Freelance consultant on the side?
Posted by sdeptnoob1@reddit | sysadmin | View on Reddit | 6 comments
While I have a full time job I like, I also like IT architecture, such as building out a buisness and its resources confined toa budget and all, how many people do stuff on the side like consulting or helping small businesses fix or improve infrastructure? Is it hard to do? Would a buisness license be required?
I realize it'll mostly be networking but it's a thought I've had in the back of my mind. Seems like it would be a fun side job, maybe not an ongoing thing as if I was a solo msp but more of a lets give you a list of things to improve and a plan to do it type thing even help set stuff up maybe (which i woupd probably enjoy too but might take way too much time).
Defconx19@reddit
I used to when I worked internal IT. Though you have to go into it woth realistic expectations. How are you finding the work? Why will they pick you over an MSP? Are you ready for them to call you non-stop when shit breaks? What do you do if their business is down and you cant leave work?
Even if you dont offer support, customers will still expect it when shit hits the fan.
I got the bulk of my work by rigging up and deploying camera systems for a commercial contractor. The customer pays the contractor to get the project done, but the customer has their own path to support and they dont even know you exist.
You can make a fuck ton of money just doing terminations of wall ports and patch panels of you find the right contractor/electrician. They all hate doing it so they're all to happy to pay someone to take care of it and a lot of times you can get paid cash.
sdeptnoob1@reddit (OP)
This might be a better route then thanks for the info!
chris1neji@reddit
This is very possible if you have a job where you can essentially take time off anytime. Even in middle of work shift. This is the big one. Otherwise you’re really stuck with residential type of clients which are great if what you want is some money here and there. Just know that these are not jobs that will be new networks, new offices, or any major project.
Business license requirements depend on your city, county, state, and country. However general IT work usually does not have a lot of prerequisite. Just know that if you fail, you are absolutely opening yourself up to lawsuits. It won’t be the business owner going after you, it will be their insurance provider independently going after you. You don’t get to just tell the judge or owner “sign this stating I’m not liable “. That is insufficient, and in situations where there is a big imbalance of expertise the judges will expect you to do due diligence and advocate for proper security. You don’t get to just say “the owner didn’t buy it”. You must create a proper paper trail, you must communicate effectively and ensure the client truly understands the risk (aka avoid tech jargon). If you go after smaller jobs/residential this is less likely. Sure you may be out $1000 because you accidentally drop their laptop but it’s not the end of the world.
My side gig is small but I still have business insurance, formed an LLC, and all the other goodies. I started it out of boredom. I been at the end of lawsuit threats and luckily they backed off (their own lawyers advised them to). It’s fun, it’s stressful, and a lot of work. If you love your weekends you’ll basically lose one day in efforts to catch up. That has been my personal experience.I use RMM, Hudu Documentation, partnered with Bitwarden, BitDefender, Adobe, and others. I now volunteer, run a nonprofit, and have a side business, plus my 8-5 job.
My cons: being forced to be a “people” person or sales in order to acquire new clients. This “work” uses more of your spare time to relax.
Plenty-Hold4311@reddit
I’m in a similar situation, what do you make of Hudu?
chris1neji@reddit
Product is solid. It has a great editor for writing KBs, excellent password management, integration with M365 and RMM. I write a lot of documentation and always have in my previous jobs. I’ve helped change the culture of documentation in past as well, from barely any and most of it in “ticket notes”. I don’t know that it differentiates itself all that much from any other platform like ITGlue or others.
Before being in the IT industry my tool was OneNote. these days I would keep Hudu even if it’s just personal usage for documentation on my network and homelab.
chris1neji@reddit
Product is solid. It has a great editor for writing KBs, excellent password management, integration with M365 and RMM. I write a lot of documentation and always have in my previous jobs. I’ve helped change the culture of documentation in past as well, from barely any and most of it in “ticket notes”. I don’t know that it differentiates itself all that much from any other platform like ITGlue or others.
Before being in the IT industry my tool was OneNote. these days I would keep Hudu even if it’s just personal usage for documentation on my network and homelab.