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Starting my dream business My classmate and I want to start a business developing web sites for mid to large-size companies overseas in the following industries: High Technology Biotechnology Education Law Healthcare This is in part to our dream to travel and work with people around the world. I know this sounds like an eccentric, dream lifestyle, but I believe my friend and I have the looks, resources, time, and most importantly, skills to make this dream come true, even if we only get to do it a few times. We basically want to travel to these companies to meet face to face and get a better more solid relationship with the client. Then, taking advantage of the digital age, we begin development on the project while visiting nearby sites and attractions. My question is, how would I go about establishing relationships with these companies overseas? Does this sound like a plausible idea? I have been scanning international craigslist listings for over 5 months and watched them slowly increase in activity. There are companies all over the world who are looking for English speaking developers on a per-contract basis. Say I contacted these companies, how could I make it official so the company dealing with my colleague and I are dealt with in a legal and mutually equitable manner? Am I just dreaming? P.S. We are in the U.S. |
Don't know if this will help, but I think the first thing to do is establish a legitimate business, applying the correct legal way to create your llc, ltd etc, this will halp against any legal problems, and can also help you build your base. |
If you can afford it you might consider picking a interesting destination, building a website/blog about that destination, going there and enrolling in an intensive language training program and research the area with the advantages of language and your extended stay. Interview the kind of businesses which might have work for you for articles you publish on your website. That gets you in the door with a portfolio and who knows what that leads to. |
I think it's best to start by building a portfolio. If what you're looking for a job with a contract rather than freelancing, you will usually have to go on about 6 months probation. I think it's a feasible plan if you set your mind to it. I have a couple of friends doing stuff like that. The best thing about it is that apart from sightseeing, learning a foreign language, experiencing life in other countries & making new friends, you get to do direct networking which is great for your career. |
Thanks for this great information. Your suggestions have got some ideas bouncing around in my head that I think would definitely contribute to my company's international appeal. Even something as simple as regularly maintaining the company's int'l blog with relevant articles about the industry could be the thing that makes us a better fit than the locals. Some other considerations: - Plotting an 'event route', on which we can visit numerous tradeshows/conferences in effort to network. (Could this quality as a sales expense?) - Scan Craigslist for companies that are willing to fly-in temporary contractors. - Cold-calling companies that may be interested in working with us while we are in their area. Regarding the portfolio, that is not a problem. My associate and I have pretty extensive portfolios, we even have some international stuff. All of your suggestions are helping us discover what we should do in terms of client relations as well, so we appreciate your input. Thanks, Dylan |
Yes, but... The reality, which I discovered painfully late, is that no one, especially the IRS, wants your losses. As long as you and your business are profitable all the deductions/losses math works great. However, if you are loosing money you get no benefit from them. (If you made no money how much tax do you save by deducting the interest you paid on your mortgage? Ans. = Zero.) When you read about deducting business expenses, charitable contributions, interest expenses etc. they never mention that you only benefit if you had income. |
The more professional you look and sound the more customers you will have. When you apply for the contract don't emphasize on the sightseeing though. Just rely on your knowledge and admit you would like to get experience in the local country so you can complete the project better. |
Naturally this is great advice. We are still going to rely on our skillset to land the contracts, but I think the ability (and willingness) to travel is just another selling point. I guess my original questions were in effort to get a better understanding of how this affects the way we will pitch to clients, but I see the truth is it doesn't affect it very much. |
Sounds great but how would you get passed the language barrier, and why wouldn't your clients just get someone local to them in? If your idea stands up to those questions you may have something there! |
sounds good i have no questions! But keep it up! |
Its a long shot. Travelling and Webdevelopment :cry: But still I don't say it can't be done. But most of the companies are looking for the lowest expenses options for their web development as they themselves don't take it seriously and they try to squeeze out as much as possible. Yes plus for a company calling you and paying you. You will need to convince them that there is no one else better then you for their work. Only then they will part with their finances. Plus I didn't understood the looks part..... Where you said me an my friend has looks..... I thought for a good website we don't need good looks or a great body. It is all a mind game. |
so you said you're both in the U.S. why travel? I for one have clients in the U.S. and I just stay in my room here in the Philippines. You can deliver these stuff over the internet. |
Travel the world building websites... good luck Dylan. I suggest you build the websites, collect the money, then travel the world. :tu: Cy |
yeah if we have to travel, it's going to be for leisure I guess, since most of client's request from me and what OP posted on first post can be delivered via internet. wish me happy trip as well gheez Im a dreamer. |
Some clients do call me. Like I have to go to Thailand on 1st May, 1st June I am in Hong Kong and on 27th July I am in china. But well I don't want to go :cry: I am good here. I tell them to pay me money and their work will be done. What is there is just going there and then coding over there on their PC's I can't even write a line over there. So its better I stay here and do the work. :D Only sometimes I have to go when my client wants to secure a deal and doesn't knows how to explain the technical part to the other companies. |
