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>I am new to independent consulting and have a question for all the
>telecommuting independent contractors out there. Do you purchase all the
>software you need to complete projects for clients, or does the client
>provide some or all of it for you?
It depends on the software, the length of the project, and
whether I'll be telecommuting. If I might find the software
useful later, or if I'll be telecommuting, I often want to have
my own copy. On the other hand, for a short contract, a company
may not want to spend the money on, say, FrameMaker.
> If you do purchase the software
>yourself, do you take this into consideration when you give your hourly
>rates?
You can try to negotiate anything. You might add an expenses item
to your invoice that includes the software.
Also, you can write off the software as a business expense. At
least, you can in Canada; I imagine it's the same in other
countries.
--
Bruce Byfield, Outlaw Communications
"The Open Road" column, Maximum Linux
3015 Aries Place, Burnaby, BC V37 7E8, Canada
bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com 604.421.7189
"And the gentle winds came lightly
And the showers began to fall,
And John Barleycorn sprung up again,
And so he dunned them all."
- Traditional