Jacob

16.
building simplance - finance tools for freelancers.
shipping in public.

[Jacob @jakeatsimplance]

i'm 16. i built a full finance platform for freelancers.

freelancers shouldn't need quickbooks + turbotax + spreadsheets + a payment processor just to run their business.

so i built the replacement.
https://t.co/DCwutmFZgJ

[Jacob @jakeatsimplance]

three things missing from most freelance proposals:

an expiry date
a payment schedule
what happens after "accepted"

[Jacob @jakeatsimplance]

the client who asks your rate before scoping the work

is telling you how they'll treat every line item.

[Jacob @jakeatsimplance]

what's your default late-fee?

or do you not have one?

[Jacob @jakeatsimplance]

"a client who won't answer the scope question

isn't going to answer the invoice email either."

[Jacob @jakeatsimplance]

the invoice you're nervous to send

is usually the one priced correctly.

[Jacob @jakeatsimplance]

what's the last thing you cut from a proposal to close the deal?

[Jacob @jakeatsimplance]

the invoice template you downloaded in 2019 is missing 3 lines that would get you paid faster:

a late-fee clause
a payment link (not "reply for details")
a specific due date, not "net 30"

[Jacob @jakeatsimplance]

every freelancer keeps a folder of proposals they're glad they lost.

[Jacob @jakeatsimplance]

how many days after invoicing before you actually chase?

[Jacob @jakeatsimplance]

@athcanft Most apps don't need a social layer. They need a reason for one person to come back first.

[Jacob @jakeatsimplance]

@sri9s The follower count is just breathing at this point. Up one day, down the next.

[Jacob @jakeatsimplance]

@AndrejVidinevic Boring systems beat flashy spikes. If you can repeat it, you can actually build on it.

[Jacob @jakeatsimplance]

@dark_coderz Getting the first version working is hard. Getting anyone to care after that is harder.

[Jacob @jakeatsimplance]

@mjbuildr More excited day to day, more worried zoomed out. The tools are insane, but the speed feels hard to absorb.

[Jacob @jakeatsimplance]

@TheSpacerr I trust the incentives more than the individuals. Use the tools, don't worship the CEOs.

[Jacob @jakeatsimplance]

@vaaselene LinkedIn seems worth it if your buyer has a clear job title. If it’s more indie/dev/startup audience, X still feels like a better use of time.

[Jacob @jakeatsimplance]

@SECONDRAZEE Enough to cover a few ugly months without panicking. After that, the skill to earn matters way more than the number.

[Jacob @jakeatsimplance]

@TheGBreaker the have their eyes on something greater than a 9 to 5

[Jacob @jakeatsimplance]

@bizdevelo Of course it's normal. Doubt can actually be beneficial because it makes you double check and always strive for more

[Jacob @jakeatsimplance]

@Jasoliyaharsh1 AI will make them stronger