Is this course really 100% online? Do I need to attend any classes in person?

This course is completely online, so there’s no need to show up to a classroom in person. You can access your lectures, readings and assignments anytime and anywhere via the web or your mobile device.

Can I just enroll in a single course?

Yes! To get started, click the course card that interests you and enroll. You can enroll and complete the course to earn a shareable certificate. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Specialization, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Specialization. Visit your learner dashboard to track your progress.

Is financial aid available?

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

Can I take the course for free?

No, you cannot take this course for free. When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. If you cannot afford the fee, you can apply for financial aid.

Building Your Freelancing Career Specialization

Building Your Freelancing Career Specialization

Launch Your Successful Freelancing Business. Get paid for your talents. Explore how to become your own boss by monetizing your expertise and obtain the freedom that comes with operating your career as a freelancer.

Instructor: Tatiana Mulry

Included with Coursera Plus

Learn more

5 course series

Get in-depth knowledge of a subject

4.8

(121 reviews)

Beginner level

Recommended experience

1 month at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Earn a career credential

Share your expertise with employers

5 course series

Get in-depth knowledge of a subject

4.8

(121 reviews)

Beginner level

Recommended experience

1 month at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Earn a career credential

Share your expertise with employers

What you'll learn

How to increase your success in a new business venture through overcoming your fears of failure, avoiding perfectionism, and staying motivated
How to find and win clients by standing out in a sea of competitors
How to package, price and pitch your services or products with confidence
How to manage your business operations through both lean and plentiful times

Overview

Do you want to go from surviving gig-to-gig to maintaining a steady flow of income through your own freelancing business? How about gaining the confidence to leave your steady but stifling job and launch into a more rewarding career that will let you pursue your passions? If so, you’re in the right place! In this specialization, you will learn how to overcome imposter syndrome and finally get paid for your talents by equipping yourself with the basic skills to operate your career like a business and avoid running out of money through smart financial planning and a solid business plan.

CalArtians who do not see a "Sponsored by CalArts" notice when enrolling can access this specialization by joining through the Coursera for CalArts program linked in the FAQ for this specialization.

What’s included

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Taught in English

19 practice exercises

Advance your subject-matter expertise

Learn in-demand skills from university and industry experts
Master a subject or tool with hands-on projects
Develop a deep understanding of key concepts
Earn a career certificate from California Institute of the Arts

Specialization - 5 course series

Will your business succeed? You will develop and refine your business idea and assumptions about it throughout the first four courses of this specialization, and finalize it with a plan you can use right away to launch your business in the fifth and last course of the specialization.

You also won’t be in this alone - there will be other freelancers in this course to help you practice the skills of networking and providing support to others to win new business. You’ll hone your skills in assessing the potential outcome of a business by reading the business plans of your peers and ultimately reinforce your belief in yourself to take the leap into full-time freelancing, or keeping a steady stream of additional income through your side-hustle.

Plan a Successful Freelancing Business

Course 19 hours4.7 (300 ratings)View course

What you'll learn

The first course in the Building Your Freelancing Career specialization is focused on freelancers looking to define and solidify their philosophy, values and goals within their future business. Coursework will discuss the importance of understanding their competition and market position in a competitive business landscape, help them define what their unique value is, and how that relates to possible business approaches.

Skills you'll gain

Business Planning, Market Analysis, Entrepreneurship, Competitive Analysis, Service Design, Market Opportunities, Business Modeling, Value Propositions, Goal Setting, Peer Review, and Business Strategy

Making Money as a Freelancer

Course 29 hours4.7 (183 ratings)View course

What you'll learn

The second course in the Building Your Freelancing Career specialization is aimed at freelancers looking to integrate financial analysis and strategy into their business. Learners will discover and apply accounting best practices through creating a budget and financial plan and using it to set financial goals with rates and prices backed up by their own research.

Skills you'll gain

Financial Management, Business Planning, Accounting, Financial Analysis, Forecasting, Revenue Management, Price Negotiation, Budget Management, Goal Setting, Budgeting, Financial Forecasting, Expense Management, Financial Planning, and Small Business Accounting

Launching Your Freelancing Business

Course 37 hours4.8 (54 ratings)View course

What you'll learn

The third course in the Building Your Freelancing Career specialization will help learners get their business plan ready to be public-facing and start finding work. The course will cover topics such as how to set boundaries with projects, how to build a public-facing portfolio and materials, and how to present one's work.

Skills you'll gain

Brand Strategy, Sales Process, Lead Generation, Business Process Automation, Customer experience improvement, Business Planning, Professional Networking, Scope Management, Process Improvement, Client Services, Presentations, and Expectation Management

Protect and Grow Your Freelancing Business

Course 46 hours4.9 (38 ratings)View course

What you'll learn

The fourth course in the Building Your Freelancing Career specialization includes an overview of laws surrounding freelance work and how to navigate them, how to prepare for taxes, intellectual property considerations, and how to protect one's work through legally sound contracts and agreements.

Skills you'll gain

Contract Management, Intellectual Property, Entrepreneurship, Team Management, Risk Management, Tax Preparation, Tax Compliance, Benefits Administration, Business Planning, and Law, Regulation, and Compliance

Building Your Freelancing Career Capstone

Course 511 hours4.8 (31 ratings)View course

What you'll learn

As the final course in the Building Your Freelancing Career specialization, learners will build upon their fundamental skills from courses 1-4 to develop a fully fleshed out business plan, brand and financial model for their real freelancing business, or one they develop just for the purpose of determining whether or not they will be able to launch a new business venture. Once they have developed their plan, they will be able to submit them for peer review and completion of the specialization.

Skills you'll gain

Business Strategy, Business Development, Budgeting, Branding, Market Analysis, Financial Modeling, Business Planning, Risk Management, Entrepreneurship, Service Design, and Peer Review

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructor

Tatiana Mulry

5 Courses31,447 learners

Offered by

California Institute of the Arts

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Frequently asked questions

CalArtians can access all of the content in the specialization and earn a certificate at no additional cost by joining through the Coursera for CalArts program and then using their CalArts email address when registering for a Coursera account.

Learners will get the most out of the Specialization if they complete the courses in the order in which they are offered.

University credits are not available for this Specialization.

Building Your Freelancing Career Specialization

What you'll learn

Overview

Skills you'll gain

What’s included

Advance your subject-matter expertise