hm you edited this one, im sure i saw something like you will jump to be with 2 or 3 girls :) the good thing about being married is you can take them with you btw. (my case) |
:p :D You are seeing things in day light weblord :D ;) |
it's actually dark here at 4:44pm well keep it as our secret. so the OP's dream is to travel to other countries, while here we in the Philippines always dream of traveling to the U.S. |
Good thing the EDIT feature works.. lol |
see you saw it too. :lol: pheww, saved by the edit button |
:D You both are fast. In India many people do dream similarly about traveling abroad. But my mindset says only travel if it is going to be beneficial for business purposes....... and as long as the money comes via internet. Why to give trouble to my body. "Laziness is a virtue in programming" |
but if you are offered like ... All expenses paid, back and forth, sure you'll travel |
Yes I am offered all expenses back and forth plus money too. :cry: But I think I can do it from here so this travel plan was pending... But now its an issue of a good deal. So will be moving on from this 1st May. EX: If I am paid $1 plus all expenses after going there and doing the work. And If I can get $1 for the same work which could be done from here. I will prefer doing it from here. Going back to the topic I would say reputation and previous experiences with that particular client does plays an important role. Moreover if you are going to keep that reputation and that experiences with your client on the good side. I think only thing that matters in the end is the final output of the product or the services delivered. So traveling is going to be an extra burden on the top of web development. |
an important consideration Hello. One important consideration is to be able to clearly define the skill sets of you and your friend and/or be able to procure them appropriately. This means that in order for you to procure the services required, you should know something about them, enough to ask the right questions. In this day and time, at a minimum, a web designer NEEDS to incorporate software to assist those businesses with running their business, not just covering the marketing and advertising aspects. Some of those applications may require knowledge not only of, say, HTML and Javascript, but possibly PHP, Perl, MySQL, MSSQL, XHTML, XML, ASP, and more depending on their platform. Will it be Windows (which flavor), Linux (which flavor), Unix, Mac or other? Which version of PHP, MySQL, Apache, Linux flavor, etc. are they running? The answer has a direct effect on the software you can install that meets their desired need. Do they want a website that requires a webmaster to make changes each time they have another idea or need to add a new product? Should you install a Content Management System (CMS) and/or separate blog, or a forum? Do they require a helpdesk software that assigns a ticket number that can reduce their costs and improve customer service? Suppose they want to move certain aspects of their equipment maintenance system / CMMS to a link off of their website with some other forms of website integration -- could you propose solution options or know where to look for them? Do you need to redesign their E-mail 'system' or logistics that is less labor-intensive than their current system if they ask you when you set up the management and staff's E-mail addresses? Can you flowchart these enough to demonstrate to them that there will be smooth navigation within the overall website? What will the software/links permissions be like? If they are unsure, can you propose a plan they can expand upon because of your knowledge? Can you then provide training for key personnel (yours for future support in addition to theirs), with written materials that includes the flowchart of their website's menu system? Web design for the 21st century is taking on a much broader definition and the requirements include being able to utilize the Internet to lower business operations costs and effectively conduct business between countries. This of course would include making allowances for language barriers, customs, government mandates and other laws while protecting theirs and your intellectual property between various governments, etc. You may even need to consider their other company locations that may be in other countries. As long as you have answers to their questions if they decide to move their web project in this direction, whether or not you and your friend do the work yourself, and you can produce the necessary results, there is not much marketing and advertising you'll have to do for future projects. It could require a bit of travel initially since at this level and depending on the complexity of their request, it may be better to outline some parts of the scope face-to-face. Once the scope has been defined, less travel will be required. Spend time at the very beginning really understanding their needs. Try not to limit your services to just creating a marketing and advertising site because they may become unhappy at a later date if that website cannot be expanded to meet their other needs when they do decide to add that complexity (and they will). Think of its infrastructure likened to a piping system that has a branch capped off for future expansion, like a room addition. One other thing to keep in mind - some companies will ask that you provide them with a proposal. Be aware that many will turn around and bid it out with your 'design' elements as the specifications. So word - GET PAID for those design elements so you don't get burned. This must be negotiated upfront. Try not to learn the hard way. Believe me, it's not fun. Good Luck! P.S. To see what CMS, helpdesk, and other software looks like, visit to http://www.BusinessWebsiteModelHome.com. For a Web 2.0 application, knowledgebase, editor and other software applications, visit http://www.BestWebEstate.com. There are many more web-based software applications that your customers may ask you about, including Customer Relations Management (CRM), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), etc. Be ready with answers or at least with contacts you are familiar with to guide you through that process. |
seriousbizz that is truly amazing advice. :tu: |
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