My talk "time and money" for the virtual conference Day Camp 4 Developers - teaching software professionals about softer skills, in particular business concepts. I'm a freelancer and I wanted to share the tips I have learned.

1. Time and Money
Lorna Jane Mitchell
March 2012

2. About Me
●
Lorna Jane Mitchell
●
@lornajane
●
Freelance for > 18 months
http://lornajane.net

6. Where does the time go?

7. Time
Money

8. Where does the time go?

9. Time Tracking

10. How much time do you need?

11. Estimating
●
Include meetings to attend, reports to write etc
●
List tasks
●
Split up small
●
Estimate each

12. How much does your time cost?

13. Not everything
is billable

14. Rates
●
Decide on your rates
●
Write them down
●
Stick to them

15. Quotes
●
Be able to quote for work
●
Combine estimates and rates
●
Agree payment method, invoice date/frequency,
and payment terms

16. Proposals
●
Sometimes you need to do more than quote
●
Outline what you will provide
●
Details of the project with benefits
●
Costs and benefits

17. Delivery
●
Many different ways of working
● hourly/daily rates
● fixed price
● royalties or other license fees

18. When is X due?

19. Deadlines
add deadlines
to calendar

20. What else needs time?

21. Scheduling

22. Scheduling
block out time
for appointments

23. How can I do X on time?

24. Scheduling

25. Scheduling
book your work
into the gaps

26. When can I deliver X?
Can I also take on Y?

27. Billable Hours
income =
rate * billable hours
hours that you actually
invoice for, correctly
and on time

28. Billable Hours
●
Hours you worked
●
That you tracked
●
With a contract in place
●
That you invoice for

29. Invoicing
●
Make it easy
●
Then you will do it
●
Use a template or tool
● Your name and address
● The work and costs
● Any purchase order or other details
● How and when payment should happen

30. Invoicing
generate
track
chase

31. Invoicing

32. Invoicing
generate
track
chase

33. Invoicing
generate
track
chase

34. What information to track?

35. Year-End Process
●
Track information ongoingly
●
Know what happens and when for year-end
●
Do you need to set time aside for it?
● (if so, see the first point!)

36. Get A Grip!
(on both time and money)

37. Thanks
● Twitter: @lornajane
● Website: http://lornajane.net
● Slides: http://slideshare.net/lornajane
● Feedback (please?): https://joind.in/6145