Should I develop a software start up instead of going into employment?

[Dulex9]

Hi Guys,

I'm currently developing a project management software.

By the end of February, I will have a very good portfolio of developing software, websites, web applications and mobile apps.

How feasible is the idea of starting my own company with the view of developing software, websites and web applications? If I don't get business clients then I will look to obtain freelance software, web projects from freelance websites such as odesk, upwork, peopleperhour.

Or is this idea just too risky since I have no commercial experience and just a portfolio?

 

[WebGuru]

I will recommend going into employment first and if possible do it in parallel i mean spend your free time daily and specially weekend on those freelance projects you get online or from local clients. Gain the experience and build your portfolio. So once you got enough direct clients, experience and a name and you think now you are ready thn you can quit your job and move to it permanently.

Are you new to those freelancing sites? or already working there and got projects? I am asking because for new guys it can be really difficult to get new projects because there is no feedback and rating for your account while you are competing with big guys with lot of experience and good ratings on those sites that make it hard for you to win those projects in the bidding process. But there are tricks that can help you get feedback/rating even as a new user.

 

[Yossarian]

Depends upon how risk averse you are. Every business venture carries a risk. You only see and hear about the success stories but not about the failures. There is no magic wand to success.

I was once at a mainframe users conference where a rep from a small (10 employees) German company had flown over to the UK to make a presentation about a piece of software that filled a gap in the functionality of the OS of the manufacturers mainframe (in the days when mainframe manufacturers each had their own mainframe specific Operating Systems).

His presentation was very well received with many of those present expressing an interest in purchasing multiple licences for their organisations (- each licence costing upwards of £10,000+ depending upon the size of the organisation and number of mainframe users. We're talking of mainframes each supporting many thousands of concurrent users/employees).

After he had finished his presentation, it was the turn of a representative of the mainframe manufacturer to make his presentation. One of his first announcements was about the new upgrade of the OS rectifying the gap in the functionality outlined by the previous German presenter.

You could see the German presenter's jaw drop like a stone. The manufacturers announcement had just killed his company stone dead.

 

[Dulex9]

Thank you both for the advice and recommendations. Interesting story Yossarian.

I am new to freelancing and I will have to persevere a bit to get some freelance projects under my belt.

I have heard of two guys with no commercial or freelance experience, both set up a web development business, while the other one also included app development and their business is a success.

The likelihood is, I'll go into software development and develop the business part time. Once I have experience, portfolio built and clients under my belt, I'll seek to run the business full time.