profit sharing? how to?
Out of context: Reply #5
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maybe i didnt make my point clear with all my writing. i am not talking about doing spec work with the hope that some paid work will come later. in fact, that almost never pans out, and is obviously not a smart thing to do. though, anxious designer types do it all the time, it seems, and sadly i think that degrades the value of what we do as an industry (and, why so many "clients" think they can get away with asking for free work) . though, i do understand the need to build up a portfolio when you don't have one. anyway...
also, to be more specific about my immediate case, one is a website with some profit enablers in place (that can be clearly tracked), and another is for some apps for everyone's favorite touch screen phone (again, clearly a case where sales are counted). and, in both cases, i am the first person asked. and, they are a company of 1 (well, one of them does have a full time employee). this is not some "seen on tv" type product idea, nor is it the "next big thing" - they are just good ideas that have potential to work, and obviously i am willing to share the risk by inputing my time and effort (and, leverage to get less resistance to my aesthetic quirks :-) - but, if i am willing to share risk by giving my time, i should certainly be able to share the profit when it comes.
i know it is rare to get a monetary return on a freebie project - otherwise, they wouldn't be free. what i want to know is how to setup terms to avoid the status of "free" work. i figured in this economy and age, people still need stuff done, and quality design is more important as people are spending less. now perhaps it makes sense to establish some real means to make this type of work viable. i am hoping someone is already on the path to finding a way and can share some points, or even contract advice.
and, to be clear, the pic references really have nothing to do with this. my potential clients are not scheisters. i was burned once, and i aim not to have that happen again. but, visual input is certainly welcome!