# 4: Are We Not Lawyers?

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2013-06-06
- Length: 1h 13m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-06-06-4-are-we-not-lawyers
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/mes-ep4-mp3

## Summary

Elecia White and Chris White, founders of Logical Elegance, discuss the realities of transitioning from full-time employment to independent consulting. They cover the distinction between contracting and consulting, the importance of networking and reputation in finding clients, and the financial mechanics of setting hourly rates to account for taxes, insurance, and downtime. The episode also details practical advice on contract negotiation, managing client relationships, and protecting work through backups and virtualization.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-06-06-4-are-we-not-lawyers#t=6) Introduction: Contracting vs. Consulting
- [4:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-06-06-4-are-we-not-lawyers#t=266) Motivations for Leaving Full-Time Employment
- [18:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-06-06-4-are-we-not-lawyers#t=1123) Who Should and Should Not Be a Contractor
- [22:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-06-06-4-are-we-not-lawyers#t=1328) Payment Risks and Contract Safeguards
- [55:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-06-06-4-are-we-not-lawyers#t=3333) Rate Calculation and Pricing Strategy
- [1:08:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-06-06-4-are-we-not-lawyers#t=4109) Technical Setup: Backups and Virtualization

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Logical Elegance (company)
- SCORE (company)
- CrashPlan (tool)
- Backblaze (tool)
- Arduino (product)
- Cisco (company)
- HP (company)

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- [Scott Tarcy | The 4-Hour Workweek Mechanical Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-04-08-scott-tarcy-the-4-hour-workweek-mechanical-engineer) (Being an Engineer)
- [009: NDAs, Contracts, Insurance & Other Legal Tips with Gordon Firemark of Entertainment Law Update](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-05-31-009-ndas-contracts-insurance-other-legal-tips-with-gordon-firemark-of-entertainm) (Product Startup)
- [Making It #006 : How do I quit my job, and do what you do?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-01-02-making-it-006-how-do-i-quit-my-job-and-do-what-you-do) (Making It)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-06-06-4-are-we-not-lawyers. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.