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Making Money as a Freelancer

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Making Money as a Freelancer

This course is part of Building Your Freelancing Career Specialization

Instructor: Tatiana Mulry

19,371 already enrolled

Included with

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5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

185 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

1 week at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

98%

Most learners liked this course

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

185 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

1 week at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

98%

Most learners liked this course

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

6 assignments¹

AI Graded see disclaimer

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 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.

In this section, you'll review the course introduction and student expectations. You'll also get to know some of the successful freelancers in our community and hear practical advice about how they handle financial decisions. Lastly, you'll have the opportunity to have a meet and greet with your peers.

What's included

5 videos6 readings1 discussion prompt

5 videosTotal 26 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

6 readingsTotal 30 minutes

Specialization Overview5 minutes
About CalArts and Extended Studies5 minutes
Instructor Presence and Staff Support5 minutes
Academic Integrity5 minutes
Forum Guidelines5 minutes
Requesting Peer Reviews5 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 5 minutes

Meet and Greet 5 minutes

In this section, we'll dig into key financial concepts that will create a solid foundation for a successful freelance career. You'll explore the factors to consider when transitioning from a job to a freelance career, how to set up healthy habits for personal and business financial management, and how to plan for your future.

What's included

4 videos4 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt

4 videosTotal 28 minutes

Personal Finances 7 minutes
Personal Budget Worksheet Walkthrough5 minutes
Business Finance 10 minutes
Nick on the reality of finances 6 minutes

4 readingsTotal 115 minutes

Spreadsheet Basics 15 minutes
Runway 1: Your Personal Today Budget 60 minutes
Runway 2: Your Personal Tomorrow Budget 30 minutes
Definitions of Basic Financial Terms10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 20 minutes

Check-In: Your Personal Tomorrow Budget 5 minutes
Separation of Finances 15 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Personal Budgeting 10 minutes

In this section, you'll consider how to price your offerings, how to forecast the number of sales you'll need, and how to consider all the costs that go into running a business. These factors will help you consider many options and choose a business model that fits your goals for your financial future as a freelancer.

What's included

9 videos3 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt

9 videosTotal 34 minutes

Business Inputs Walkthrough12 minutes
Pricing Your Solution 6 minutes
Socks on defining their business rates 1 minute
Testing additional assumptions2 minutes
Unit Economics 3 minutes
Socks on setting rates for different businesses 3 minutes
Adding more complexity to your inputs1 minute
Business Model Selection 4 minutes
Socks on finding clients 3 minutes

3 readingsTotal 70 minutes

Runaway 3: Design your business budget30 minutes
Runway 3 continued30 minutes
Examples of Business Models 10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 15 minutes

Check-In: Good Financial Management Habits 5 minutes
Making and Managing Money in Your Business10 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

What's your business model? 10 minutes

How will you get the help you need to run a freelancing business? In this section, you'll learn the importance of key business advisors and professional tools to manage your finances. You'll also learn how to look at your financial reports so that you can understand the financial aspects of your business.

What's included

4 videos1 reading1 assignment1 discussion prompt

4 videosTotal 15 minutes

How to Choose Key Resources 2 minutes
Rajib on working with an accountant 1 minute
Understand Basic Financial Terms 7 minutes
Rajib on financial processes4 minutes

1 readingTotal 10 minutes

How to Analyze an Income Statement10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 20 minutes

How are you doing? 20 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Check-in: How are you? 10 minutes

In managing a business, you'll need to make many important decisions that will have a financial impact. It is important to track and interpret information to help you make wise decisions, and know when to consult with experts to help you plan and stay on track.

What's included

8 videos2 readings1 assignment1 peer review

8 videosTotal 18 minutes

Measure Everything 5 minutes
Rajib on the value of having an accountant 1 minute
Could you give yourself a raise? 2 minutes
Financing Your Business 3 minutes
Shifting Financial Gears 3 minutes
Rajib on having a mentor or advisor 1 minute
Giving Useful Feedback 2 minutes
Course Conclusion1 minute

2 readingsTotal 11 minutes

Start Measuring10 minutes
Next Steps1 minute

1 assignmentTotal 15 minutes

Making Financial Decisions15 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 120 minutes

Financial Forecasting120 minutes

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Instructor

Instructor ratings

(37 ratings)

Tatiana Mulry

5 Courses33,782 learners

Offered by

California Institute of the Arts

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Learner reviews

5 stars
83.78%
4 stars
7.56%
3 stars
5.40%
2 stars
1.62%
1 star
1.62%

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Reviewed on Apr 15, 2025

Great start for beginners I recommend this great course.

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Frequently asked questions

CalArtians can earn a certificate by completing all of the content in this course and the specialization at no additional cost when they join through the Coursera for CalArts program and use their CalArts email address when registering for a Coursera account.

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.

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. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.