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When it comes to programmers' side jobs, outsourcing may be the first thing that comes to mind. Although outsourcing comes in quickly, once you step on the pit, you may end up empty-handed.
How to avoid pitfalls? It is recommended to print out this list and check it one by one before accepting the outsourcing.
contact stage
At this stage, customers are mainly concerned about: whether you can do it or not. Our main concern is: how much money is not much, and whether people are reliable or not. What we can impress our clients is mainly project cases and whether the communication between the two parties is smooth.
At this stage, pay attention to the following points:
- The project case PPT (converted to PDF) and video for the customer must be watermarked, and the executable program must be anti-piracy. The source code must not be given
- Don’t accept all projects, this stage is a two-way selection process
- In the early stage, try to accept the outsourcing recommended by friends, so as to build trust faster and reduce communication loss
- The origin is unknown/Party A who is cooperating for the first time should be cautious
- Do not touch gray industry projects
- It must depend on the person of Party A (the person in charge of the project). Reliable people are the prerequisite for the smooth progress of the project and smooth payment.
- Cooperating with large companies generally guarantees the return of payment (it may be slow, but generally it will not be denied), and you must be cautious when cooperating with unfamiliar small companies/individuals (maybe no one can be found after the project ends)
- If Party A does not pay the money, it will take time, effort and money for us to sue, and sometimes the gains outweigh the losses, and the rogue Party A just seized this point. There is no solution to this problem. The best way is not to go too far in the first cooperation. After building trust, we can talk about follow-up and larger cooperation.
- Party A who asks you to come up with a detailed plan must be cautious. You can outline the plan, talk over the phone or face to face, but you cannot give detailed technical plan documents
- It is best to chat with Party A face to face, it is best to chat with Party A's company to find out the details
- We must pay attention to non-functional requirements such as the operating environment and performance indicators in the requirements. Once such changes occur, the entire system may have to be rewritten
quotation stage
- Many customers ask for quotations as soon as they come up, but we have to delay the quotation time as much as possible, communicate with customers more and confirm all requirements repeatedly, and do not quote unless we have to.
- Once the quotation is made, you will be more passive. If the customer proposes a function change, if the quotation changes, you must have a reason. The customer asked to add a like function, and you said that you want to add 2W, the customer may be angry instead of understanding.
- In 99.99% of the cases, the actual development content is more than the initial demand. In this case, you need to be prepared. On the one hand, you need to add this redundancy when quoting. On the other hand, you should list the function points when quoting and include It is written on the bill that it is necessary to add money when there is a major change in demand or when there is an increase in demand
- Don't just quote the total price and send it to the other party on WeChat, a professional quotation can beat most competitors
- The function points must be listed in the quotation as the basis for subsequent quotation changes and demand changes.
- If the other party thinks the price is too high, don’t directly discount and lower the price at will , otherwise the other party will think that your previous price was just a slap in the face, and even after you lower the price, you will still feel that it is watery. What is the correct way to do this? Negotiate streamlining, removal of features (even without actually reducing features)
- Don't think that you will be overjoyed if the other person accepts the high price. It is the last word that you can get the money back.
- The project won by Party A for 3 million yuan, why is it only 200,000 yuan for you? The operation of a commercial project is not simple, and requires the company's contacts, qualifications, and background, as well as the cooperation of sales, project managers, and legal and financial positions. If we don't want to be exploited, why don't we start our own company to fill these positions and qualifications?
contract signing stage
- The first item should have as many points as possible (cover the cost as much as possible)
- The contract must be signed. If Party A is not a template contract, it is best for you to write the contract and submit it to a lawyer for review (within 300 yuan)
- If it is possible to add this sentence in the contract: "After this contract takes effect, all parties shall fully perform the obligations stipulated in this contract. If any party fails to perform or not fully perform the obligations stipulated in this contract, it shall bear the corresponding liability for breach of contract and compensate for it. The losses caused to the observant party include attorney fees, preservation fees, litigation fees, notarization fees, appraisal fees, etc. paid by the observant party to realize the creditor’s rights.”
- In 99% of cases, the contract is waste paper, but when encountering 1% of scoundrels, the court only recognizes this
development stage
- Don't invest energy in development if you don't get the first payment
- Changes in requirements are unavoidable, so don’t worry about small changes, and communicate with Party A more often to fight for rights and interests for large changes
- The heart of prevention is indispensable. During the development process, pay attention to keep all kinds of communication records with Party A, meeting records, and on-site debugging photos; , the court most recognized this)
Payment stage
- When you fail to pay on time, you will continue to make phone calls, send text messages, and "harass" in person. You are not in a hurry to ask for money, and they are not in a hurry
- Litigation is the last resort when the money is not returned, but you must consult a lawyer before the lawsuit (whether it is worth the lawsuit, collect evidence, etc.)
Finally, I wish you get to know Party A well, receive good projects, and live better and better.
If you have any doubts about outsourcing, please feel free to send us a private message.