Next Live Event: NamePros Live Auction, May 23rd at 6PM EDT
Results from the May 8th live auction are here.
15 members in the live chat room. Join Chat!
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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"
-
