Full-stack developers starting a software agency?
Hey guys,
I have been flip-flopping back and forth on this idea for a while, and would love some feedback on whether peeps would find this valuable.
Although I still call my self a "software developer" (and try to code daily), for the last 8 years I have ran a small 5-person agency that I started from the ground up, so my role was really CEO/CTO/CFO/Everything-O. My company focused on delivering high-quality custom software. Not brochure websites, and not Wordpress - our niche was internal business software (or as I like to call it "boring software for boring businesses") - and for a client service company we got very high margins of return.
Last year my business was acquired by a larger company which was an amazing result after the time and effort I had poured into it. I have realised I now want to help other developers who want to start their own software agency, or maybe they already have and are looking for hints or advice on certain topics.
So I have started Dev to Agency - a part blog part guidebook for how a full-stack developer can start and successfully run a software development agency, the things to pay attention too (and the things to ignore), and the key-values that I feel helped my business go from nothing, to 7 figures per year, and then to being acquired (if that is a path people would want to take).
I have just published my first couple of posts, About Dev To Agency that is a rundown of what I hope to achieve with this, then a post about My small custom software development agency - which gives an overview of what I built and where I think my articles will add value, and lastly You are the gold standard which covers how I feel an owner/maker should set the businesses standards and practises based of their personal values.
I have never written a blog before (or really done any writing before), so it would be fantastic to get some feedback from the community, and if there are any developers that this could interest then please subscribe on the website.
Cheers,
Chris.
What are your thoughts on structuring something like this as a worker co-op? I would love to do something similar but have no interest in replicating traditional power structures
Whilst I have no direct experience, I think it sounds like a good idea!
Chris, could you please go back in time 20 years and post this? Thanks!
(Just kidding. But I would have liked to have had something like this when I had my own company, too. This looks really nice!)
Haha totally, this is pretty much my main catalyst. What would younger me have liked to hear? :)
Neat thanks. I run my own consulting agency, primarily because it's calm and after having been through several years of startup and entrepreneurship life I wanted a break. But I'm pretty excited about growing it further, especially now that I have a more specific niche to get into (payment systems). Will take a look :)
Fantastic, I hope I can provide some value to you!
Wow, you have no idea how perfect this is for me. I've been toying with the idea of starting a business doing exactly that after doing a couple freelance projects last year for a medical clinic.
Definitely subscribing and don't be surprised if you hear from me again in the future.
Awesome! I wondered if it was too much of a niche, so it's really good to hear it resonates with people.
What’s IH community? Is that an acronym for Tildes that I don’t know?
Looks like this was originally a post on another site, Indie Hackers
Thanks jwong I have fixed that up 👍