What's 'Appening

A lot of last week was spent working on the early stages of a mobile app (see what I did there!) for iOS and Android. It's something we're planning to do more of as:

1. It is enjoyable
2. It creates longer term projects
3. It generates larger fees as they take more time to develop than your average website

So developing apps provides stability and income due to the time required to develop one but with a background in systems analysis and design and programming I also enjoy making mobile and web applications more than simple websites.

Had a day off yesterday watching sport (well drinking mainly) and had a really enjoyable day only spoilt by being at the Boro match. A great Six Nations match between England and Ireland with proper test rugby - loved it, the win also helps.

OK off to watch the Olympics ice hockey final, then got some work to do for Serco - yes we actually have a client that big!

A Yarn About Loose Ends

Along with meetings the week was spent trying to tidy up a few loose ends at the end of projects along with starting the design of an e-commerce solution for Ripping Yarns and allow me time to begin creating a mobile app next week for a major project we are working on.

One thing I find frustrating, though it's worse for Peter as he's the one generally working on these projects, is when you reach a milestone in a project, show the client for feedback or to supply content, wait for 4 weeks for their opinion/content and then they will want everything completing in 24 hours from when they get back to us. I know they're busy also but we need to schedule work and can't drop everything for them.

So what's the solution?

It's not a cure-all but we have changed our terms to address this. So any new contracts will require a signed purchase order that includes the following terms:

• Agreed milestones with agreed dates
• Agreed response times from clients with milestone deadlines only valid from our end if these are met
• Detailed list of what will be provided by us
• Detailed list of what we require from the client (e.g. images, logos, content, etc.)
• Payment of 50% of the agreed fee plus VAT upfront
• For larger projects there may be a further 25% of payment upon completion of a specific milestone
• Final full settlement within 28 days of completion
• Financial penalties if final payment is late

Why have we set all this up? 

Well we have clients who have agreed work that has only started a year after agreement as they "get their stuff together" or similar. I doubt this will happen very often when people have paid in advance. We also have clients who we have to chase many times to get the due payment.

It is likely that we can schedule work more accurately when clients have signed up to a schedule AND paid in advance. I spend a lot of time chasing up clients for the elements they are providing us with, the plan is that that time will be greatly reduced and project throughput will increase significantly which will allow more time for me to generate more work and increase turnover. Time will tell!

More Rugby

I'm pretty much having this weekend off except for this blog and a short piece on using social media for business that I will write tomorrow for NBSL.

So it's a short blog this week as I recharge the batteries via the power of beer, wine and rugby.

Last week saw a number of meetings with existing, new and potential clients and the work continues to come in apace which is great. We're very hopeful of some fairly big contracts coming in the next couple of weeks also - hope I'm not tempting fate there.

We also went to the opening night of the new exhibition in the Palace Hub Gallery, more great artwork from local creatives on show. It will be a travesty if it's not kept open come the new financial year.

Right off to watch Ireland v Wales, then off to Saltburn, Hoegaarden in hand, to watch the days main event followed by a few beers. Tomorrow is Boro Colts v Ponteland with our team captained by Matt (proud dad moment there) and I'm sure Jane will let me stay for a few beers and to watch the France v Italy game at teh club.

6 Nations Opening Weekend

Working (and blogging) this morning but today is the start of this year's 6 Nations Rugby which is a big annual event in our household - OK I have to admit that Jane doesn't concur with that. So this afternoon is out watching Matt prop for Middlesbrough Colts followed by France v England on TV. Difficult decision, stay at the rugby club or dash home and watch it? One could get a bit messy alcohol-wise and the other will be more sensible. Matt's already opted for the rugby club but I'm tilting towards home but depends on who is at rugby and my distinct lack of willpower.

So a much more relaxed weekend than of late even though we're very busy. It's been a manic week and next week looks no different. Really happy with that but I've taken a conscious decision to timetable in downtime at weekends as I haven't been doing that and 7 days a week is not good for your health.

So what's been going on at Tad Towers? Well the view from our office is as stunning as ever and we've had a good few visitors this week to talk about potential and existing projects including a knitting shop, a new food distribution business, a kitchen supplier, Ross Golightly from Sphera Consulting who is providing us with some business support funded by the Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council Creative Industries Project (many thanks for this) and a representative from Cleveland Police (it wasn't me!).

Can't say much about plans with most of those who are clients/potential clients but we have signed a contract with the Police and Crime Commissioner and that project should now develop very quickly and we are very hopeful for the funding coming through to develop a mobile app as part of the project. It's a really worthwhile project that so far has actually cost us money but has the potential to generate income by developing the app and may become BIG if everything falls into place. Regardless of anything it's been a good experience working with a public sector body - and seeing how slow that process is compared to the private sector! - and the police officers we've worked alongside have been really good people with some great ideas (I know my old comrades won't be happy with that statement as well!).

Ross Golightly has been great even after a short meeting asking about some of our business systems, I already know there's lots to be done that will improve lead generation, sales generation, cash flow and more. It's scary to find out how little you know when you want to grow your business to the next level! We're meeting a again in a few weeks for a longer session, I'm looking forward to it but with some trepidation as I know there'll be a lot to do to improve and grow, but that makes it exciting as well.

... and in other news, it was great to meet up yesterday with David of i2i Business Solutions and Martin of World Sight Media to move our joint project forward, another exciting development. In fact one of several really interesting projects some of which are underway and others are just potential at the moment. I feel we're starting to really move towards the place I aim to be in year 4 (we're in year 3) which is business with a turnover well into 6-figures and making a 4-figure profit every month. Maybe I can start paying myself a living wage soon, ha ha.