Part time self employed CAD consultant as a second job?

[Kozy]

I need to earn more money in order to pay for an impending wedding, and after that to save towards a house deposit. Being an experienced CAD operator using Pro/Engineer, I am considering my options of starting a 'second job' as a part time, self employed evening consultant whilst remaining in my current 9-5 position.

Is this a realistic idea?
Is it likely to cause issues with my current employer? (Is it considered moonlighting?)
How would I go about setting this up?

[GadgeS3C]

Obvious question - whose hardware/software are you planning to use? It's been a few years since I bought a couple of Pro/E (Creo now?) but I suspect it's still a substantial investment.

[Eric Mc]

It could cause problems with your curent employer. What does your employment contract say about doing work for others?

[Kozy]

GadgeS3C said:

Obvious question - whose hardware/software are you planning to use? It's been a few years since I bought a couple of Pro/E (Creo now?) but I suspect it's still a substantial investment.

Theory says I don't need a copy, as a consultant I am merely offering advice on using the software?

Yes I can see this idea falling apart quickly...

[Kozy]

Eric Mc said:

It could cause problems with your curent employer. What does your employment contract say about doing work for others?

I have a confidentiality agreement with the client for which I contract to, that's it.

[GadgeS3C]

Kozy said:

Theory says I don't need a copy, as a consultant I am merely offering advice on using the software?

Yes I can see this idea falling apart quickly...

Aha - sorry I presumed you were going to do actual CAD work.

Suspect it will be a lot harder finding work to offer advice rather than actually doing contract CAD work.

[shirt]

what service would you be offering? how would this be sufficiently different from the sales support by the software agent and why would it be so good i'd be willing for you to do your bit out of hours?

[Eric Mc]

Kozy said:

Eric Mc said:

It could cause problems with your curent employer. What does your employment contract say about doing work for others?

I have a confidentiality agreement with the client for which I contract to, that's it.

So your employer never asked you to sign an Employment Contract?

[Kozy]

Eric Mc said:

So your employer never asked you to sign an Employment Contract?

There's no stipulation about me working elsewhere is what I meant.

GadgeS3C said:

Aha - sorry I presumed you were going to do actual CAD work.

Suspect it will be a lot harder finding work to offer advice rather than actually doing contract CAD work.

Yes I guess opportunities would be limited without being able to legally do CAD work...

shirt said:

what service would you be offering? how would this be sufficiently different from the sales support by the software agent and why would it be so good i'd be willing for you to do your bit out of hours?

Because the support agent I use at work has not been any help for anything other than taking our money. Phoned them several times for support and got no answers, ending up solving the problems myself and telling them the solution.

[shirt]

your employer bought poorly/cheaply in that case. also if there was an alternative to the agent's service i'd want the problem solving during office hours and ASAP.

[Kozy]

Yes you're right. Best option is to set up with a copy of the software and go from there. Unfortuntely current prices are around £4000 for the basic version, which is about half the amount of money I am trying to raise!

I think this idea is dead on it's feet.

[Eric Mc]

Well, if your employer has not stipulated that you cannot do work on your own behalf outside of office hours, I cannot see there being any objections from that department.

[The Beaver King]

I suppose this all really comes down to how 'above board' you want to make this...?

I know that a few of the CAD Engineers at our place do some out-of-hours work through their own small, self employed companies. It isn't mentioned to the company and management turn a blind eye as long as it doesn't affect their real job.

I'm not sure how they fund their Autodesk licenses, but it wouldn't surprise me if one or two of them had 'hookey' copies...

Up to you I guess.

[Kozy]

The Beaver King said:

I know that a few of the CAD Engineers at our place do some out-of-hours work through their own small, self employed companies. It isn't mentioned to the company and management turn a blind eye as long as it doesn't affect their real job.

I'm not sure how they fund their Autodesk licenses, but it wouldn't surprise me if one or two of them had 'hookey' copies...

Yes that was my initial idea, I've done some personal projects on an acquired copy, but I guess doing paid work for third parties is really another matter entirely.

[The Beaver King]

Kozy said:

Yes that was my initial idea, I've done some personal projects on an acquired copy, but I guess doing paid work for third parties is really another matter entirely.

I'm not sure of the legality of the licenses for Autodesk products. Apart from the fact your employer may get pissed off if he finds out you are using a tool that they have paid for, I'm not sure if Autodesk insist that license is only used by the company that have bought it.

It's all about the risk that you are willing to take.

You can either do things completely straight and buy your own copy or use a trial copy in the short-term, set yourself up as part-time self-employeed, pay tax on a second job and let your employer know you will be working part-time for yourself....

or you can go rogue, get a dodgy copy, cash in hand and keep it quiet.

Or a mixture of the above...

My advice would be to get a cheap copy or trial to do the work and let the tax man know. Telling your employer is up to you...

[Kozy]

I'm a risk taker in a lot of things but I'm unsure as to how to weight this sort of thing.

YHEM.

[The Beaver King]

Kozy said:

I'm a risk taker in a lot of things but I'm unsure as to how to weight this sort of thing.

YHEM.

Never risk it with the tax man...

YHM back

[Odie]

There is a website that you can get CAD work from, I will see if I can find a link for you.

People send you scans, fax's and you draw them up for an agreed price.

As people have said you need to be careful of that tax man.

[Kozy]

Odie said:

There is a website that you can get CAD work from, I will see if I can find a link for you.

People send you scans, fax's and you draw them up for an agreed price.

As people have said you need to be careful of that tax man.

That sounds like exactly what I am looking for!