Considerable budget, you say, Mike? Woohoo, payday!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before you start plotting what you\u2019re going to do with those mega-bucks you\u2019ll get from AdvoraCorp, you need a solid plan for what questions you\u2019re going to ask in that Skype session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Important:<\/strong>\u00a0Did you spot where you can tell Mike\u2019s a non-tech person? Hint: \u201cCurrently we\u2019re moving to the cloud.<\/em>\u201d What does that even mean? Their storage? They\u2019re using O365 instead of on-premise Office? Mike obviously isn\u2019t so sure, but he\u2019s sure it\u2019s a good thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In your first chat with a non-technical potential client, there are a number of questions you should ask to see whether you\u2019ll be able to have a successful working relationship and outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I recommend following this list in order. The most important questions to ask clients are first. This is so that, if you get an answer that sets alarm bells ringing, you can cut the chat short and go back to more fun ways to waste time instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking to hire the best remote developers? Arc can help you:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u26a1\ufe0f Get instant candidate matches without searching Try Arc to hire top developers now \u2192<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s the easiest way to tell whether you should pick up a freelance software project or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If a freelance client has a serious software development project that has a chance of being completed, they will have a plan in place \u2014 often developed with the help of a software consultant. This should be in addition to a business plan for a commercial product or the internal systems it will address\/enhance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Their plan should include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many \u201cpotential clients\u201d won\u2019t be able to answer all of these questions. The main thing to note is that they have well-formed enough ideas on\u00a0all<\/em>\u00a0of these points to be able to draw up a contract that isn\u2019t going to leave you with a lousy deal (or them, or both of you even!). <\/p>\n\n\n\n For anyone that\u2019s too vague here, and can\u2019t further explain with prompting, you may need to let them down gently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read More<\/strong>: 13 Things Freelance Software Developers HATE Hearing From Clients<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Projects don\u2019t always run to completion. The client runs out of money, loses interest in the project, decides it\u2019s not necessary or decides to go with a ready-made product instead. These things happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To ensure that your client isn\u2019t left with nothing to show for a partially-completed project, you can deliver their\u00a0minimum viable product<\/a>. This is a bare-bones product with the minimum feature set that works. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To do this, you\u2019ll need to elicit the product requirements<\/a> to build the most basic version of their system \u2014 and use this as your first deliverable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read More<\/strong>: Getting Your First Freelance Developer Gig: On Clients, Pricing & More+<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you\u2019ve got past the first hurdle, and the client has properly fleshed out how their project should come together, you\u2019ll need to look at deliverables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Agile approach is best suited to freelance software development, but that doesn\u2019t mean that milestones can\u2019t (or shouldn\u2019t) be set. This will involve mapping out a full timeline with the client.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first milestone (or deliverable) could be a working user interface or a bare-bones product with just one feature. It could be a working Redis database that will dummy data that they can query or, more complex, it may instead be a prototype.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each Agile sprint after that will deliver a new feature (or feature set to the client), with feedback between cycles. If you sit down and plot these out in advance, it can ensure that timelines don\u2019t blow out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read More<\/strong>: What a Freelance Developer Contract Should Include (w\/ Templates)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n Arc is the best place to find great remote jobs. Find great remote jobs at top startups and tech companies. Freelance and full-time remote opportunities are available. Getting paid is the aim of this gig, so talking about how that\u2019s going to happen is essential. Clients may be keen to go with a milestone-based approach. Sure, that makes sense \u2014 they\u2019re paying for what you\u2019re delivering. This may not be an ideal choice as a dev, though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unless the project is fairly simple, you\u2019ve done similar ones 1,000 times already, and you can accurately plot out how long each part is going to take, it\u2019s difficult to accurately guess costs with a milestone-based approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead, you can encourage the client to put you on an hourly rate (and here\u2019s\u00a0how to determine your freelance rate<\/a>). This is particularly important when using an Agile approach, as changes can arise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can point your freelance dev clients towards this piece comparing\u00a0fixed cost, hourly, and retainer fee structures\u00a0for development projects<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n To alleviate their hesitation that you\u2019ll be wasting time, or be slow\/incompetent, you can show them an example of a component of your previous work and let them know what was involved and how long it took. If your client agrees to pay you hourly, use time-tracking tools with statistical analysis features to indicate what you have been working on and what can put prospective clients at ease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read More<\/strong>: Which Freelance Payment Method to Choose? (ACH vs Wise vs PayPal vs Transfer & Others)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Or, are you willing to learn and use these project management tools?