Rails
Freelancing
Handbook
An ebook by Mike Gunderloy, publisher of A Fresh Cup and member of the Rails Documentation Team
There’s an almost irresistible attraction among some software developers for the freelance life. Maybe it’s because we’ve heard the tales of developers billing hundreds of dollars per hour when they get out on their own, while we look at paychecks that are far skimpier than that. Maybe it’s a low tolerance for nonsense on the job. Or maybe it’s just that the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence.
In some cases, freelancing is involuntary. Especially in these recessionary times, hanging out your own shingle as a developer may seem like the only way to bring in some money. Compared to being unemployed and discouraged about finding work, freelancing seems to offer at least the possibility of making a living.
Whatever the reason, you’ll quickly realize that your excellent coding skills are only a small part of the picture when it comes to being a successful freelancer. You need to worry about legal and accounting issues, finding and keeping clients, and living without a corporate support system. The sheer mass of detail can be overwhelming, especially if you’re coming out of the cubicle-bound world of a large enterprise.
That’s why this book is here. I’ve been freelancing for over 15 years, and doing nothing but Rails for the last three. Consider this a guide and a roadmap to help you find your way through all of those extraneous issues so that you can get back to writing code.
You can see the Table of Contents or download a Sample Chapter on this site, or buy the book via Lulu.com. Feel free to email me if you have any questions or comments.
You might also like Rails Rescue Handbook.
Great stuff!