Member Avatar for ausrasul

Hi,
I'm starting a project (hardware and software), still in research and development phase.

The software is quite big and wide ( few thousands lines using C++ in network, database and I/O, and PHP/AJAX for the web interface).
besides some hardware (electronics) development.
50% of the project is finished now.

Now I really need someone to work with me on some software modules, but I can't pay salary because I'm just starting the business.
I was thinking of partners or something similar.

do you have an Idea how to get some one or some company to work with me to finish this project? do you think payment from profit is something reasonable?

Thanks for reading!

  • 4 Contributors
  • 5 Replies
  • 224 Views
  • 7 Months Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by ausrasul

Dani AI

Generated

Three practical paths when you can’t pay a salary: (1) bring someone on as a co‑founding partner (equity); (2) hire as a contractor on clear, milestone‑based terms (deferred or part cash + part equity); or (3) offer a formal revenue/profit‑share. All can work, but they have very different legal and trust requirements — equity aligns long‑term but needs vesting and role clarity; contractors give clearer IP boundaries if you use work‑for‑hire; profit‑share is the riskiest because it depends on future sales and good accounting.

Never rely on vague promises. Before inviting code contributions, prepare a short public project brief that lists the module boundaries, explicit deliverables, acceptance tests, timeline, and what you offer in return. Protect both sides with written agreements: a simple work‑for‑hire or contributor license agreement, NDAs only where needed, and vesting for any equity (so people earn ownership over time). Consult a lawyer for any equity or profit‑sharing arrangement — those are legal contracts, not informal understandings.

Where to find help and how to vet it: target people who already show relevant work (open‑source contributors, GitHub projects, local meetups, university projects, or vetted freelancers). Use a small paid trial task or a short milestone to validate skills and fit before committing to long arrangements. Ask for code samples, references, and a short technical plan for the module they’ll own.

Make integration easy: split the app into well‑defined modules, publish a repo with build instructions, add a CONTRIBUTING.md and an automated test or two so contributors can prove they didn’t break anything. Be transparent with potential helpers — that reduces hostile reactions like ’s and makes the offer believable. Thanks to for offering contact; respond with the brief above rather than full IP by email. If nothing else works, shrink the scope to an MVP you can finish or fund quickly so you can hire traditionally.

Recommended Answers

All 5 Replies

Member Avatar for deepsundar

please send ur detailed proposal at my mail [email snipped]

Edited by Ezzaral because: Snipped email. Please keep it on site.
Member Avatar for jwenting

so you're another freeloader who wants someone to do your work for you for free so you can then sell it?
Get lost.

A few thousand lines of code is nothing, certainly not something anyone is going to pay money for.

Member Avatar for sloan31

so you're another freeloader who wants someone to do your work for you for free so you can then sell it?
Get lost.

A few thousand lines of code is nothing, certainly not something anyone is going to pay money for.

Doesn't sound like that's what he's asking for. I see no reason to be a jackass about it.

Member Avatar for jwenting

yes it is. Hijacks a thread and asks for us to email him business proposals.
Exactly what the OP also wanted.

Neither wants to do actual work, they want to "get rich working from home sending email".

Member Avatar for ausrasul

I'm not asking for some one to do the work for me.

you know focusing on hardware developement, web developemnet and software in the same time and trying to get quality product by yourself, it is just not reasonable, not in short time at least.

Distributing the work as hardware, web and software, that was the idea.
It happened that I don't have colleagues, friends in the business to join me.

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.