How to Start a Freelance Web Developer Business from Scratch (Udemy.com)
An online course for web designers & developers who are ready to start their business as a work-from-home freelancer
Created by: Brad Hussey
Last updated November 2022
Our take
Based on the ratings of 61 students, a sample of their written reviews and the syllabus, as the course stood in November 2022. No course pays to be reviewed.
Brad Hussey's course is a short, five-module guide to starting a freelance web design or development business on the side. The syllabus shows 13 lectures across about 3.2 hours, with action items to finish after each module. Topics run from mindset and picking a niche to building an offer and landing a first client. It is aimed at people who have not started yet, or who are stuck earning very little as freelancers.
Reviewers say the teaching is clear, and the advice sounds like it comes from real experience. One student says he goes deeper than a simple step one, step two list. The mindset section gets repeated praise, and one reviewer singles out the vault of extra resources. Complaints are mild. A four-star reviewer expected more depth and would not call it the best pick for scaling up as a freelancer. Another points out it skips management details. Of 61 ratings, 40 are five stars and just one is a single star.
It was last updated in November 2022, and since most of it is strategy rather than software, age matters less here. There are no quizzes or exercises, so the action items only work if you do them. About 567 students have enrolled. It reads as a good, quick framework for someone who wants direction before spending on anything bigger, and a poor fit for anyone after advanced client management.
Pros
- Short at about 3.2 hours, so a beginner can finish it and act on it quickly
- Each module ends with action items that push you toward a first client
- Mindset section on moving from employee thinking to freelancer thinking gets repeated praise
- Video, text and audio versions of each module, plus bonus resources in the vault
Cons
- Reviewers say it lacks depth for scaling or growing a freelance business
- Skips client management details, so it covers getting started and little beyond
- No quizzes or exercises, and the last update was November 2022
Brad gives a lot of solid advice for starting up a freelance business. The course is short but for the content it is a good amount of time spent on the subjects of starting a freelance business.
Truly beginner friendly for freelancing, but it assumes you already have a design or coding skill to sell.
What you will learn
- Embrace the mindset of an entrepreneur (not an employee)
- Workshop your freelance niche (should you specialize or generalize?)
- Discover the biggest pains of your target client
- How to solve a big problem with your services (not scratch an itch)
- The specific skills required to succeed (and the one's you should stop doing)
- Craft an irresistible offer (that your client's will love)
- Gaining competitive edge in an oversaturated freelance market
- Capture consistent leads that want to book you
- How to always be marketing your business (without burning out)
- How to land your first (or next) paid client
- Build a clear strategy for continued success
Course content
6 sections · 13 lectures · 3.2 hours of video 7 articles
- 1Introduction 1 free preview2 lectures · 5 min
- 2Mindset Mastery 1 free preview2 lectures · 33 min
- 3Niche Discovery2 lectures · 29 min
- 4Freelancing Skills2 lectures · 24 min
- 5Your High Value Offer2 lectures · 47 min
- 6Launching, Marketing & Getting Clients3 lectures · 53 min
Who it is for
The instructor says it suits
- People who want to start up a low-risk side business as a freelancer, but have no idea where to start on their journey.
- Web designers & web developers who want to work with clients (and stop hunting down gigs)
- Freelancers who are sick of bidding for gigs on overcrowded marketplaces
- People who are interested in starting a low-risk, low-cost side hustle
- Freelancers who are tired of the "feast & famine" cycle
What you need before you start
- An interest in working for yourself as a freelancer
- An interest in building a business around a valuable skill
- Willingness to work hard
- An open mind!
How it compares
Against the other 150 rated Udemy courses in Entrepreneurship on CourseDuck:
- Rating4.6 out of 5higher than 70% of them
- Reviews61#138 of 151 by number of reviews
- Length3.2 hourslonger than 50% of them
- Last updatedNovember 2022earlier than 61% of them
Course Description
Freelancing does NOT mean work for free!
This is an online course for coders, creatives & coaches who are ready to start their business as a work-from-home freelancer this year.
Are you ready to win back your Freedom with Freelancing?
This course provides you with the Exact Steps to Make It As a Freelance Web Developer and Launch a Business on the Side in 5-weeks (or less).
You already know that a freelancing business can give you the life you want. The freedom you need. Whether that means leaving your 9-5 job, providing a better life for your family, or giving you the opportunity to go on adventures whenever you want.
But, you’re probably stuck at the very beginning. Where do you start? What do you do? You might be spinning your wheels in frustration, feeling like you’re getting nowhere.
