🚀 go-pugleaf

> There are lots of good reasons for *not* wanting to get into business
> for yourself.  One of them is that there is a lot of bullshit in
> running a business that you might not want to put up with.  If you
> want to spend 100% of your time cranking code or silicon or whatever,
> and 0% of your time chasing deadbeat clients, conniving vendors, and
> bumbling bureacracies, then you should not be a solo.  Me, I've decided
> to take on a certain amount of that crap in return for the benefits
> of owning my own business.  But that decision is only correct for me.
> Everybody has to decide it for themself.  (BTW...if you think one of
> those benefits of being a solo is `get rich quick' then you are
> absolutely dead set wrong.  I know too many people who are wondering
> if their next can of beans will be paid by accounts receivable or a
> bank withdrawl.  Including one guy with the initials CR.)

one way to reduce collection problems is to hire a collection agency, in
the form of a contract house. there are only a few in Austin I would work
with and by the way I do work with one. I pay these companies 5%-10% of my
hourly rate for their float. in other words I get paid every two weeks,
no matter when my actual client pays the bill sent by my collection agency.
when I negotiate a contract the only issues are how much, how long and payment
procedures. I have been contracting 10+ years. I have never had a late payment
in all these years. all payments have been correct and on time. part of the
reason for this is that I let the contract firm know up front that if there is
any payment problem I will immediately negotiate a contract directly with the
client and breif the client on the situation. I make it clear that I will ruin
any chances of future business if this situation arises.