Freelance exit strategy

Hi everyone,

Just got a couple of queries about starting out in web design that I was hoping someone might be able to help with. I'm a student at University and have been unable to find summer work so the only avenue I have left to go down is trying to make some money out of my coding skills - done a few sites for friends and charities before but never charged. If I'm just going to do this part time (one year left of masters and won't be doing this after), then I don't want a long term commitment to any clients, so my question is really about an exit strategy.

* For basic websites for small companies, probably going to charge say £150 for 5 pages, is reseller hosting the way to go for me? How many sites do you need to have running for reseller hosting to start being profitable?
* I will try use content management systems where possible, but I'm guessing clients will most often need to get in touch with me for changes. If after I finish Uni and start a job I need to cut these ties, how would you do that? Just contact all clients explaining I've stopped business?
* Should I instead just advise the company where to register and host their domain & help them with that so I don't take any sort of monthly payments myself and it would be easier to cease trading?

Would appreciate any help, thanks!

Personally, I have an affiliate account with JustHost.com and they will give you $60 per referral. This is a great way to go and you aren't tied in with having to handle any kind of hosting or reselling plans. They handle it all for you. I know Godaddy does this as well. As far as that goes, it would be my suggestion.

As for continuing updates, you should have a contract written up for your clients before you start really doing business. This goes for anyone, not just people who need an exit strategy. If you write up the contract to state that once the site is complete, you don't HAVE to answer questions, this will help. Of course you can always leave that open ended and renegotiate for monthly services any time. Just make sure your contract states clearly that it is open ended and you aren't committing to anything long term.

And of course, as a pleasant gesture, you can inform your previous customers before you disappear from the industry. Just give them a heads up before they call you needing help. This will just help them know that when and if they DO need assistance, they need to find a new developer to assist them.

I think with these three things, you should be all set. You'll be protecting yourself, making money with affiliates that doesn't lock you in, and giving your customers the professional courtesy they (probably) deserve.

Hope this helps.

I've know people that have just walked away and it wasn't pretty for their clients, especially since there was no notice at all...

Agreed that a contract with anyone should be your best course, for you and the client. All my contracts have an exit clause ( not named that )... but the stipulation allows me to inform the 60 days prior to ending service of their account ( I have only exercised that option 1 time in 13 years of doing this )... but it's there...

When a new client ask's ( what if you decide to get out of this business, what am I going to do ? ) of course my stock answer is "I'm not going anywhere", but if something were to happen to keep me from working with you, I would be glad to refer you to several other designers that I know will take care of you... Done...

Since you know that you're not in this for the long term, you really don't need to stress that or even advertise it, but in your dealings with them, you should always be trying to educate them, help them manage as much as possible by themselves. When the time comes, you could pass them off to someone you know can keep them happy, or let them find someone they can work with...

I have clients that want to "stay in control" of as much as possible, I set them up an account on my re-seller system, setup their own account, hosting, email, ftp, etc... then I teach them how to manage it themselves... They are completely in control of everything... and I get paid consulting fees for teaching them how to manage their own stuff... most of these clients are pretty much "hands off", once I get them setup... as my re-seller account has phone support that I don't have to answer...