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Media & Strategy · MS elective · 3 credit hours · 16 sessions

Freelancing & Creative Entrepreneurship

This practical business course is designed to turn creative talent into a sustainable career. Students will learn the “business of design,” covering everything from setting rates and writing contracts to finding clients and managing taxes. The curriculum also explores entrepreneurship models, such as selling digital products, passive income streams, and scaling from a freelancer to an agency.Shutterstock

§ 01 By the end you can
  1. Develop a robust business plan and pricing strategy (Hourly vs. Value-Based)
  2. Draft professional contracts, proposals, and invoices
  3. Master client negotiation and conflict resolution techniques
  4. Create a marketing funnel to attract high-value clients
  5. Explore passive income streams (Stock art, Templates, Courses)
§ 02 Sixteen sessions

The whole semester.

  1. 01The Freelance Mindset: Employee vs. Boss
  2. 02Business Setup: Legal Structures & Taxes
  3. 03Pricing Your Work: The Math of Profit
  4. 04Proposal Writing & The Discovery Call
  5. 05Contracts & Copyright Law
  6. 06Finding Clients: Inbound vs. Outbound
  7. 07The Sales Pitch & Negotiation
  8. 08 · MidtermMidterm Examination
  9. 09Project Management & Workflow
  10. 10Client Communication & Boundaries
  11. 11Passive Income for Creatives
  12. 12Personal Branding & Marketing
  13. 13Financial Literacy: Cash Flow & Savings
  14. 14Scaling Up: Subcontracting & Agencies
  15. 15Mental Health & Avoiding Burnout
  16. 16Final Project: The Business Launch Plan

Midterm around session 8. Final project briefed at session 8 or 9 and developed in stages until the juries.

§ 03 Final project

Final Project: The Business Launch Plan

How it’s judged

Recommended reading
  1. The Win Without Pitching Manifesto by Blair Enns
  2. Freelance, and Business, and Stuff by Amy Hood and Jennifer Hood
  3. The Money-Smart Freelancer by Laura Shin
  4. Work for Money, Design for Love by David Airey
  5. Company of One by Paul Jarvis
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