Hi everyone,

 

as some know, i am intending to launch a small company in the near future, offering value for money solutions to small businesses. But ive hit a catch, im not good enough with php/mysql/flash/javascript to do what alot of them want, so im trying to decide what option is the best for me to follow:

 

1) bring someone into the operation, giving them all php work, on a paid per item basis (hopefully if they are inhouse i can negotiate a better rate)

 

2) outsource to people, that allows me to get various quotes and choose the best.

 

3) try to get someone to make me a template for the items i am asked alot for so that i can then add them quickly and easily

 

 

Anyone here in/been in a similar situation that can possibly lend abit of advice?

 

Reaper

Hi everyone,

 

as some know, i am intending to launch a small company in the near future, offering value for money solutions to small businesses. But ive hit a catch, im not good enough with php/mysql/flash/javascript to do what alot of them want, so im trying to decide what option is the best for me to follow:

 

1) bring someone into the operation, giving them all php work, on a paid per item basis (hopefully if they are inhouse i can negotiate a better rate)

 

2) outsource to people, that allows me to get various quotes and choose the best.

 

3) try to get someone to make me a template for the items i am asked alot for so that i can then add them quickly and easily

 

 

Anyone here in/been in a similar situation that can possibly lend abit of advice?

 

Reaper

 

Hello mate,

 

My experience would lead me to choose to outsource in your position. There is a huge pile of legalities and regulations that come with employing someone - recruitment, health and safety, contracts, payment, tax, NI, and so on, not to mention the problems that could arise if you fired them for being crap and it came back in your face for 'unfair dismissal' or if you fell out or anything along those lines. Hiring someone needs a large investment of time on your behalf, which means money spent on paying your salary will go to dealing with them, not to making more money. It will also increase costs (electricity, coffee, transport, etc etc).

 

Outsourcing comes without all of that stuff, but can become expensive and not cost effective if you're using them alot. My advice would be to find a cheap outsourcing provider and trial them out, and also analyse how much you're going to be using their services. Once you've established that you can see if its worth the hassle of employing someone (even on a temp basis). Outsourcing especially to the east can be quite cheap, and i've done it before.

 

 

Have you thought about temping agencies as a possibility, as its the middle ground between the two?

 

having said that, the template idea is a good one, and if its a feasible opportunity go for it. You just need to make sure you're ready to deal with implementation and configuration, as well as being to troubleshoot and solve problems/support the items.

 

sorry for the rant, HTH.