Signal vs. Noise has a great tip on getting the budget out of a client when beginning a new web project. It’s always nice to know a ballpark figure before you begin to put together your budgets, so that you don’t waste too much time on a client who has an unrealistically low budget for the job he needs done.
The guys at 37 signals are experts at all issues surrounding the intersection of programming and business, by the way. For most web developers and other tech professionals who are thinking about going out on their own, the biggest stumbling block is probably dealing with clients, so putting 37 signals into your RSS reader would be a great way to keep abreast of issues that you will encounter if you make the leap and start your own business.
