Finding remote software development contracts

**Gonzo** · 4 March 2008, 22:49

Originally posted by d000hg View Post

As far as I can tell, all the job sites linked by CUK deal exclusively with contracts where you have to go into the office. Is this because remote working (i.e. you NEVER visit the client) contracts are vanishingly rare, or because they're advertised elsewhere?

I've tried google but I can't come up with a good search phrase... is there a special word or phrase that would work better than "remote software development contracts"? That threw up http://jobs.trovit.co.uk but not much else I could spot.

Have you tried looking at "Rentacoder"?

You probably would not want to compete with their rates.

**d000hg** · 4 March 2008, 23:45

LOL, I'm familiar with Rentacoder and GetAFreelancer and even did work there early on, but I'm looking for rates comparable with normal contract rates. I'm doing OK so far but most of my clients and prospective clients are in the US... for now that's fine but I want to know where to find UK clients in case the US continues to fall apart and the £ reaches $3!

**chicane** · 5 March 2008, 08:41

There's plenty of remote software development work out there. The problem is that you'll have to think and act like a real business to get it. Get out the Yellow Pages and cold call potential, go to networking events etc. Think of yourself as a one-man EDS (hopefully more competent) and you'll get the idea.

**beaker** · 5 March 2008, 12:29

Originally posted by chicane View Post

There's plenty of remote software development work out there. The problem is that you'll have to think and act like a real business to get it. Get out the Yellow Pages and cold call potential, go to networking events etc. Think of yourself as a one-man EDS (hopefully more competent) and you'll get the idea.

One option is to pitch to consultancies that handle major client accounts. Plenty of consultancies charge their clients upwards of 800/day for work then outsource it to specialist development companies. If you can do the work for less and at a fixed price then they may be interested. A lot of these companies don't want their own development teams, contract or perm.

Expect to operate like a proper business though and have an office (ie not your spare room), spend lots of time in and travelling to meetings, networking etc.

**d000hg** · 5 March 2008, 23:11

Oh darn, it sounds like hard work

I guess it makes sense though that people are not keen on advertising on the net for contractors they will never ever meet. All my work so far is through personal recommendations or through online communities.

**tay** · 6 March 2008, 11:06

Oh darn, it sounds like hard work

If it wasnt dont you think nearly every contractor would be doing it in the UK?

Finding remote software development contracts