How to make a living by programming from home

Question

I've been working full-time as a programmer for 16 years across three different companies. While that has been fun (and not so fun), I'm at a point where I'd like to abandon the daily commute and corporate life, and instead try to make a living working from home. The model I've got in mind is taking on projects for companies located anywhere on the planet (given I live in Brisbane, Australia, the opportunities for remote employment locally aren't so good). The employers would have to be happy with never meeting me in person.

There's the obvious parallel with contributing to open source projects, though I'm specifically looking for paying jobs; this would become my primary source of income, rather than a volunteer effort.

I'm assuming that if it's not someone who already knows me, I'd have to have a way of demonstrating to a potential employer that I can actually code. For example, verifiable contributions to open source; one or more reference sites or projects; anything that can show what I can do.

I've come across several people in recent times who do this successfully, but in all cases the work obtained was through prior relationships. Is that the only way it can work?

Is using a "payment on delivery" model wise? That is, take on a project, on the understanding that I don't get paid until I'm done. I can see the potential for exploitation, though that could be avoided if the employer was reputable. At least at the beginning, this seems like a way of building trust with an employer.

Are there any trustworthy employers who support this style of working? Canonical comes to mind, though I get the impression they're fairly unique in that regard.

Am I kidding myself that this is even viable? Is it too non-traditional for the vast majority of companies that need code written?

Answer 1

Similar questions:

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/119302/remote-job-opportunities-for-software-developers

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/128062/how-to-find-remote-off-site-work

Answer 2

As an individual, never accept a payment-on-delivery contract. It's a risk a business can choose to take (even then, I consider it unwise), but the personal risk is far too great. You can always stage payments, of course.

I would say it would be difficult to get meaningful projects without any prior contact. You may want to settle for long term contracts where you do meet in person every so often.

If you know any like-minded programmers, you could always start some sort of consultancy together. Perhaps with a more keen-to-travel figurehead?

Answer 3

My feeling is that if a company is willing to accept off-site people, then they'll be just as willing to accept people in India or China. Can you compete with their hourly rate? I sure as hell can't.

Update: The trick, I think, is to find a company that has tried outsourcing and been burned by lousy quality, communications problems and cultural issues, and is willing to try in-sourcing to semi-local talent, or who is just expanding faster than their local market can handle. It helps if you've worked for them in the past and/or have somebody whom they trust vouch for you. I'm currently working in what I consider a pretty ideal situation - I have to make the 1.75 hour each way commute once a week, but the rest of the time I work from home. But I'm paid hourly with no benefits and I have to show what I've done every day so they know that in spite of the fact that I took off three hours in the middle of the day to go kayaking, I still got the work done.

Answer 4

topcoder.com has a pretty good system. They do all the work of extracting a spec for you from their clients and then post competitions. I've done a couple of bug fixes for them.

Answer 5

That's a tough row to hoe in my opinion. You'll be competing against sites like Rent A Coder, and if you look at some of the bids there, you'll see it would be difficult to do work this way as a full-time job.

In my opinion you've got to get some face-to-face time in with an employer first, then transition to a work-from-home arrangement over time. Otherwise you'll have little to offer over others who are willing and able to do the same work for a lot less money. If you invest in creating relationships with influential people within the organization, and they trust you and your work, it's quite likely you'll be able to build the type of working arrangement with them. And that common trust will give you some job security [vs. other "rent-a-coders"] to boot!

Answer 6

Check for programming opportunities or post your own want add on Craigs list, or similar. Also print business cards and network, network with local small business owners..

I've had good luck providing solutions to small or mid-sized businesses that can not afford their own IT department or in-house programming staff. It is not glamorous work, but it is cool helping businesses that need it.

Answer 7

You can do it, lots of people do.

Personally, I would steer away from any kind of "payment on delivery", or fixed price kind of deals, especially as you start out. There are plenty of companies that will pay you hourly or on a level of effort and this is a low risk way to get your feet wet.

I cannot speak to the challenges that working internationally pose, but I can say that I work with people all over the US that I have never met in person. Doing excellent work is the key.

