Five Pieces of Advice for Teams Just Starting Out

Every year a few newly graduated teams ask how to start taking projects. We are not a success story, but we have collected enough mistakes. These five answers come up most often and are the ones we wish we had known earlier.

The five

First, find three clients willing to pay before writing a business plan.

Second, a contract template matters more than a code framework: scope, payment and acceptance in writing.

Third, do not trade low prices for case studies. Low-price clients usually make the most demands.

Fourth, reserve at least twenty percent of time for maintenance. Delivery is not the end.

Fifth, find a peer who will be honest with you. A regular conversation beats ten startup articles.

One extra note

Do not rush to collect certificates and titles. Clients care whether you can solve their problem, not how many plaques are on the wall.

Make the first project a case you can show. That is more persuasive than any packaging.

A small team's advantage is agility and honesty. Learning corporate posturing too early is the fastest way to lose it.