CAD Side Business
CAD Side Business
(OP)
I'm thinking of starting a CAD - 3d Modeling - side-business. I can carve out 10 to 20 hours each week for short-term projects. Of course I wouldn't compete with my employer - so that's not an issue. As an example - I'm thinking that drafting for patent applications would be a good quick turn-around business. I'm wondering if any of y'all are doing this. Keep in mind - I'm not an engineer... just a humble CADgeek.
So, is a WWW page a good place to solicit business?
Or maybe a mass-mailing to all the potential clients I can dig up?
Should I down-play the fact that I'm a 1-person operation, or is this an asset - low overhead?
Should I offer better-than-competitive rates, so I can build a portfolio?
At a minumum, I'll get a cell phone so there will be one contact-point exclusive to the biz - so my 10 yr-old won't be answering a potential business call.
Additionally, I'd appreciate any other advice ya'll can spare.
Thanks for hashing this out with me...
Read my profile & make me an offer... now!
tatejATusfilter.com
So, is a WWW page a good place to solicit business?
Or maybe a mass-mailing to all the potential clients I can dig up?
Should I down-play the fact that I'm a 1-person operation, or is this an asset - low overhead?
Should I offer better-than-competitive rates, so I can build a portfolio?
At a minumum, I'll get a cell phone so there will be one contact-point exclusive to the biz - so my 10 yr-old won't be answering a potential business call.
Additionally, I'd appreciate any other advice ya'll can spare.
Thanks for hashing this out with me...
Read my profile & make me an offer... now!
tatejATusfilter.com





RE: CAD Side Business
The burden of finding customers will fall squarely on you; that is, you have to go and find work. Don't expect any great success with people phoning in orders.
At the very least, don't use the "shotgun" advertising approach when offering 3D modeling or drafting services. This might work for vaccum cleaner salesmen, but probably won't for you. It'll actually end up turning you pretty bitter on the whole idea after you experience being rejected 30 times.
The patent-draftsman idea isn't a bad one, but I've been involved in the patenting process multiple times, and every time after an inital sketch was submitted, the patent attorneys hired the drafting work. Maybe you can find one of these offices and suggest your work. (Don't expect to use 3D models in patent work.)
One idea you could investigate is to go call up local manufacturing companies and ask for "clean-up" work. Many times, before Autodesk ruled the drafting world, proprietary CAD systems were used. Some of those old file types may be incompatable with .dxf, IGES, etc... file standards. You can offer to "redraw" these older drawings on a contract basis. I did this type of work while I was in highschool, coverting old UNIX CAD drawings to .dwg formats. (I used the school's computers and CAD licenses, too! I should go to jail for that!...
You could also offer your services to local home remodelers, drafting rennovations or plot plans.
Good luck, but keep in mind that most non-engineering people have no use for a 3D model, and rarely find a use for a CAD file. You might find that your services end up being less of you working part-time for yourself, but rather you working as part-time draftsman for a company.
Good Luck, give us updates!
RE: CAD Side Business
RE: CAD Side Business
RE: CAD Side Business
RE: CAD Side Business
Read my profile & make me an offer... now!
tatejATusfilter.com
RE: CAD Side Business
Also, I'm on board with a couple "inventors" who need some engineering support to get to market. Right now it's 5% of nothing. But maybe....
RE: CAD Side Business
RE: CAD Side Business
RE: CAD Side Business
All I have to do is beat my take-home $ at the overtime rate my employer gives me.
As far as contract-work goes - I'd be only a little more $ than dirt.
I'm really looking for satisfaction more than money.
And an excuse to buy a kick-a$$ PC.
I got an entrepreneurial jones, man.
I can convince a customer that I don't have to sit around-the-block to provide prompt turn-around on a project.
It would help if my costomers are WWW-savy - so I can show work and resolve design issues on-line.
Read my profile & make me an offer... now!
tatejATusfilter.com
RE: CAD Side Business
RE: CAD Side Business
RE: CAD Side Business
I'm assuming your talking about Printed circuit Board and not Polychlorinated Byphenals - it'real, not sure anymore of the spelling.
I'm thinking PCB layout would be a 2d thing?
Read my profile & make me an offer... now!
tatejATusfilter.com
RE: CAD Side Business
Don't be afraid to go out on your own, especially if you've got a paycheck to cover expenses. You can start the business pretty cheap. But take time with your 10 yr old before he/she starts asking for the car keys!
Cathy Biber
Biber Thermal Design
www.biberthermal.com
RE: CAD Side Business
RE: CAD Side Business
RE: CAD Side Business
Resist the urge to use your employer's hardware or software. Doing so would be unethical and getting caught could easily get you fired.
I'd also be careful about identifying US Filter in anything related to this sideline, specifically your e-mail address. That's almost certainly a violation of their IT guidelines. It also communicates that you're clearly doing this as a sideline which is probably a negative in terms of marketing. If I hired you I would know that your first loyalty is to US Filter, not to your clients.
This is kind of critical but I hope you see it as constructive, which is my intention: Your tag-line is unprofessional. It's fine for Forum banter but not for generating clients. (It could also be construed as solicitation here and therefore get your posts Red Flagged.)
Best of luck but be very careful with the image that you create and communicate. Remember, cliches become cliches because they're usually true - "You never get a second chance to make a first impression."
RE: CAD Side Business
Dan <M
RE: CAD Side Business
RE: CAD Side Business
http://www.elance.com/
http://www.efreelancers.co.uk/
I know I have more in my fav's somewhere. I did a quick search on 'freelance CAD work' at google.com and got several returns (of course). Some of the summaries look like what your looking for. Good luck and I hope this helps you.
RE: CAD Side Business
RE: CAD Side Business
As for where to get clients, go to www.score.org and pick one of the retired coaches, and pose your questions there. They are very good.
RE: CAD Side Business
As far as types of work, if you are proficient in CAD, working for the construction industry could be very lucrative. Many smaller contractors need help getting plans and layouts into CAD form in order to get permits.
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