Finally, the value of pre-existing relationships cannot be overstated. I've been working essentially out of the basement for several years, and I'd say that 90% of my business stems from referrals from the first two clients I snagged.

Good luck.

Answer 8

you could try web development or programming for the Internet. imho, working from home may be cheap but from time to time it is best to get in touch in the real world, this way any thing can be clarified, in a more detailed way. There has been a new service model wherein you could help people do their thing by supporting them. More details here http://www.oreillynet.com/sysadmin/blog/2006/02/how_to_build_a_linux_service_b.html

Answer 9

Personally, I believe that you are on the right track with looking for trustworthy people to consider the payment-on-delivery contract. If they are not known to be trustworthy, assume otherwise until you know. And if they are, and you can survive the interim time, it will be worthwhile. Otherwise, make sure they have skin in the game, such as a down payment, and payment on milestones.

To summarize the links provided in all those answers in related questions(since there isn't a single answer with them all):
* http://www.guru.com/index.aspx
* http://www.utest.com/
* http://www.odesk.com/w/
* http://www.elance.com/p/landing/buyerb.html
* http://www.rentacoder.com/RentACoder/DotNet/default.aspx Please note mixed reviews on RentACoder
* http://www.scriptlance.com/
* http://www.getafreelancer.com/

Answer 10

I use oDesk. Highly recommend it. The hourly model seems to work best.

Answer 11

I am currently on a payment upon delivery project....sort of.... The client IS helping cover my development expenses (MSDN, add in's etc) as well as some spending money (sounds strange, I know)

However, I got back into programming about 1.5 years ago -- it is real hard to sell yourself that way -- trust me I really think I can do this!

This way the employer gets a cheaper price, lower risk and I get on the job experience.

Of course this is a very risky of working...just saying...it CAN work if you are working for sombody legit...

Good luck!

Answer 12

I am doing this myself

For the last six years, I earned my income telecommuting with clients that I never met before. Here are some of the points that I learned/experienced that way:

• First of all, it takes time and determination (and support from the family) to get this kind of work going. You have to know that you really want to do it.
• There are advantages (such as much better concentration, no time wasted on the road, a much wider job market) and disadvantages (much less certainty) to this approach.
• I started with small jobs (at Rentacoder.com) with the first target to really provide some value to somebody, rather than to make a substantial amount of money: I bid 100$ for the first job and the buyer was so happy with the results that he payed 300$. With the lessons learned and the confidence gained, I later got jobs that would pay our bills.
• At Rentacoder.com, I learned the most important advice for getting a contract job: In your proposal to solve a problem for a client you must explain that you understand his problem and how you will solve it. Unlike to long-term employment jobs, you don't need to explain that you are brilliant and able to solve all problems: Filter down the questions to those that you can understand really and post an offer: I can do this. (and explain why). The buyer simply wants his problem solved. There are many bidders that just say "I am perfect" --- but they will be ignored when one bidder shows up and says: "I solved the same problem before". Note: Rentacoder.com is a good site to get started with freelance work, but I found real clients only on other sites. One problem is that the charge too much money for real jobs and try to lock you in.
• In order to compete with cheap labor you simply have to be better. It works (if you are, indeed, better than them).
• My advice about payment: Put yourself into the shoes of your client and seriously answer the following two questions (ask the buyer about the details that you need to know to get the answer): Does the buyer benefit from this work much more than I a expect to get payed --- is this important for him? Does he have the funds to pay me somewhat more than I will get? If the two answers are "yes" --- you are in a win-win situation and have some basis to believe to get payed. Bill hourly and get some bills as you make visible progress but before the whole job is done. Your client will be happy to invest in the progress. But if one of the two questions gets a "no" -- then you will not be payed. Note: In both questions you need more benefit/money for the client, not just as much as you get.
• The experience in all my jobs is: Customers are excited to see progress towards their goals and make some changes/additions as you go on --- until their needs are basically fulfilled. Don't expect to get payed for much additional details on a job that is basically done.
• Expect yourself to be back to search for work regularly (but also expect happy customers to come back with new jobs or to recommend you).

Answer 13

I would like add another link to the sites list torial mentioned: http://onlinefreelancejob.com

Good luck