I am broke, need some advice :(

Hi guys,

I am a skilled web developer and quit my job and started freelancing. Initially all went good, i ended up with few jobs on Elance. Then I thought to expand my business and hired couple of developers. And the problem started. Good paying projects were hard to find both offline and online. Clients were paying peanuts and expecting more. I ended up paying that money to my developers and i was left with none. I thought business might pickup but it's 6months now and it's same I am completely broke. I don't want to go back and work under someone Maybe i am missing something and not doing things properly. I know there are so many successful people here. Can you guys please give me some advice?

What prevents you from going back to freelancing smaller projects without employees under you ?

You have worked for 6 months and build a strong portfolio ( I am assuming ). You have enough big portfolio to reject unprofitable projects and concentrate on finding a good paying one.
Being a good at your job is a part of it, being a good businessmen is what makes you successful.

Fire you developers or some of them and take a bigger chink of the work load until you get more profitable projects.

I can't take a break or holiday.. clients will be behind me always.. 1client dragged a small project for 3months for $200, and threatened me for bad review if i don't complete it.

@wizard04 yes i have built a portfolio. What techniques can be used to find better clients? How do I make them agree for what I charge? always when i quote it will end up being too high for them or too low.

Perhaps just getting a part-time job would help and give you some breathing-room. I know you don't want to work under someone again, but it might be just what you need to get you back on your feet - disposable income and a chance to clear your head and start fresh. You clearly have some skills, so why not re-advertise (just you - no third party who you'll need to pay money to) and see if you can pick up some more jobs?

So you have a portfolio of successfully completed projects? Do you have a website for your company with your portfolio featured there? If not do that.

Freelance websites are flooded these days, especially with Upwork buying everything up. You need to look for work elsewhere. Look for proper developer jobs online instead of freelance gigs on Elance (which is about to shutdown anyway). There are tons of full time developer jobs. If you're full on broke then this is your safest bet right now. So many telecommute jobs out there.

What types of development do you do? Which languages/technologies do you know? Internet marketers always need people. Try the marketplace here and on other IM boards.

I don't understand developers of all people being broke in this day and age when everyone is crying to have a dev.

Have a look at this: http://www.blackhatworld.com/blackhat-seo/making-money/776216-method-how-find-customers.html

Than screw him and watch out for the big cash cows and fire your developers.
Rise your prices.
If you cant take a break than change a developer with a manager so he has to bring clients.
Start to develop something on your own and sell it afterwards, maybe something with a monthly plan? That would bring stable monthly income when you find customers. Try to sell it to your clients you already have.
Try to build good relationships to your clients so they will return.
Try to make your advertising and website look as professional as possible. If you look expensive, you can charge more money.
Make an advertising video. Advertise on forums. Write eMails to potential clients and get them to work with you. Go through your city, look out for bad websites, offer them a new one. Advertise in your city.

Stop complaining. This is the way you have choosen and the way you want to go. Imagine what you can achieve when you do not stop, even if its hard by now.

st1ng81 said:

@wizard04 yes i have built a portfolio. What techniques can be used to find better clients? How do I make them agree for what I charge? always when i quote it will end up being too high for them or too low.

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I did worked for a offline advert media and also worked for my self until I quit the shit.
I have learned lot ( most of by my self as the company was new when I stared ) and I am kind of a person that don't take shit from noone and I think this was a advantage.
When I get a call from a potential client, I am always confident in everything I say and make them believe that whatever else they select except me they are getting less.

-I will say what I will do for them and what I will not do for them.
- I will point out that they can find cheaper places but also mention in does it worth it to cut corners to safe pennies and end up paying twice.
- I will say that they will need to be on a short waiting list becouse I am full at the moment and I won't accept more becouse it would affect the quality of my finished job and that is something I can't allow.
- I would always reject jobs and literally say that its not for them, that it won't contribute to there marketing and give advice what they can do. This is important for me becouse I will be the first and last person that tell that man/women the truth and he will have my phone and recommend me to others.

This is just and example, but on the phone I am confident as fuck and honest. They know I am expensive, I know that I am but I make them believe that I worth every fucking penny.

And the secret for my success was I delivered every time on time or sooner, better and with additional stuff they even didn't expected. I was making and average salary in my country in less then a week, now you have an idea how expensive I was. Also that was my reason to quit, it was destroying me, it was to much and It was something that I can't outsource. I still get the calls and I am rejecting them right away.

I assume you just want to focus on web developing rather then seo, online marketing etc.
Ok, first sign out from any freelancing site now. And login again in future when you be a buyer.

Just do offline marketing.

Steps:
1) Make a list of your nearest companies, shops, schools, organizations etc.

2) Make two list:
a) Who have a website.
b) Who have not.

3) Offer them who have not a website first. Show them a clear advantage of website now a days. Tell them how they can increase their profit by website.

4) Now for who have a website, create another two list:
a) Who have responsive website.
b) Who have not responsive website.

5) Offer them who have not a responsive website. Show them why they need responsive website now a days. Tell them importance of mobile view website.

6) Now for who have a responsive website, create another two list:
a) Who have security problem in their website.
b) Who have not security problem in their website.

7) Now for who have responsive website and security problem in their website, show them their vulnerability and bad effect. Offer them secure application.

8) Now for who have responsive website and no security problem in their website, .... My god! you still need these client after 7 steps ! Ok, if you need then, design a better looking template of their website. And offer them that

Keep in mind:

1) Never offer low rate. Always offer mid level according to your country.
2) Never take any project, if you can't handle those because of pressure.
3) Be honest, and give them full what you make them charged for.
4) Increase you rate when you get frequent clients.

Hope you will never break again .

If you are a web developer, I'd suggest you to get some skills which are high in demand and pay well. Some of these include developing e-commerce websites, car dealer websites, real estate websites. You should also get into developing apps. No need to run after clients who pay $200 and make you run around for 2 months.

Watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgsvMwqRaUo&feature=youtu.be&t=1341

Let it sink in, maybe watch it again. Once you've done that, you'll know what to do next

start doing meatheads method and you will make bank

fix it............

Go back to working for yourself. If you still have clients dragging projects on for months then you haven't perfected your business enough to start hiring staff.

Work on all of the problems and tighten everything up. Once that's done you'll already be making twice as much profit. Then hire staff.

And NEVER blame the customer, if something isn't working then you need to change your approach.

If projects are dragging on then you need a much more clearly defined project scope to start with - then if it drags on you have either priced it wrong, or its gone out of scope and you can charge more.

Thats called 'the first step of entrepreneurship' just go on with the things,you will be better.

Hi,

So Id strongly reccommend flipping websites. ( basically create a dropship store with a nice design... and sell it as a turn key business on flippa . Theres a guy on youtube (king human) who created some free videos on the business

You can the first video on youtube by searching king human : secrets of how I made $400 an hour flipping websites (thats obviously not an accurate title )

Id honestly try this if I knew more than some basic html

Good luck

st1ng81 said:

Hi guys,

I am a skilled web developer and quit my job and started freelancing. Initially all went good, i ended up with few jobs on Elance. Then I thought to expand my business and hired couple of developers. And the problem started. Good paying projects were hard to find both offline and online. Clients were paying peanuts and expecting more. I ended up paying that money to my developers and i was left with none. I thought business might pickup but it's 6months now and it's same I am completely broke. I don't want to go back and work under someone Maybe i am missing something and not doing things properly. I know there are so many successful people here. Can you guys please give me some advice?

Click to expand...

If this is true , why did you do that ?

Start your own projects. If you are a web developer create your own sites and learn seo if you dont know already.