Going it alone!

[DmitriR]

Hi all

I'm currently a permanent staff member for a well established software company. We act as an integration partner for a big US software firm. As such I work as a consultant - doing client implementations and giving training (primarily over the web) to clients around the globe. I am the only one involved in this particular partnership i.e. I'm essentially a one man band.

I've dealt with the manager of the US firm a few times (not all the time) and I believe he is happy with the quality of work being delivered. He has also asked about offering one of their products on a SaaS (Software as a Service) basis but my company dismissed it on the grounds that the rate offered wouldn't make it profitable for us.

The question is:
Can I approach that manager (via email) and say that I'd like to go out on my own. I could continue to act as a consultant for them (i.e. the US company) and also offer the SaaS approach - financially viable for me if working on my own. Plus I could offer them other services etc that would be more cost effective for them/me.

Advice please?
Would the fact that I'd be on my own and not within a branded company be a deal-breaker for him - or does he just care about getting quality work done at the best price.
Would he be a bit perturbed (for whatever reason) on receiving such an email?

Any feed-back appreciated.

Thanks
Dmitri

[Hawkeye]

I would check your contract. Most companies will have it as a clause that states you cannot work for one of their clients for x amount of months after leaving.

[cojak]

And be aware of Intellectual Property (IP) complications...

[VectraMan]

WTS. The customer might well be delighted with this approach, but your current employer is going to have one or two things to say about you stealing their client. And the customer might have something in his contract with your employer that would mean he couldn't do this even if he wanted to.

You really need to get your employer to agree first, and then where does that leave you if the customer says no?

[DmitriR]

Further Questions ...

Thanks for the responses.

I don't believe there are any contracts between the client and my company as each piece of work is carried out on an ad-hoc basis (via a work order). As we are not a consulting company per se - more of a software development shop - I'd be sceptical of the existence of such contracts.

Regarding IP - would there have to be an explicit contract governing this? If not, am I free to leave and put into practice all that I know?

And finally from a me approaching the manager point of view - you would not envisage any problem? i.e. sour the relationship etc.

Thanks again
Dmitri