Dev Tools · 2h ago
18 Years of Small-Business Web Dev: Lessons in Trust and Scoping
A developer with 18 years of experience shares insights from 235+ small projects for small businesses, contrasting with startup work. Key lessons include front-loading visible wins, interpreting client requests beyond literal design briefs, and prioritizing consistency over innovation. The most impactful practice is a pre-call filter to reject mismatched projects, improving margins more than pricing changes.
Meridian48 take
This piece offers practical, contrarian advice for freelancers, but its lessons are niche and won't resonate beyond the web dev community.
Read the full reporting
What "18 years in web dev" actually means when your clients are small businesses, not startups →
DEV Community
freelance-web-devsmall-business-clients