Hire versus outsource?

[pinkandpurple]

Are you telling me most people employed by OMGPOP etc are freelancers?

Originally Posted by jtrubridge

If you want to make iPhone games with the primary intention of creating a company and selling it then you are going to be in for a long tough journey. Concentrate on making some brilliant world class games, either by hiring staff or with freelancers, and don't start out by thinking I want to sell the company and make millions.

What budget do you have? Do you have enough to pay someone full-time or would you be better putting aside a budget to pay a freelance to work 2-3 months and see how things go. Like someone else said, you could use freelancers for your first project and then if it's successful use the profits to expand your company with your first full-time staff.

A few other things to consider, do you have an office? I'm assuming full-time staff would want to work onsite with you and be given computers etc... Freelance programmers will often (but not always) be able to work onsite or remotely and should have all their own equipment.

I work as a freelance programmer (doing iOS and console dev) having worked at a number of top UK game developers. If you did want to go down the freelance route then feel free to drop me a PM and I'll try and offer some advice or see if I'm suitable for your needs.

Whatever you decide, good luck with it!

James

[Blackharon]

I don't get where you could come to that conclusion with what he said. What he said was: Don't worry about selling your company for millions before you even start. It likely won't happen, and if it miraculously does, the number of full time employees you maintain matters little.

[schplurg]

My 2 cents...hiring employees can be a mess, and expensive. At least here in the US, you have unemployment insurance, social security. You have to be able to cover workers comp claims.

Disgruntled (and not so disgruntled) employees have a nasty habit of suing their previous employer. Many of these lawsuits are frivolous, yet will still cost the employer money to fight. Some of these include claims that an employer didn't offer 15 minute breaks throughout the day, or denied the employee a lunch break. It can be total bullshit, but it hapens all the time just the same, and costs just as much to fight.

Hiring contractors has its own problems too, but, in my experience, hiring employees is more costly than hiring contractors/outsourcing. I have a family member who owns a business. He has been sued 3 times this year - one was an ex contractor and the other two were ex employees. Only one of these lawsuits has any real merit to it at all, and not much. He even loaned one of these people money for rent during a tough period while they were still employed, and this person is still suing him. One guy is claiming no lunch breaks, even though he spent half his day outside smoking pot during work.

Obviously if you have a large business it will be necessary to hire employees (I guess), but for me, I will avoid it as long as I can.

[Nullroar]

Originally Posted by Jason Stark

Regardless of hiring or out-sourcing, the most critical thing is getting the right people. Talented, hard-working people that "click" with your vision are very rare. Be prepared to go through money finding them.

And once you find good people - treat them well and do everything you can to keep them.

That, pretty much. [Best of luck on Run Fatty Run, Jason].

I'd start with outsourcing and then offer the folks who excel paid positions to keep them from getting scooped up by other employers.

[pinkandpurple]

Originally Posted by Nullroar

That, pretty much. [Best of luck on Run Fatty Run, Jason].

I'd start with outsourcing and then offer the folks who excel paid positions to keep them from getting scooped up by other employers.

I have someone uin mind but they are in CHina
I am in UK