6 ms·

Pro tip: Call yourself a Consultant instead of a Freelancer and you get to double your bill rate. A Freelancer is a 26 year old who will design you a logo in

Pro tip: Call yourself a Consultant instead of a Freelancer and you get to double your bill rate. A Freelancer is a 26 year old who will design you a logo in her spare time. A Consultant is a man in his late 30s with 15 years experience and a tie. Since nobody can tell the difference via email, you get to choose which one you'd like to be viewed as.

cunac 15y ago
what you call somebody in mid 40s and bald :-) But I do agree a lot of value is gained by perceived quality of service (freelancer vs. consultant) not that it implies that it is actually different quality
josefresco 15y ago
Consultants get a bad name in my business circles so most shy away from that title. Most perceive them as someone who proposes things but does not or will not actually execute them for you. Usually it's the consultants who hire the "freelancers" to do the work they proposed in their consulting.
- kls 15y ago
  Right I work in both roles, I work as a consultant for the big wall street firms, where I do technical strategy consulting. This is where I look at a potential merger or acquisition and tell the decision makes that the technology strategy of the deal looks good or it does not. It is a paperwork job and I consider it to be true consulting. On the other hand I am hired by companies to build apps, many times they only have a rough idea of what they want. I call that freelancing, I am brought it to help them get to an app in all manners that they need, advise, code, data, server setup, etc. I see freelancing as the closest to generalist. Finally sometimes I get a call in which they will say we have all the specs, the system is designed and we just need someone that knows X to turn the design into a system. To me that is contracting and it is my least favorite out of the rolls I do.
- j45 15y ago
  Haha, I have often called myself a resultant because of the stigma. Over time I care less as I've gotten established and built a track record. Still, sometimes I find myself saying "I solve business needs with technology." Means what it should to the people who will sign my cheques, and I don't care to explain what I do to anyone else. Since a consultant isn't the first thing people might assume when they look at me, I think it's important to remember it just comes down to being likable, genuine, curious, responsible, and caring enough to follow through. Respect is my currency and assholes filter themselves out.
- whateverer 15y ago
  Actually, that's pretty much what consulting actually _is_. You dish out advice, they hand in the cash. You have to tailor your advice to them but they get to decide what to do in the end.
startupcto 15y ago
This is a silly advice. Call yourself whatever you want, if the project was completed above my expectations, I'll gladly pay you whatever you asked for for the next project.
- harlanlewis 15y ago
  Silly, but only because it accurately describes how silly people can behave when they think they're acting rationally.
- marcomonteiro 15y ago
  I call myself Marco and many others do as well. I like your attitude here and I'd love to hear from you when the next project calls for someone who can consult or develop an iOS application.
  - StavrosK 15y ago
    What I read in the GP's comment: "I'll only pay you your asking rate if you deliver well in a previous project for less than your rate".
    - marcomonteiro 15y ago
      What I read was that pay becomes less of a concern the more his expectations are exceeded.
sequoia 15y ago
So if I'm a 26 year old female freelancer, how long until I become a full fledged (male) consultant? ;)
- chc 15y ago
  About five years. We don't like to talk about it.
- postfuturist 15y ago
  Since you are communicating via email and there is no reason to share your actual age or sex, right away.
- j45 15y ago
  I think you'd do better as a female consultant, women are our superiors in every way. :) - Raised by a woman to not be a mommas boy.
  - chc 15y ago
    I know you mean to be kind here, but putting women on a pedestal is just as much a form of sexism as declaring them beneath you. They're just people. Treat them accordingly. (I don't mean to imply any ill will on your part. I just thought you should know.)
    - j45 15y ago
      Haha, I see what you're saying. I didn't mean to put anyone on a pedestal, patronize or be kind out of charity. It's the best lesson I've learnt. I spent 10 years of my life complaining about women and consequently found nothing but women to complain about. As soon as I realized I complained because I cared I met the one of my dreams. She's my heart, my compass, and the sunshine keeping me where I need and want to be... even when my mighty intellect forgets to breath, feel, love, and live for a living. So now, I compliment freely from my heart. The most important things in my life haven't been understood because of my mind, but with my heart and gut. Hope that clarifies, didn't mean to offend anyone, only live in gratitude a bit more. It's the new year ;)
tptacek 15y ago
To get double your bill rate, double your bill rate. My sense of it is that a lot of people talking on HN about freelancing could stand to do that right now. None of this has anything to do with what you call yourself. No two clients will give you the same answer about what differentiates a "consultant" from a "contractor" from a "freelancer".
- mkramlich 15y ago
  > To get double your bill rate, double your bill rate. this is Zen
- j45 15y ago
  > None of this has anything to do with what you call yourself. No two clients will give you the same answer about what differentiates a "consultant" from a "contractor" from a "freelancer". Precisely, it's why it's up to us to figure out which relationship they're looking for and do it if we can. A good idea is always to dress well, speak well, write well, and be pro-active/thoughtful in ways that count. That always comes across excellently in reinforcing your value no matter what you do at any rate.

