Freelance or Register a Company

By Mrigaen Kapadia on September 28, 2013 10 Comments / 3869 views

Hello Rodinhooders,

Extremely sorry if this has been asked before, but I really need some guidance here.

So, after 9 years I have finally decided to give up my Corporate job and take the plunge. In a months time I will have no use for my formals (at least in the day). I plan on starting something in the mobile app space. I have been tinkering around and developing Android apps and have a few products in mind which I want to launch. Initially I do not plan on hiring any employees, I will be doing the development myself and outsourcing a lot of it as well. I also do not plan on renting out any office space.

With such a setup do you suggest that I register my own company? Or should I continue as a freelancer? Are there any advantages of registering a company for me?

Thanks a lot for your time.

Comments

Mrigaen Kapadia

10 Comments

Alok Rodinhood Kejriwal September 29, 2013, 11:37 am

Please please please JUST START AS A FREELANCER.

when you start doing business of 5+ lacs a month, make it a proprietorship (its the same as free lancing but “U” just call yourself a “NAME” and get that name a bank account.

After you start billing 1+ crore, write to me – alok@rodinhood.com
Mrigaen Kapadia September 29, 2013, 2:39 pm

Thanks Alok. I see the sentiment there. Is there a reason why you suggest not registering a proprietorship?
Kunal Shah September 30, 2013, 1:33 pm

Hey Mrigaen,

Congrats on being ready to take the plunge!

I agree with Alok Sir here. Start as a freelancer and then move forward!

I have been freelancing for more than 5 years and its only now that I have decided to go in for formal registration. One of the problems I faced initially was that I work from home or on the client on site. As such I do not have an office setup. So the first thing I was told by the Bank was that I need a “Shop & Establishments License” (Gumasta License in local Mumbai terms)
Now when I went to procure the same from the BMC, I was disappointed by them as they said this cannot be given to an individual working from a residential setup. Would have got it had I been ready to grease some palms however I decided to wait and watch.

This proved to be a good decision as many companies that came up to me for work preferred working with a freelancer for online marketing (Social Media, Content Development, ORM, etc )rather than a company or a registered firm

Hope this helps

Cheers and All the Best

Kunal
Harshith Mallya September 30, 2013, 1:57 pm

Hi,I agree with Alok Sir and Kunal Shah.Freelancing is a better option!!

The problems you might face from not having an office can be compensated by joining a CoWorking space in your city on a temporary basis. CoWorking spaces can provide you a conference room(To meet clients),desk(to work) etc etc for a day,week or month etc.

Please read this,if you need any more info about the same: https://goo.gl/74IUiS

Hope this helps.

Cheers
Mrigaen Kapadia October 1, 2013, 7:26 pm

Thanks a lot Harshith, this makes a lot of sense. And great article too. Waiting for part 2.
Mrigaen Kapadia October 1, 2013, 7:28 pm

Thanks Kunal. This may just influence my decision to start off as a freelancer.

Btw, you mentioned online marketing. Do you do and online app marketing, I would be interested.
Kunal Shah October 2, 2013, 9:21 am

Hey Mrigaen,

I would love to help you for your online app promotions.

Here’s what I do for all the awesome TRHS people::https://www.therodinhoods.com/forum/topics/online-marketing-pay-as-you-feel-ishtyle

Interestingly, Am also looking an App Developer!

Let our powers combine!

Connect with me on kunal.shah@brinkpointcreative.com or +919892195915

Cheers!

Kunal
Darshan Bhambiru October 2, 2013, 3:44 pm

The Options to UPGRADE would be always there, Do what You Like and Like what you Do should be the best Strategy, so You are Happy You Decided on it!!

For Co working spaces and Co founder search in your Domain of specialization, scan through the rich content that we have for the various topics, here on TRHS (The Search with the appropriate keywords works just Fine 🙂 )

Freelance or Register a Company either ways if you have Questions or if You want to Network with a Bunch of Like Minded Entrepreneurs under one roof!!

Make sure you attend this Opportunity to Soak in from the Experts and have your Queries answered directly to your Satisfactions as well here !!

Welcome Aboard!! Cheers!!!
Mrigaen Kapadia October 2, 2013, 8:15 pm

Great. Thanks. I will call you over the weekend.
Mayank Chandan January 15, 2015, 3:43 pm

Alok Bhai I agree with what you said.

For moving forward, Don’t you think it’s good to have proprietary (company) name at least so that we can move on from freelancing sites and look on for more bigger client with whom you can be their strategical technology partner.

In my personal opinion (may be I would be wrong and I am still learning) marketing yourself as freelancer and marketing yourself as a Company owner does make a substantial difference at times.