I can't tell you how many calls and emails we receive each week that go something like this:

I'm a client without a lot of technical skills, and I have a Joomla site. Can you help me because:

1. My site is still under construction but my Joomla developer is nowhere to be found, won't return calls or emails, and I don't know what to do.
2. My site was built and launched, but no one ever showed me how to use the site and make my own updates, which is why I wanted Joomla in the first place.
3. My site was built and launched, and I don't know how to do X and I can't get my Joomla developer to help.
4. My site was built and launched, but now I want some more stuff added to the site, and my Joomla developer is gone.

C'mon developers, what's WITH you???

I used to joke that my freelance business was successful because I return phone calls and emails.  Now that I'm fortunate enough to run a great business with Bill and Sam, we all have the same philosophy of returning calls and emails -- and we have lots of business.

Joomla is great for getting rid of those little emails from clients who want this misspelling changed, or that text changed, or a new image added, or a calendar date added, or a poll posted, or new photos in the photo gallery...  etc, etc, etc.

But as developers, we have a responsibility to either help our clients when they need it, or pass them along to someone who can help them.  There's no middle ground on this.  Leaving clients to flail along not only makes you look really bad, it also makes all of us who work with Joomla look bad.

We strongly suggest you fold in training as part of the pricing when building the website. It's going to have to be done.  And don't just spend 45 minutes on the phone with the client going click, click, click.  Put together a training manual, so they can look things up when they have problems or issues. You can charge more, and your client won't bother you with questions all the time.

You also need to stay on top of upgrades with your clients. If a new dot release of Joomla comes out, that update needs to happen so your client's site stays as secure as possible.  Figure out how to make this happen.  Some people fold in free upgrades for a year into the cost of building the website, then charge something annually afterwards. Others fold it into hosting costs. Others charge by the hour for each upgrade.  You need to educate your client that these upgrades are part of owning a website, and they're not optional.  It's a cost of doing business.

Network with fellow Joomla developers. Find your local Joomla User Group, or get one started. Or just meet with the 3 or 4 people you know are using Joomla for breakfast or lunch once a month and find out what they're doing. Having these people in place is vital. If you're busy, you can pass work to them. And they can pass work to you when they're busy.

Please don't make us set up a new business called Joomla911, in which our whole business model is bailing out clients whose Joomla developers have ditched them.  There's plenty of work out there!!!