Contractor or consultancy?

[funkyd]

Anyone made the jump from being a contractor to something more?

I have two or three clients that I do work for and am thinking that if I setup as a proper consultancy, gain some MS competencies and partner membership I will be able to setup as a proper business.

I could just carry on from client to client, raising the invoice but I want something more. I've even considered opening a shop where I live as there isn't an IT specialist in the area.

Dunno - may just be end of contract wishful thinking about what to do next.

[Mailman]

If you believe some of the dribble posted here you would think there is nothing higher than being a contractor!

Mailman

[hyperD]

Anyone made the jump from being a contractor to something more?

Yes. A liebour MP. And possibly a lawyer one at that.

[funkyd]

If you believe some of the dribble posted here you would think there is nothing higher than being a contractor!

Mailman

Well, I've just spent two years at a client site and achieved nothing. None of the projects got finished - not a single one. I'm not sure I can continue like that for the next 20 years!

[ladymuck]

It's easy to get MS Partner registration, getting up to Certified and Gold Certified status takes a bit of work though. It's free to register and then you qualify for a £199 (inc VAT) deal on MS software that is really good value. You get 10 licenses each of XP Pro, Office, plus server licenses for SBS, SQL, Server 2003 Std, Exchange, etc etc for you to use in your business (they're not for resale). It's worth it just for the software.

MS Action Pack Software

You have to renew each year but that doesn't mean spending an extra £199 for another year's licensing. But if you don't renew then technically you're not supposed to use the software. It's really no biggie to just tick a box and click ok every 12 months!

[malvolio]

Funkyd - if you are brave enough, go for it. You will get a whole new range of challenges and you may fail, but it is better trying than regretting not trying. If you have contacts and work to do, by all means expand. The ultimate aim is to get someone else doing the work while you get the same money without doing anything other than lounge on the company yacht - isn't it?

[funkyd]

It's easy to get MS Partner registration, getting up to Certified and Gold Certified status takes a bit of work though. It's free to register and then you qualify for a £199 (inc VAT) deal on MS software that is really good value. You get 10 licenses each of XP Pro, Office, plus server licenses for SBS, SQL, Server 2003 Std, Exchange, etc etc for you to use in your business (they're not for resale). It's worth it just for the software.

MS Action Pack Software

You have to renew each year but that doesn't mean spending an extra £199 for another year's licensing. But if you don't renew then technically you're not supposed to use the software. It's really no biggie to just tick a box and click ok every 12 months!

Yes I looked at this and have in fact registered. Getting certified needs two people to do the exams so that might have to wait a bit.

There is a bit of a market for mobile solutions - all my clients are askign for pocketPC devices, OWA, SharePoint and the suchlike - has to be worth a punt!