1h 23m – Appropriate for all
By choice or by circumstance, most designers will be freelancing one or more times during their career. In this course, Petrula Vrontikis provides an overview of the financial and creative advantages and disadvantages of being self-employed, along with methods, tools, and insights for starting out. The course helps you customize a strategy for your unique situation, from setting up accounts and tracking business expenses, to entering into contracts and invoicing for your work. The last chapter contains Petrula’s advice on maintaining good business relationships and tactics for staying motivated and inspired.
Topics include:
What is a freelancer?
Tracking expenses
Paying taxes
Understanding business licenses
Creating contracts and invoices
Preparing, transferring, and storing files
Tracking billing and payments
Managing your work-life balance
Introduction – 2m 30s
Welcome – 1m 11s
Disclaimer – 40s
Exercise files – 39s
1. What Is a Freelancer? – 8m 55s
Definition of a freelancer – 2m 5s
Ongoing models of freelancing – 2m 31s
Temporary models of freelancing – 2m 25s
Why agencies and clients hire freelancers – 1m 54s
2. Preparation – 17m 28s
Managing expectations – 2m 44s
Required forms and quarterly payments – 3m 36s
Finding an accountant and a bookkeeper – 2m 33s
Tracking business expenses – 2m 33s
Subcontractor versus employee – 2m 16s
Understanding business licenses – 3m 46s
3. Agreements and Contracts – 16m 21s
General principles – 53s
Signing nondisclosure agreements (NDA) and work-for-hire agreements – 4m 9s
Contracts with agencies – 1m 41s
Contracts with clients – 2m 14s
Using standard conditions of agreement – 4m 51s
Coping with revisions and change orders – 2m 33s
4. Professional Practice – 15m 18s
Finding and keeping good clients – 2m 2s
Getting a great start when working directly with the client – 2m 33s
Protocol for correspondence and meetings – 2m 50s
Challenges freelancers face with agencies – 2m 39s
Challenges agencies face with freelancers – 3m 6s
Taking credit for work with agencies – 2m 8s
5. Organization and Getting Paid – 10m 43s
General bookkeeping setup – 3m 0s
Invoicing and purchase orders – 2m 42s
Creating past-due notices – 2m 47s
Managing nonpayment situations – 2m 14s
6. Long-Term Success Strategies – 11m 0s
Establishing and maintaining business relationships – 3m 15s
Working “on spec” – 2m 12s
Learning to say no – 3m 8s
Staying motivated and inspired – 2m 25s
Conclusion – 50s
Next steps – 50s