[consulting] Setting Up as an Independent Contractor

[Sam Cohen]

I hope that all this talk about getting a lawyer (and the expense involved)
doesn't discourage someone from becoming an independent contractor.

While contracts are essential for multi-developer shops and big projects, if
you're a one-person "shop" working on smaller sites, you can get very far
without contracts drafted by lawyers.

To start, make sure you receive payments in advance -- as much as possible
-- and as you go.  Invoice frequently.  I suggest every two weeks.

Be very clear with your client about how often you bill and when you expect
to get paid.  If a check doesn't come in time, consider stopping all work
until it does.

If you can, host your clients sites, or set up the hosting account and
include the cost it in your bill.  This way you have leverage if the client
decides not to pay.

Sam




On Mon, Mar 29, 2010 at 6:24 AM, Luigi Bai <lpb at focalpoint.com> wrote:

> Hi Dave,
>
> I know this will come across as nitpicking, but to be clear: releasing code
> under the GPL actually /requires/ you to retain ownership of the code. To
> do
> one you have to do the other. The GPL is a license to others of rights you
> retain; if you don't retain those rights, you can't protect your code with
> the GPL.
>
> And so it's clear it works the other way: you can also assign code, as a
> work-for-hire, to your client, while contractually obligating them to
> release
> it back to you under the GPL.
>
> Finally, but probably not exhaustively, as others have mentioned, you can
> write the code as a work-for-hire, where it's owned by the client and never
> released to anyone under any license.
>
> ITANAL
> Luigi Bai
>
> On Monday, 29 March 2010, Dave Hall wrote:
> > Disclaimer: IANAL
> >
> > > ----- "Sami Khan" <sami at etopian.net> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > I am sorry but when you work on Drupal, you should retain the rights
> > > > to your code or it should be GPL,
> >
> > The 2 things are mutually exclusive.  You can retain ownership over code
> > and release it as GPL.
> >
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-- 
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