The D365 independent’s field guide

Thinking of going independent?
Read this first.

Becoming your own boss can change your life. But it isn’t for everyone — there are real risks and real rewards. This guide is here to help you decide, honestly, before you leap.

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Written by Ryan Carolan – founder of D365contractors.com and Bond Patrick

A note from Ryan

The fact you’re even reading this makes me excited for you. In January 2021, going independent changed my life.

In January 2021 I left a salaried job and started Bond Patrick, my D365 recruitment agency. That was my version of going independent — same risks, same rewards, just in recruiting rather than consulting. I launched D365contractors.com at the end of 2025, built for the community I’d spent four years meeting along the way.

After interviewing hundreds of D365 independent contractors worldwide, it’s been amazing to watch people create the life they want. But the decision to go independent is a daunting one. There are challenges, and there are risks — things worth weighing before you make the right choice for you.

This guide was written to help you decide.

What’s inside

Eight things to weigh up before you leap.

01Why bother?Get clear on the reason. It’ll carry you through the wobble.
02Cash is kingGoodbye regular paycheck. Hello cash-flow discipline.
03You’re now in salesNo projects, no pay. Time to hunt for opportunity.
04Outcomes, outcomesYou’re hired for results — not for being liked.
05Know your customerDirect, partners, recruiters — pick your blend.
06The adminLLCs, MSAs, timesheets, taxes. Not fun, but it pays.
07Find a mentorLearn from someone who’s actually done it. Successfully.
08DecideNothing is final. You can always go back.

01 / Why bother?

Get clear on your why.

What do you want to change? How will it impact your life? I won’t go all Simon Sinek on you — but he has a point. Whatever your reason is, it’ll be unique to you.

So write it down. Get clear on it. Obsess over it. Because at some point, fear and excuses will creep in and try to sabotage your plans. Your why is what pushes you through those moments.

Maybe you want to…

  • Maximize your earning potential
  • Spend more time with your young family
  • Escape a boss who’s a d**k (maybe not the best reason…)
  • Travel less — or travel on your own terms
  • Choose the customers you work with
  • Take half the year off, every year

02 / Cash flow

Cash is king.

The biggest change in your new life is cash flow. You’re agreeing to say goodbye to the regular paycheck — and that scares the hell out of most people. Understandably, if you’ve a family relying on you or a mortgage to pay. The mortgage company will arrive every month. The fear is real.

Plan for the worst

The standard advice for anyone starting a business.

  • Stash 6 months of living expenses in the bank
  • And try to keep it there — don’t spend everything you earn
  • Don’t forget the tax bills — and know exactly when they’re due

Once you have paying customers

You’ll bill hourly or daily, depending where you are in the world.

  • Send invoices on time
  • Set payment terms that work for you
  • Always know if and when a payment is late

!

The truth: customers don’t always pay on time, and it can be a fight. AP departments, red tape and process at larger companies cause delays — be ready for them. Or work through an agency that pays you on a fixed schedule regardless of what the end client’s AP team is doing — that’s exactly why I set payment terms up the way I did at Bond Patrick.

03 / Finding work

You’re now in sales.

The second biggest impact on your world: you are responsible for finding customers. No projects means no pay — and nobody else is coming to save you. So you network. You become a hunter of opportunity. Like it or not, you’re a salesperson now.

If that makes you uncomfortable, upskill in sales — a post for another day. Staying in touch with a network at scale is tough. But boy, is it worth it. You want your name to be the first on their mind when the time is right.

Start with warm leads

Before you ever cold-call, ask:

  • Who have you worked with in the past?
  • Are any of them now in positions of power?
  • Which specialist recruiters do you know?

Speak to them. All of them. Be curious. Let them know your new direction — and remind them of the outcomes you can deliver.

04 / Outcomes, outcomes, outcomes

People don’t hire people because they like them. You get hired because of the outcomes you deliver.

If you happen to be likeable and easy to work with too — you’re onto something. But focus on the business outcomes of your efforts. Technology only exists to serve the business.

What were the biggest impacts on the business thanks to my work?

Which department was happiest with what I delivered for them?

What tangible efficiencies, metrics or results can I talk about?

For example —

01

Migrated 75 new retail stores onto D365 within 6 months.

02

Shortened the financial month-end cycle by 10 days.

03

Automated thousands of sales orders across 18 e-commerce channels.

05 / Know your customer

Know your customer.

You’ll have two main types of customer, each with their own pros and cons. There’s no right or wrong path — and you can absolutely blend both.

Type A

Direct with end-users

The preferred project for many experienced contractors I speak to.

  • Better rates (usually)
  • Closer to the problems — more enjoyable
  • Less red tape between you and the work
  • Projects will (probably) come to an end
  • Harder to find — greenfield, enterprise projects you must source yourself
  • Higher expectations, less patience — they’ve usually felt the pain already
Type B

Subcontract via partners

Working through Microsoft partners and vendors as part of their team.

  • Higher potential for a steady stream of projects
  • Part of the consulting team, not a lone wolf
  • You don’t have to do as much “sales”
  • Lower rates (usually)
  • You might have a “manager” — closer to being an employee
  • May have to present yourself as their employee to the client

Curveball to consider

A third type of customer: good recruiters.

I know a D365 Project Manager who has delivered 38 F&O projects — every single one through a recruiter. It’s worth networking with the best recruiters in your space, so you’re the first person they call when a requirement comes in.

06 / The admin

Then there’s the admin.

There will be more admin. Admin isn’t fun. But it’s important — and most of it you only have to set up once.

Outsource the painful stuff

A good accountant is essential — you’ll want help navigating life as a business owner. And a partner or spouse who can provide health insurance is a blessing, especially in the US.

  • Set up your own business / LLC
  • Get contracts & MSAs in place
  • Submit timesheets — and get them approved
  • Send invoices — and get them paid
  • File, plan for and pay your taxes
  • Set up health insurance
  • Organize your 401k / pension
  • Keep your filing in order, all year round

07 / Find a mentor

Find a mentor.

Whenever I do something big in my life, I look for someone who’s already done it. Successfully. That last word really matters.

There are so many gurus today handing out shoddy advice on things they’ve never actually done. Avoid these people. You want someone happy to share their real experiences — they can give you insight like nobody else, and help you decide: do I actually want to do this?

PS

Want help finding a good mentor in the D365 space? I know a TON of wise folk who’d be happy to help.

08 / Decide

At some point, it’s time to decide.

You’re smart — you’ll know which path is right for you. And remember this: nothing is final. You can always go back to the safety of being employed. Microsoft Partners will always struggle to find D365 talent. As long as Microsoft keeps selling D365 like hotcakes, you’re gonna be alright.

Talk to Ryan
See roles at Bond Patrick

D365contractors.com
Considering Contracting — a field guide for D365 independents. Written by Ryan, founder of D365contractors.com & Bond Patrick.