Costs of running a macOS app studio business

Re:Costs of running a macOS app studio business by novok on Sunday December 24, 2023 @05:56PM (#38757850)

Have you tried the indie software thing like this guy? How has that been going? I feel like I have enough saved now that even if I can't get corporate work anymore due to age (which I kind of doubt due to the age of people I've worked with in FANG, and the fact I'm already pretty much a manager of managers, which tends to run older) that I would be pretty happy doing the indie thing too.

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Re:Costs of running a macOS app studio business by ChrisMarshallNY on Sunday December 24, 2023 @06:00PM (#38757874)

I'm working on apps for nonprofits that can't afford people of my caliber. I don't charge for my work, but take it every bit as seriously, as if I were. It's actually part of the satisfaction that I get from the work.

Keeps me busy and up-to-date, and is extremely gratifying.

I'm getting ready to release an app that is a top-to-bottom system, involving a couple of servers that I wrote, along with a fairly robust native iOS frontend.

Works a charm. I've enjoyed it. Of course, I have to keep my scope humble, but I've always been able to punch above my weight, so it's working out.

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Re:Costs of running a macOS app studio business by fragmede on Sunday December 24, 2023 @06:51PM (#38758202)

Do you invoice them anyway and zero out your fee, or just do the work for free and don't invoice them?

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Re:Costs of running a macOS app studio business by ChrisMarshallNY on Sunday December 24, 2023 @06:59PM (#38758246)

I don't invoice them. The outfit is really small. I am an officer of the 501(c)(3), though.

I've found that most non-tech folks don't have any idea how much it costs to have real talent working for them (or even crap talent). I don't feel like arguing about it. I can't declare it, so it's not worth the agita.

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Re:Costs of running a macOS app studio business by FireBeyond on Sunday December 24, 2023 @08:07PM (#38758633)

I had an org in NYC offer me a Director of Product role ... for $90K.

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Re:Costs of running a macOS app studio business by groby_b on Sunday December 24, 2023 @06:16PM (#38757988)

FWIW: For your non-profit work, I'd recommend charging full price as donation if your tax jurisdiction allows this.

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Re:Costs of running a macOS app studio business by ChrisMarshallNY on Sunday December 24, 2023 @06:40PM (#38758128)

Sadly, it does not. We're not allowed to declare "sweat equity."

If I was able to declare it, I'd never pay a dime in taxes.

I have heard that Steve Kamen, who wrote the "I Love New York" jingle, gave full rights to the state, and never has to pay state taxes. I haven't found anything that corroborates this, but it could very well be true.

The work I do, is for a demographic that tends to be ignored. I doubt there's any tax breaks, headed my way.

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Re:Costs of running a macOS app studio business by jahewson on Wednesday December 27, 2023 @02:01AM (#38779741)

You might be able to donate the copyright. That’s worth basically as much as the labor.

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