Value · Your starting point · lesson 0.2 open
The four entry channels
Direct, partner consulting, staffing, and marketplace—what each pays, requires, and costs in liberty.
Promise: you choose a target channel and know why you ruled out the other three.
Why it matters
Two people with the same resume receive very different rates depending on the channel through which they reach the client. The channel defines rate, stability, and how many links sit between you and the money.
The four
| Channel | How it works | Rate that reaches you | Speed | Main risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. Direct | You contract with the company that uses your work (PJ [a Brazilian company registered by an individual contractor] ↔ company) | highest | slow, relies on network | client has no process to contract a foreign PJ |
| B. Partner consulting | Data consultancy (many are Databricks/Snowflake partners) subcontracts you | medium-high | medium | you become a "resource" for the consultancy; non-circumvention clauses |
| C. Staffing / nearshore | Agency places you with a client and keeps the margin | medium-low | fast | many links, turnover, little negotiating power |
| D. Marketplace / platform | Platform brokers contracting and payment | varies widely | fast | price competition, platform rules |
The ranges depend on data you will collect in module 3. The order above (from "highest" to "lowest") is the trend described in public market sources, not a law.
How to choose
Ask yourself, in this order:
- How soon do I need income? If it is less than 60 days, C and D are more realistic; A and B require a network.
- Do I have people who have seen my work? If so, A and B open through referrals (module 4).
- How much control over rate and scope do I want? More control = fewer links.
Fill out the table above with 1 to 5 across four columns: rate, speed, liberty, risk. Sum them up and choose one primary channel and one backup. Write in two lines why you ruled out the others.
Common mistakes
- Applying to all channels at the same time, without a tailored message for each.
- Accepting a C channel out of urgency and staying in it out of inertia.
- Assuming "direct" is always better: without a network and without a process on the client side, it never closes.
Checklist
- Do I have a primary channel and a backup channel?
- Can I state the risk I accepted by choosing?
Checked on 05/10/2026. Educational content; tax and legal: confirm with a professional.