Founder Notes

20 posts

October 7, 2026 · Founder Notes

Why We Quote by Scope, Not by Man-Days

Man-day pricing looks fair, but it pushes every uncertainty onto the client. We would rather agree on scope and assumptions first, then talk about money.

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September 25, 2026 · Founder Notes

Three Lessons From Our First Client

Our first project in 2019 was worth thirty thousand yuan and taught us more about contracts, acceptance and honesty than any course.

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September 13, 2026 · Founder Notes

Choosing Clients Matters More Than Choosing Projects

The same contract can grow a team or drain it. We now screen clients with three questions.

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September 1, 2026 · Founder Notes

Cash Flow Beats Margin

Margin is a number in the ledger; cash flow decides whether the company survives to the next payment.

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August 20, 2026 · Founder Notes

Agree on an Exit Before You Need One

Equity, roles and exit rules are easiest to settle while the company is small and the relationships are good.

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August 8, 2026 · Founder Notes

A Full Post-Mortem of a Project We Should Not Have Taken

Vague requirements, seven decision makers and a budget nowhere near the expectation. The project failed in slow motion.

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July 27, 2026 · Founder Notes

Settle Payment Terms Before the Kickoff

Most disputes are not about bad delivery. They are about money that was never described clearly.

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July 15, 2026 · Founder Notes

Hiring Is Harder Than Selling

Clients can be chosen over time; people must be judged in a narrow window. Most of our mistakes trace back to hiring.

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July 3, 2026 · Founder Notes

Product Company or Project Shop?

Every project-driven team asks this. Our answer is not either/or, but which capabilities repeat often enough to reuse.

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— The editors at JiayifangyuanEST. 2019 · JYFY