In this episode, I interview my friend Avonelle Lovhaug.
Avonelle has been a software developer for almost 30 years and has been an independent consultant for two decades. She works with tech-savvy small businesses that want professional custom software solutions for a fixed price. Many of the applications she has created are web-based and built using Microsoft technologies, though she also has experience creating mobile and Windows-based tools.
In our discussion, we get into several topics that she has experience with such as long-term clients, her methodology for using fixed pricing on projects, monthly support contracts, and invoicing. We end with a discussion of some different tools we both use on a day-to-day basis.
This was a fun interview to do and I really could talk with her all day on these things, but we ended right around 40 minutes.
Episode outline:
Usually work with 2 - 5 clients a year
How she found who her ideal client and ideal project is
Often only developer
Her methodology for using fixed price on projects
Payments for deliverables/milestones
Usually leave a period of ~60 days after project allows for bug fixes, etc.
Monthly support contracts
Priority support vs. non priority
Allows for clients to budget for support
Allows for 1/4 - 1/3 time available for support
Invoicing in general
Print to pdf and email invoices
Discussion on different tools we use
Screen shots
Snagit
Screen shot utility
Azure DevOps
Releases
RedGate SQL Change Automation
Pluralsite
Her reason for being an independent