2006 SP3.4
Windows XP Pro, Pentium4 3.00GHz
1.5 GB RAM, Matrox P650
Logitech Marble Mouse, CADMAN
RE: Contract Work, work from home, etc
I come from a small town where the population NEVER changed. Everytime someone got pregnant, someone left town.
RE: Contract Work, work from home, etc
Best Regards,
Heckler
Sr. Mechanical Engineer
SW2005 SP 5.0 & Pro/E 2001
Dell Precision 370
P4 3.6 GHz, 1GB RAM
XP Pro SP2.0
NVIDIA Quadro FX 1400
o
_`\(,_
(_)/ (_)
RE: Contract Work, work from home, etc
After a while you figure out all the other things (such as those bluesman0007 mentioned above) as well as stuff like setting up a web site for displaying your portfolio. But it's sort of like appreciating jazz--you cannot necessarily be taught how to do it, you've got to work on it.
I spend a great deal of my work day doing non-billable stuff like being my own IT guy, PR guy, client relations guy, purchasing guy, accounting guy, etc. So my potential billable hours per day are cut down before even starting. Therefore, don't sell your services cheap or you'll have no potential to break even (meaning paying rent/mortgage, software fees, transportation, etc.) or making a profit even before you begin. And that's assuming you have plenty of work to do.
Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all. And awe trumps reason.
RE: Contract Work, work from home, etc
If you do not, your work and cash flow will look like sawtooth.
The tendency is to not look for work when you are busy,then when you are finished. Surprise surprise you have no more work. Until you go out and get some.
B.E.
RE: Contract Work, work from home, etc
You've got the computer, software, and skills, but you need customers. They are the hardest part of the equation. You can go out and buy the equipment and training. Customers you need to earn through reputation or marketing. The best source is past jobs and coworkers. If you're just starting out I would recommend on-site contracting at a few places to develop some relationships.
-b
RE: Contract Work, work from home, etc
The one thing about contract work is you have to consider how you will be getting paid. Ensure there is a means to collect so that you don't send over the work and realize you haven't gotten paid yet. In some instances you can bill per hour over a certain amount of time (let's say every week or two weeks or whatever), or per project progress (you finished the model and get paid a percent, then you are going to complete the drawings, etc...). Of course if you work for someone you know will pay then you probably can be more comfortable in finishing the work and then getting paid. A lot depends on the project.
RE: Contract Work, work from home, etc
RE: Contract Work, work from home, etc
RE: Contract Work, work from home, etc