cunac 15y ago

what you call somebody in mid 40s and bald :-) But I do agree a lot of value is gained by perceived quality of service (freelancer vs. consultant) not that it implies that it is actually different quality

josefresco 15y ago

Consultants get a bad name in my business circles so most shy away from that title. Most perceive them as someone who proposes things but does not or will not actually execute them for you. Usually it's the consultants who hire the "freelancers" to do the work they proposed in their consulting.

kls 15y ago
Right I work in both roles, I work as a consultant for the big wall street firms, where I do technical strategy consulting. This is where I look at a potential merger or acquisition and tell the decision makes that the technology strategy of the deal looks good or it does not. It is a paperwork job and I consider it to be true consulting. On the other hand I am hired by companies to build apps, many times they only have a rough idea of what they want. I call that freelancing, I am brought it to help them get to an app in all manners that they need, advise, code, data, server setup, etc. I see freelancing as the closest to generalist. Finally sometimes I get a call in which they will say we have all the specs, the system is designed and we just need someone that knows X to turn the design into a system. To me that is contracting and it is my least favorite out of the rolls I do.
j45 15y ago
Haha, I have often called myself a resultant because of the stigma. Over time I care less as I've gotten established and built a track record. Still, sometimes I find myself saying "I solve business needs with technology." Means what it should to the people who will sign my cheques, and I don't care to explain what I do to anyone else. Since a consultant isn't the first thing people might assume when they look at me, I think it's important to remember it just comes down to being likable, genuine, curious, responsible, and caring enough to follow through. Respect is my currency and assholes filter themselves out.
whateverer 15y ago
Actually, that's pretty much what consulting actually _is_. You dish out advice, they hand in the cash. You have to tailor your advice to them but they get to decide what to do in the end.

startupcto 15y ago

This is a silly advice. Call yourself whatever you want, if the project was completed above my expectations, I'll gladly pay you whatever you asked for for the next project.

harlanlewis 15y ago
Silly, but only because it accurately describes how silly people can behave when they think they're acting rationally.
marcomonteiro 15y ago
I call myself Marco and many others do as well. I like your attitude here and I'd love to hear from you when the next project calls for someone who can consult or develop an iOS application.
- StavrosK 15y ago
  What I read in the GP's comment: "I'll only pay you your asking rate if you deliver well in a previous project for less than your rate".
  - marcomonteiro 15y ago
    What I read was that pay becomes less of a concern the more his expectations are exceeded.

sequoia 15y ago

So if I'm a 26 year old female freelancer, how long until I become a full fledged (male) consultant? ;)

chc 15y ago
About five years. We don't like to talk about it.
postfuturist 15y ago
Since you are communicating via email and there is no reason to share your actual age or sex, right away.
j45 15y ago
I think you'd do better as a female consultant, women are our superiors in every way. :) - Raised by a woman to not be a mommas boy.
- chc 15y ago
  I know you mean to be kind here, but putting women on a pedestal is just as much a form of sexism as declaring them beneath you. They're just people. Treat them accordingly. (I don't mean to imply any ill will on your part. I just thought you should know.)
  - j45 15y ago
    Haha, I see what you're saying. I didn't mean to put anyone on a pedestal, patronize or be kind out of charity. It's the best lesson I've learnt. I spent 10 years of my life complaining about women and consequently found nothing but women to complain about. As soon as I realized I complained because I cared I met the one of my dreams. She's my heart, my compass, and the sunshine keeping me where I need and want to be... even when my mighty intellect forgets to breath, feel, love, and live for a living. So now, I compliment freely from my heart. The most important things in my life haven't been understood because of my mind, but with my heart and gut. Hope that clarifies, didn't mean to offend anyone, only live in gratitude a bit more. It's the new year ;)

tptacek 15y ago

To get double your bill rate, double your bill rate. My sense of it is that a lot of people talking on HN about freelancing could stand to do that right now. None of this has anything to do with what you call yourself. No two clients will give you the same answer about what differentiates a "consultant" from a "contractor" from a "freelancer".

mkramlich 15y ago
> To get double your bill rate, double your bill rate. this is Zen
j45 15y ago
> None of this has anything to do with what you call yourself. No two clients will give you the same answer about what differentiates a "consultant" from a "contractor" from a "freelancer". Precisely, it's why it's up to us to figure out which relationship they're looking for and do it if we can. A good idea is always to dress well, speak well, write well, and be pro-active/thoughtful in ways that count. That always comes across excellently in reinforcing your value no matter what you do at any rate.