Also, is it not true that the projects where you hear the client talking about ‘getting going’ and ‘knocking it out.’ Are the ones that stall about 1/3 of the way through? Aarrrgh!

Brent

I always thought it only counts as “work-for-hire” if the contract says that explicitly. That is, by default it’s NOT work for hire. In any event, I agree with Jesse. While it would be nice to have all this code that easily recycles into the next project that’s largely a fantasy. I’m not an idiot–so some code is easy to recycle. But, really, the time consuming part of my projects is not hard-core programming… but planning and “design” (and I’m not just talking about the graphic design because I don’t do that part). If you do it right, I believe, programming per se is only 10% of the whole project. When I tell programmers this they freak out–but think about it. A well planned and executed project should not involve mainly programming.

Oh, I always give my clients all the code unless I have a very good reason not to. I figure I charge enough for them to want this… plus, they won’t have to bug me later if I can’t maintain their project. And, it’s a good form of backup. Again, I know many disagree with this but I just don’t get all that attached to my old code. (I look at stuff only 6 months old and it’s embarrassing) Actually a good reason not to release code is that it can reflect on you poorly. I just remember a client dissing my work (to a friend they interviewed to rev it) because I didn’t comment it. That’s the last thing I need: someone who hires me for my expertise telling me I’m not an expert.

Bottom line: good business is when two parties have a good understanding and respect/value each other.

I definitely agree on the point of never saying no. There is always a way to do something. You never know when you can or can’t do something, whether you have done it or not. There are so many variables in life, you just have to do your best in planning and always have a backup plan.

Just on an after-thought here, I always think of lulls in work an absolute blessing. It gives me a chance to sit back and do stuff that I want to do, pick up some books from Amazon or something and really sit down and learn something new, or just plain get better at something I do now. It’s almost guaranteed that just as you are getting into something really really cool, that another huge load of work comes piling in, which starts the unending revolution of contract work rolling again.