Adyus, yes there is such a method that is scalable. I've implemented it for my business and for clients of mine. It's called Automated Email, and I lay out the step-by-step process for a basic campaign @ http://42insights.com/automated-email/.
Essentially, you identify the types of clients you work best with, create a process for finding them online, finding the right contact people at the company, finding their contact information, then reach out to them via email. It's scalable because you can hire someone on oDesk to follow the process you create. All you have to do then is set up a call with the incoming leads. Happy to answer any questions you have.
RailsCasts is great for individual features, but I guess I'm looking for direction on whole projects I could do that were at a good intermediate but not advanced level.
Good point. The first step should always be to implement the process. Automating it from the get go can result in more effort than it's worth, when you decide to change and iterate on the process as you move forward.
To anyone outside the US, you can easily add a second US address (or any other country) to your kindle account.
Go to Your Account > Manage Your Kindle (in the Digital Content section) > Country Settings > Enter any US address and click update
You will now have US pricing. You can go ahead and add different addresses in other countries and you can simply switch between them to take advantage of different pricing, because Amazon remembers your previous addresses. The country you have selected has no effect at all on being able to download the book, you can still download from anywhere.
I am an Australian now living in Canada, but in my Australian business I always "employ" people as a contractor, which simplifies things a lot. You do not have to pay superannuation, although I still pay workplace health and safety, but that's only a few hundred dollars. All the contractor has to do is register an ABN (free and can be done online) and send you monthly invoices.
Also be aware that in Australia people usually pay for their own health insurance if they want private health insurance.
Just be careful to set things up so it looks like your contractor is really a contractor. Even if you have a contract agreement the tax office will declare him to be an employee if that's what he looks like to them (paid like an employee, works full time, you're his only client etc).
What steps do you take to make it look like they are a contractor? Also, would you recommend having a lawyer draft the contract agreement, or is adapting a template good enough?
Just think to yourself, what would make them look like a freelancer/consultant/contractor. For example, they work from their own location (obviously the case in your situation), have their own pty ltd company, if they have other clients, they do marketing/advertising, they use their own equipment (even if you reimburse them, which is normal for consultants), don't pay benefits or superannuation etc. Obviously not all of these are feasible but the more the better. Most of these things have to be done by the contractor.
I think you will be fine, it certainly seems reasonable to contract with a local consultant rather than hire someone. I am definitely not an expert. Yes I would recommend some advice from a lawyer. I can give you the details of my Australian lawyer if you like, they are used to working with startups.
