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Ask HN: path to a freelance iPhone dev?

6 points by oneiroscopist ↗ HN
I currently work for a big company, and recently a small custom dev asked me to do some iPhone development for them (I dabble in iPhone programming in my spare time). I enjoy working with them, and would like to develop a career as an independent mobile developer, working remotely. I am not sure what steps to take.... Where do I find more clients? How do I market myself?

10 comments

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graiz
If you like 'security' then you can build up experience nights and weekends. There is a lot of iPhone work available. If you get experience you can eventually switch from part-time to full-time.

Sites like theymakeapps.com and CraigsList can help find you projects. Historically we've found most of our work through referrals.

Since you work for a big-company consider if there's a role to do iOS dev within your current company.

oneiroscopist
Thanks for the response, graiz. Frankly, I did not have much luck generating serious inquiries from CraigsList (there is a lot of "profit sharing options", which, AFAIK, means "we'll pay you if our idea is successfull, but we won't invest anything upfront"). I would prefer doing a bit of work with local dev shops. My company does not do anything with iPhone development ...
RandallBrown
Do your first one and do a good job. Try and find "hacker" groups. There always seems to be one or two people looking to get an iPhone app made.
bobx11
Try using odesk or elance to do a moonlighting job to make sure you like it first. odesk has tests you can take for objective-c and iphone development to make sure you know your stuff as well.
oneiroscopist
interesting advice. Wonder what the hourly rate is on odesk...
gexla
There is none. You set your own.rate. Or you can do a set fee for the project. Generally the client sets the preferences, but you can negotiate whatever you want.
oneiroscopist
Thanks. They list average rate of $11.59 (I think, not sure about the .59 part :-))))) for iOS devs.
gexla
You have already failed your first test as a freelance developer.

What other devs are charging means jack . You will find that same thing for ANY service on Odesk. If the lowest bids always won, then nobody from the West would ever get any work.

oneiroscopist
I am not asking for tests, I am asking for advice. I have never used oDesk, and, frankly, I do not know if anybody the is from the "West", or, if there is, if anybody from the "West" can make a living on oDesk. Actually, that seems a good question to ask: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3396585
imakerz
iMakerz developers are very skillful and experts in designing iPhne, iPad and Android applications, if anybody need assistance he/she can contact us. http://www.imakerz.com