1. I would go with a name that doesn't screen 'Freelancers!' or 'scattered all over the place, panic!'. More like a normal company name. This will sound more professional and comfortable to the clients. Or at least, that's my take on it.
2. We need to have people (on staff) that know their way around the legal mumbo-jumbo. For client contracts, freelancer contracts, who's to blame when things go wrong, etc.
3. Local offices
3.1. Are offices necessary?
3.1.1. I would recommend to go with a one-office concept, where each freelancer is free to have their own offices, but the group has one 'office' (I say 'office' because it does not necessarily have to be a physical office)
3.2. OK to include employees' former portfolios as part of the company's work? Would be able to attract clients better this way.
3.2.1. It's legally allowed, if clearly stated that the person has done the work, not the group. See my website for an example: deibu.net/portfolio
4. Proposals
4.1. Who secures work?
4.1.1. The Head office does, or more specifically, the Prospectors that are working full-time (?) for the head office.
5. Name
5.1. The Independent Collective - yeah Hernan!
5.2. Freelancers Unity (FU) - um wat
5.3. innovativegraphics.com / freelancercreative.com / freelanceragency.com / pioneerfreelance.com / studiofreelancer.com / freelancerearth.com / freelanceearth.com/ earthfreelancer.com /
5.4. freelancerarmy.com / freelancerlegion.com / freelancerrevolution.com / revfreelance.com
6. Payment
6.1. Invoiced through head office
7. Legal
8. Website
8.1. Typical portfolio, about page(s) and more. A blog to show what the group is doing (and show bits and pieces of it's advanced online system, for example) to show off how good we are :)
8.1.1. Consider adding each Freelancers' already existing portfolio entries (which clearly states who did what, obviously) to not start from scratch, which we technically don't do anyway.
8.2. Support (ticketing) for both clients, as-well as Freelancers.
8.3. Forum-like platform for the Freelancers to discuss, talk, meet and befriend one another.
8.4. Sign-up system (Which only opens at certain times) for potential new freelance members.
9. Prospecting — An X amount of prospectors getting out there (be it virtual or physical) to get new clients.
10. Head office
10.1. What exactly is it?
10.1.1. The head office should be seen as the place where all the magic happens. In here the following should be done.
10.1.1.1. Note that wether or not there is a physical office, not everything listed below has to be present in this exact building.
10.1.2. Legal — Taking care of contracts, legal research, etc.
10.1.3. Personnel (proposed)
10.1.3.1. CEO:
10.1.3.2. VP, Domestic Marketing: Glen German
10.1.3.3. VP, Recruiting:
10.1.3.4. VP, Sales:
10.1.4. Support — An X amount of people in charge of answering the phone and possibly answer questions asked via the website (by freelancers, and possibly clients)
10.1.4.1. (preferably 24h a day, as we're talking about an international client-base with multiple timezones)
10.1.5. Accounting — Get payments from client, make payments to Freelancers, etc.
10.1.5.1. As an added bonus for freelancers, the group can take care of their legal affairs and make sure all paperwork (at least related to work done for/via the group) is in order.
10.1.6. Human Resources — Basically for everything related to the entire (freelance) team.
11. HR
11.1. Who knows how to train?
11.1.1. @samedelstein works for a training consulting firm...not a complete expert but have knowledge and could help
11.1.2. Train who? Train what?
11.2. Who is an acceptable employee?
11.2.1. Several interviews should make clear if a person is appropriate to join the group. We should possibly create a list with 'points of interest' or the like, but mostly it'll be based on the interviewer's gut feeling, the freelancers' attitude, portfolio and possibly recommendations from already-members.
11.3. Who knows how to hire?
12. Locations
12.1. Minneapolis
12.1.1. Tyler Hayes (@thetylerhayes)
12.1.2. Ryan Scherf (@ryanscherf)
12.2. Dallas
12.2.1. Alyssa Meadows (@alydesigns)
12.3. Las Vegas
12.3.1. Hernan Valencia (@theconstruct)
12.4. Seattle
12.4.1. Glen German (@Shadowpeak)
12.5. Memphis
12.5.1. Greg Dunn (@unseenthings)
12.6. Washington DC
12.6.1. Sam Edelstein (@samedelstein)
12.7. Seoul, South Korea
12.7.1. Dave Jansen (@hellodeibu)
12.7.1.1. (Additionally, I knew a few people from The Netherlands that might be interested in this)