Are there are many ways in the current climate that independent software
developers can quickly turn a part-time gig into a full-time company? This
article will provide you with some good insight from different developers who
have done it successfully through very different means.
One of the key things to keep in mind
if you decide to start a software development business is to make sure there’s a
market for what you’re developing according to Al Harlowe of Inamics. iNamics creates
and builds Web services and applications as both an application service provider
and for its own clients.
A seasoned and successful veteran of
the independent software development world, Harlowe advises, “Choose the
platform you want to use and then stick with it. Pick a specialization and do it
well. Set up alliances and partnerships with other software vendors, because
it’s a small world and you’re going to depend on referrals. You’re going to have
to do things you don’t want to do sometimes, like going outside your office and
away from your programming to meet other folks, and go to conferences, and make
sales pitches.” Harlowe likens the Internet to “the wild, wild, west in that
everyone and his brother say they can ’develop‘ and do better programming, but
you’ve got to ride that range, carry your six-shooter (your talent) and not only
befriend everyone, but more importantly beat the competitors on the range. And
because technology is always changing, even if you’re specialized, you’ve still
can’t get too comfortable in the saddle.”
Harlowe is a proponent of ISV’s
partnerships with Microsoft for instance, because they can be a strong support
for developer projects. “Microsoft hosts developer days and it really seeks to
keep their developers engaged and working.” He also urges developers to keep in
mind, “It’s like real estate -- location, location, location. In this business,
it’s sell, sell, sell. Don’t focus on your small universe. Network, call,
solicit and send out information on what you do and why they should choose you.
Enlarge your universe. And most importantly, USE TECHNOLOGY! Use everything
available to you to push your business out to possible customers.”
A software development business is only as strong as its next custom
application client. So if you’re developing software that does not meet a need
and absolutely no one will use, then your company will not be successful.
Keep in mind that a business can have a staff of one or one thousand, and
typically starting out, an independent software developer who founds a company
is going to have a very small staff of developers. Many independents start out
with a staff of one (themselves) and literally build from there. With software
development the “range” is wide in how you can best ensure your revenue at the
end of the day, so you have to pick what works best for you.
Steve Pavlina, CEO of Dexterity
Software , and author of the
upcoming book, The Software Self-Publishing Guide: How to Intelligently
Develop, Successfully Market, and Profitably Sell Your Own
Software, set for release at
the end of the year. Pavlina says his company’s success has grown because he
changed the focus to direct sales as the way to succeed. Pavlina has partnered
with folks in the past and made those affiliate relationships, but for him the
space was becoming too crowded and as the royalties diminished so did his bottom
line. “Direct sales in my opinion,” states Pavlina, “is the best way to base
your business. If you partner, what can happen is that if your partner
flounders, then you will flounder. The foundation of my business is direct
sales. I still do partnerships with other businesses but I consider them icing
on the cake. They’re oftentimes too risky and vulnerable in the long run.”
Pavlina is a widely considered industry expert on independent software
development and his game applications are widely known.
Launching Your Business
One of the best sites for gathering information about how to launch a
small business is the United States Small Business Administration site. The basic planning resource has four core
questions to address prior to starting a business, and is a good primer for
anyone intent on starting an independent software development firm.
- What service or product does your business
provide and what needs does it fill?
- Who are the potential customers for your
product or service and why will they purchase it from you?
- How will you reach your potential customers?
- Where will you get the financial resources to
start your business?
How ready are you to launch a software
development business? In looking at the questions above, can you answer them in
a software development mode? Does the software you intend to develop fill a
need? Can you create a custom application for customers successfully? Do you
already have customers who want your product, or do you have, as a freelancer, a
list of clients that are urging you to make it official and open your own shop?
How will you manage the overhead of a business, the budget, time constraints and
how will you reach more customers? If you’re unable to answer some of those
questions, it doesn’t mean you should give up; it means you need to find the
answers so that you start your business out strong.
The other issue to consider when you’re
considering a software development business is to do it because you will enjoy
the struggle. “If you build it, they will come” is not just a metaphor from a
baseball movie, it’s how software development companies become multi-million
dollar entities. You should view application development and custom software
development as a chance for you to put your “code” on the world.
Here are additional resources to help you in
your software development business:
Many larger companies, such as IBM, Microsoft,
Oracle and others support independent service vendors and software developers,
and have partner resources on their sites, to help those independents profit
from their work.
For Freelance jobs and opportunities:
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ProjectSpring.com --
Web developer market for freelance programmers, web designers, freelance
software developers.
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Now, go and code!