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To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

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Protect and Grow Your Freelancing Business

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Protect and Grow Your Freelancing Business

This course is part of Building Your Freelancing Career Specialization

Instructor: Tatiana Mulry

3,342 already enrolled

Included with

Learn more

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

41 reviews

Intermediate level

Some related experience required

6 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

41 reviews

Intermediate level

Some related experience required

6 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

4 assignments

Taught in English

91% of learners achieved a positive career outcome

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

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Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Building Your Freelancing Career Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 5 modules in this course

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.

Module details

In this section you'll review an overview of the course and student expectations. You'll also hear from experienced freelancers in our community about the practical ways they protect and grow their businesses.

What's included

5 videos5 readings1 discussion prompt

5 videosTotal 27 minutes

Course Introduction 2 minutes
Get acquainted with our freelancers 1 minute
Introducing Rajib Karmakar 4 minutes
Introducing Nick Rodrigues 15 minutes
Introducing Socks Whitmore 5 minutes

5 readingsTotal 25 minutes

Specialization Overview5 minutes
About CalArts and Extended Studies5 minutes
Instructor Presence and Staff Support5 minutes
Academic Integrity5 minutes
Forum Guidelines5 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 5 minutes

Meet and Greet 5 minutes

Explore the path to becoming an official business and avoid risk so that you stay in business.

What's included

6 videos3 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt

6 videosTotal 22 minutes

How to Protect Your Company 7 minutes
Risk Management3 minutes
Socks on freelancing surprises2 minutes
Understand laws related to freelancing4 minutes
When is it time to incorporate? 5 minutes
Socks on doing business as an individual 1 minute

3 readingsTotal 20 minutes

Courses 1 to 3 Recap 5 minutes
Resource: US Legal Entities 10 minutes
Thinking ahead: protecting you and your work 5 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 15 minutes

Laws & Risks15 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

When do you plan to incorporate? 10 minutes

Setting and keeping expectations with clients starts with clear, clean, signed contracts.

What's included

7 videos3 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt

7 videosTotal 17 minutes

Craft a compelling proposal 1 minute
Develop of a clear scope of work 3 minutes
The Horrible Handshake1 minute
Collecting Signatures2 minutes
Socks on contracts 2 minutes
Getting Paid 4 minutes
Socks on keeping contractual records3 minutes

3 readingsTotal 75 minutes

Work for Hire 5 minutes
Legal Resources10 minutes
Prepare for new business60 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 15 minutes

Winning Business15 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Making a deal 10 minutes

When you have too much work to do, and you've automated everything you can, you'll need to consider expanding your team. Here's how to hire, manage and fire wisely.

What's included

7 videos1 reading1 assignment1 discussion prompt

7 videosTotal 22 minutes

Hiring a Team Member 6 minutes
Nick on assembling a dream team4 minutes
Managing a Team Member3 minutes
Passwords & Account Management 1 minute
Rajib on coaching a team2 minutes
Saying Goodbye to a Team Member3 minutes
Rajib on facing and overcoming obstacles3 minutes

1 readingTotal 30 minutes

Avoid headaches30 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 10 minutes

Building Your Team 10 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Difficult conversations10 minutes

One of the most important issues holding people back from starting a full-time freelancing career is that benefits are typically tied to employment. Learn how you can create benefits for yourself as a freelancer. We'll also explain how to explore and comply with your tax obligations.