I’d love to hear from anyone who has transitioned from FAANG to contracting—how did you find your first clients, and what advice do you have for making the switch?
Currently, I’m building a startup and learning how to create content in the style of Fireship. My goal is to work around 40–60 hours per month at $200/hour, using the rest of my time to grow my business until it becomes profitable. At that rate, I estimate needing 2–3 clients, each requiring 15–20 hours per month. Given my experience in scalable software engineering and ability to create valuable content, I assume there are startups or larger companies that would find my skill set valuable.
I’m based in Seattle but currently living off my savings while I focus on my startup and content creation. I’ve considered moving back to my hometown, which has a lower cost of living, but I’m unsure if that would impact my ability to find high-paying remote contracts.
A few specific questions for those with experience in high-paying contract work:
What are the best ways to find $200/hour contracts? Do companies typically post these, or is it more about networking? How important is location? Would moving to a lower-cost city hurt my chances of finding premium contracts? Do you recommend going through agencies, or is it better to source clients directly? How do you structure contracts to minimize risk (e.g., payment terms, project scope, client expectations)? Are there any common pitfalls to avoid when negotiating high hourly rates? If you were starting over today, what would you do differently? I’d really appreciate any insights from those who have made this transition successfully!
