Course Topics
This course equips creative professionals with the business, legal, and strategic tools needed to launch and sustain a freelance practice in Europe, focusing on Italy and Germany. Entrepreneurship & Personal Branding: Developing a business mindset, defining market positioning, and curating portfolios for client acquisition. Legal Frameworks & Setup: Navigating tax, social security, and registration requirements for Italian Partita IVA (Forfettario) and German Freiberufler / Kleinunternehmer setups. Financial Planning & Pricing: Calculating overhead and billable hours to set sustainable hourly, project, and value-based rates. Professional Documentation: Structuring Business Model Canvases, persuasive proposals, compliant invoices, and contracts (IP rights, revision limits, payment terms). Marketing, Sales & Client Relations: Executing client acquisition strategies, negotiating terms, and managing ongoing client relationships.

Propaedeutic courses
none

Teaching format
The course will be delivered through 3 in-person seminars incorporating interactive lectures, real-world case studies, and hands-on practical exercises.

Educational objectives
Disciplinary competence Have acquired basic and useful job-related knowledge related to understanding the fundamentals of freelance work.

Additional educational objectives and learning outcomes
Students developed practical skills in freelance business management, including business models, pricing, client management, legal and administrative requirements, marketing, personal branding, and sustainable business growth.

Assessment
Compulsory attendance: 75% of the attendance is compulsory in order to be admitted to the exam. Evaluation Method: In-Class Participation & Practical Portfolio Students are required to submit a final project, consisting of a PDF presentation that integrates: Personal branding Service offering and pricing Business model Portfolio and/or case study Marketing and communication strategy.

Evaluation criteria
Assessment is based on active engagement during in-person seminars and the compilation of a practical, project-based portfolio. In-Class Participation: Evaluates students' real-time application of business model development, legal and tax compliance planning, contract drafting, financial sustainability modeling, and market positioning. Practical Portfolio: Evaluates a series of practical assignments completed throughout the course, designed to serve as the student’s ready-to-use freelance launch toolkit.