Book Review: Rails Freelancing Handbook

August 3, 2009 by Noel Gomez
Filed under: General, Programming

As part of helping out on a RailsBridge project, I was given a copy of the Rails Freelancing Handbook by Mike Gunderloy so I thought I would share my impression of it.

Overview

Even though the book has the word Rails in the title, a lot of the advice in this book can apply to anyone who wants to work on their own, from a freelance designer to a business consultant.

The book covers topics from deciding if freelancing is for you to legal and tax implications, marketing, and managing clients.

Writing Style

This book packs a lot of good advice and is a quick read at just 65 pages. I love this. There is no fluff, just clear concise advice based on Mike”s personal experience as a freelancer.

Mike’s Advice

Mike does not pretend to have all the answers, but instead points you in the right direction. Whether that means telling you to find a lawyer and an accountant, or pointing you to web resources for doing it yourself if you can’t afford one,. This makes the book a really practical resource which you can refer to as you move through the stages of becoming a freelancer.

You will find that Mike’s advice is pretty comprehensive and you will gain nuggets of wisdom even if you have experience freelancing. Even though I have done consulting work and have gone through the process of establishing an LLC, I learned about factoring receivables which was something I had no idea even existed.

Mike even covers ergonomics, using multiple monitors, and web based tools to improve your workflow. I had never put as much thought into an office chair as I know Mike has, and since I’m a person that rather get the Consumer Reports version, I found this topic particularly interesting.

Conclusin

For under $10 you can’t ask for more. This book is full of actionable advice for anyone starting a small business. There is a free chapter online, so check that out and if you find it as useful as I did, you will want to get yourself a copy of this book.

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