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n These questions really go both ways. As a freelancing software developer, you\u2019ll have worked with a multitude of\u00a0project management tools<\/a>\u00a0with various clients. You\u2019ll probably have your favorites, like\u00a0JIRA<\/a>. Clients, however, might use their own systems, such as Microsoft Project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some project management tools suit some projects better than others. For others, it\u2019ll be an automated management stack, such as Basecamp + Jira + Slack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coming to a consensus on the project management stack is something you\u2019ll need to work out with the client. While you might be an ace at a tool, they may have zero experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are certain the tool is essential for project management, then they\u2019ll need to be able to pick it up. This means you should source training materials for them and\/or walk through the system with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Often, picking a tool the client already has experience with (if it\u2019s fit enough for purpose) and layering it with your own systems is an easier route. Even if you have no experience with their tool, it\u2019s probably easier for you to pick up a new tech than it is for your non-tech client.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read More<\/strong>: How to File Taxes for Freelance Work (for US-Based Software Developers)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n With many projects, you can get away with using a variety of open source solutions and products that you\u2019ve already purchased for development. However, this isn\u2019t always the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Take, for example, if you\u2019re tasked to build an add-on for proprietary software like Salesforce. The API will get you so far, but you\u2019ll need access to the product itself for testing, which may require additional license purchasing. This will need to be on the client\u2019s dime, not yours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other open-source solutions may charge for commercial usage. For instance, Java SE recently moved to a paid subscription model\u00a0which businesses will need to use if they wish to receive critical updates. Qt may require a commercial license unless your project\u00a0follows the provisions of their LGPL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You may also need to chat about storage, hosting, and runtime (for example,\u00a0AWS products<\/a>\u00a0for the finished product. A non-technical client may not have considered these\u00a0ongoing costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read More<\/strong>: How to Build a Software Engineer Portfolio (With Examples & Tips)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a great suggestion for a non-technical client. If a client has a technical consultant or advisor to call on, this person can help be a go-between if necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This way, they can be assured of your proficiency and planning, without trying to figure it out themselves. This person might be called on if the client has any queries along the way that might be out of your realm of expertise \u2014 such as the best way to monetize an app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Are you willing to do additional reading about the software development process? Suggest some articles\/resources to them so they\u2019ll get an idea of how things work<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read More<\/strong>: What Technical Recruiters Look For When Hiring Software Engineers<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Trying to figure out whether a project will go smoothly with a non-tech client or end up in a steaming heap hangs on the first chat \u2014 if you know what to ask. Running through this list of questions can help see if it\u2019s worth your time (and sanity) to get on board the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did we miss any questions that freelance developers should ask non-technical clients? Let us know in the comments section below!<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also explore HireAI<\/a> to skip the line and:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u26a1\ufe0f Get instant candidate matches without searching <\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/a>Try HireAI and hire top developers now \u2192<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Whether they’re non-technical or tech-savvy, here are the questions developers should ask freelance clients for a successful relationship.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1574,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1568","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-finding-opportunities","category-freelance"],"yoast_head":"\n
\u26a1\ufe0f Identify top applicants from our network of 350,000+
\u26a1\ufe0f Hire 4x faster with vetted candidates (qualified and interview-ready)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n1. Do you have a concrete plan for the project?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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2. What are the most important features of your project to build an MVP?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
3. What is your timeline for deliverables?<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"using](\"https:\/\/arc.dev\/talent-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/image.gif\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"work](\"https:\/\/arc.dev\/talent-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Talent-blog-CTA-banner.png\")
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Sign up here<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n4. Let\u2019s talk money: Are we going by milestone or hourly?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
5. Will we use specific project management and collaboration tools to ensure the process runs smoothly?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
6. Are you willing to pay for additional components and ongoing costs that may be necessary?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
7. Do you have a technical consultant or advisor to call on if needed?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Screening non-tech clients is tough!<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"technology](\"https:\/\/arc.dev\/talent-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/image-1.gif\")
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\u26a1\ufe0f Identify top applicants from our network of 350,000+ with no manual screening
\u26a1\ufe0f Hire 4x faster with vetted candidates (qualified and interview-ready)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n