* keep people working on internal projects, assign and schedule the work * dont look desperate, dont have immediate availability * can tell a client you can 'shuffle internal projects' to accomodate them * online ads dont work well * referrals instead * do a great job every single time * voice calls important * when people call you call them back * legal * contracts * 2 part contracting * master services agreement (binds them as client, doesnt bind payment) * statement of work * split deliverables into 2 parts * things specific to their business (work for hire) * general code (you keep copyright) * limit liability (no more than what they paid you) * specify arbitrator (and arbitration location) * RightSignature for signing documents * never negotiate under pressure * finances * took hashrocket 700k in their first year to build * fixed bid contracts = bad * puts you at odds * you want to cut corners * they want to squeeze more work in * hashrocket rates (variable based on length of engagement) * 250 obie * 190 short term * 175 long term * 150 > 6 mos * open source negotiable (good publicity) * make sure you budget for non-paying clients (literal line item) * keeps you from getting desperate * hashrocket runs 100-300k 90 day AR * budgeting for product development * jump from services -> product is hard * dont invoice manually * check out Harvest * agile * try to follow every agile practice * storycard for estimation * relationships * talk to your clients every day * help your client manage their budget * win over their people * be able to fire clients * keep employees learning * nice work environment * keep employees in the loop