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Why are you going after startups? That's the first problem. There are so many established companies in London. Many with deep pockets. For example, here's an idea for you: look at minicab companies with their own apps; "everyone" wonders what companies like Hailo and Kabbee will do to their business, yet apart from the huge ones like Addison Lee, every single minicab company specific app I've seen looks like crap and most are horrible to use too. In this case, an app has a clear and direct monetisation for them, and as long as you do contracts right they can to a certain extent be "cookie cutter" if you manage to land multiple clients. If they think you quote too much, you focus on how few extra bookings it will take to earn it back - and you can even offer to take part of the payment based on performance (but then make sure to make that high enough that you are likely to make more, because you are taking risk). Secondly, if you are going after startups, seek out networking opportunities for startups that are actively going after investment. Once a startup has closed a major financing round, there's a ton of pressure on to deliver and deliver quickly, and people understand that short, urgent jobs will cost a lot more. Many of them will also be a lot more willing to spend money on polishing things up right before they go out to seek investment - everyone wants to make a great impression. If all else fails, there's the risky path of fixed price contracts. If you work quickly, and can estimate your effort well, price it out based on what you want to make per hour with a substantial buffer for risk, and give a delivery date consistent with a lower per hour price. Just be sure that exactly what you are offering is nailed down in excruciating detail, and that you know how much time you are actually spending on things - developers are notorious at under-estimating own effort. |