Do you ever subcontract work to friends or people in your network?
If so, what tools do you use? I'm working on a project for this and would love any insight into things you love or hate about the process.
If so, what tools do you use? I'm working on a project for this and would love any insight into things you love or hate about the process.
I would start off by saying that hiring friends is a slippery slope and easily ruin a friendship. So I would think long and hard whether you're OK with risking your relationship.
Next, if you do end up hiring friends or acquaintances, I don't think you'll need a process different than you'd use for other employees or contractors. I would go ahead and just follow the same procedures as you'd do with your other staff.
We use TimeDoctor for time-tracking and Slack for team communication. Daily meetings when they're called for, typically one-on-one for a few minutes. Other than that, I try to be as hands off as possible.
Thanks for the insight Mattijs! How do you onboard new contractors? For example, getting them familiar with your code style, processes etc.
Also, how do you find contractors if not from your network or through friends?
If I were to hire someone today, we'd start onboarding with going over the relevant documented processes (I would advice to start working on and maintaining an operating manual for your business sooner rather than later). I'd would let them review the relevant documentation at their leisure, followed by a Slack call with screenshare where I'd give a quick presentation regarding the code ( just to cover what I think is relevant). At this point, the new staff/contractor would have access to the repo and I'd give them anywhere between a few days and two weeks to review the codebase and get themselves familiar with it.
We'd complete the onboarding by doing a final call, typically with screenshare and possibly other staff, during which the new staff/contractor can ask questions, raise issues, whatever. During this call we'd also discuss the first tasks and make sure he/she has everything needed to get going.
During the onboarding process, we'd have our assistant reach for administrative stuff (payment preferences, setting up email accounts, getting access, etc).
This process works well for us at the moment.
Yeah, this is a great process. I'm stealing this. 😆
This is super helpful. Thank you for sharing so much detail. I really appreciate it. Let me know if I can ever be helpful in the future.
As someone who has just completed another project with a friend I can tell you that this one didn't end as well as the other ones.
I've done a couple previously and they all went fairly well. I either agreed to a project price up front or tracked my hours and then billed for those hours and they had no problem paying for the hours.
However, this last one was a disaster and took months, was over budget, and cost me a friendship.
Live and learn but all I can say is come up with a system that holds each of you accountable and you better be sure that you can have tough conversations with this person when it comes to your time and your money. If you can't do that then I would think twice about starting the project.
Also remember, just because he/she is your friend doesn't mean you owe them anything. This is your time. How much is your time worth to you?
Anyways, If you have confidence in your relationship I say go for it as 85% of my projects with friends have gone pretty well.
Wow. Thanks for sharing John!
This comment was deleted 7 years ago
Golden insight. Thank you for sharing my friend.
I've never tried to subcontract friends for work, only asking if they want to partner up on a project.
If I get asked for help, I'll usually help outright as a friend
Thanks Kevin. Do you mind sharing what sort of projects you partner on?
For more context, we’re thinking if a friend is having a slow freelance month (or months) - it may be a good thing to subcontracts work from friends with more work than they can handle. Sorry I should’ve clarified timing in my original post.
Sure thing. I am working on GrowSurf.com (viral referral programs 100% free) with my buddy and that’s a dedicated project we’re both invested in together.
That sounds like a good idea. I think when it comes to mixing cash and friends, sometimes it can get mucky and ruin relationships due to miscommunication and off expectations.
I dont usually subcontract, I tried to build android, iOS and backed all by myself by any means, which is think is the best way as it takes less time comparatively.
But exceptions can be made when the time it will take is far more than what it would take if you learn and do it. Even then, it wouldn't be a contract but more of a partnership.
Thanks! If you're doing work as a contractor for a company and you subcontract to someone to help with the project, do you still prefer to brand this as a partnership?
Hmm, it depends, if it's a single kind of work I need to do for a project then definetly No, but if it's an entire product then Yes and would still prefer to brand it as partnership. You have awesome collaborations in future but if you brand it like contract then you would miss on so many things including ownership from the other person even though you will get the work done.