Here’s the thing. While every freelancer does things a little bit differently, there are certain steps each one has taken to find success. Certain things that they do that help launch a successful freelance business, one that lets them quit their job, feed their family, and live a better life.
What is Freelancing Freedom: Essentials Edition?
A lot of courses you’ll come across will promise to tell you every last thing the teacher knows. I’m not going to do that.
Instead, you’re going to get the bare essentials you need to develop a freelancing business in as little time as possible. That way you can start earning money without going into information overload.
Freelancing Freedom: Essentials Edition gives you:
The step by step guide to building a freelance business, from deciding what skills you need to earn your first client.
Video, text, and audio versions of each module so you can learn in whatever way is best for YOU.
Absolutely no fluff. Everything in the course is actionable content that you can put to immediate use.
The course occurs over five modules period. At the end of each lesson, you’ll receive action items for you to perform over the next few days. By the time you start your next lesson, you’ll have made visible progress towards launching your freelancing lifestyle.
You’re going to get the bare essentials you need to develop a freelancing business in as little time as possible. That way you can start earning money without going into information overload.
Who is this course for?
I built Freelancing Freedom: Essentials Edition for those individuals who either have not started their freelancing journey or who are struggling to earn any significant income.
This course is great for:
Individuals who want to start up a low-risk side business as a freelancer, but have no idea where to start on their journey.
Freelancers who just can’t seem to break that $1,000 a month barrier, no matter how much time they put in.
People who have been overwhelmed by all of the contradicting information online, and just want the essentials that can get them started so they can book that coveted first paying client.
This course is for you if you are ready to start freelancing, but you just don’t know what steps to take, in what order. You would love to earn some extra income on the side to make life a little bit easier for you and your family. Maybe you desire to replace your full-time income so you could make a safe exit from your day job. Perhaps you even want to replace your spouse’s income, so they could leave their job, and help you with your business, pursue their own passions, or even with the kids at home. You want to free yourself from monotony, a drudge-filled 9-5 with long commutes.
You want freedom.
Who it is NOT for!
In fact, it’s not for most people. Because while freelancing is enormously rewarding, it can also be extremely difficult. So, before you go any further, I advise you to ensure if you fit the following criteria.
This course is not for you if you are:
Already earning a full-time income freelancing (Congratulations! Reach out and tell me your story. I’d love to hear from you).
Expecting to go from broke to a six-figure income in less than a month (that’s just not realistic — no matter how fancy the car, or how big the library of books in the background of the video).
Not ready to commit time or energy learning these essentials (Freelancing takes work, there are easier ways to make money).
But, if you’re committed to taking action and are willing to learn, then this course may be exactly what you need.
Join now and start working towards YOUR freedom today!
Instructor Details
- 4.6 Rating
61 Reviews
Brad Hussey
Brad Hussey is a web designer, creator, and marketing consultant from Canada. With his online courses & tutorials, he’s taught hundreds of thousands of web designers & developers how to get better at their craft and make a living doing work they love. As a consultant, Brad helps busy creators, coaches, and authors double their business without doubling their effort.
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Reviews
By Clement H. on 1/6/2025
Nice information and motivation. I like the mindset section, it was important.
By Lena IR on 5/9/2023
The freelancing world is challenging. In this course, you will have a primary and realistic understanding of some of the first steps to try to create your freelancing business. It helps you see the whole picture and give you some guideline to continue learning.
By Ben House on 12/29/2022
Teacher is very well spoken and clearly has put in the effort go deeper than just step 1 step 2 etc
By Ashmag on 1/6/2022
great comunication skills, good advice backed by seemingly genuine experience.
By Bob Balafas on 1/1/2022
Just started the course and there is a lot of top quality pointers to get you business off on the right foot.
By Tsholofelo Mokheleli on 8/10/2021
It has given me confidence so far
By Hamed Noroozi on 3/22/2021
It seems to be a good course for setting the foundation for a freelance career, but its not as comprehensive and resourceful as I thought it would have been. It is a good course for planning out and beginning a freelance business, but its probably not the best course that I would recommend for a beginner to be able to quickly begin and scale and grow as a freelancer to achieve financial and lifestyle freedom.
By P. C. Rall on 1/8/2021
Thank you Brad Hussey for this inspirational course. Can't wait to put this into practice A.S.A.P. Very good and to the point without any boring material being thumb sucked. You are an inspiration to me, as you and your wife have walked the walk and talked the talk of Freelancers. Blessings for 2021 from me here in South Africa to you in Canada. Regards P. C. Rall.
By Rachel Paton on 11/3/2020
Yes. Buy this course if you don't know where to start as a freelancer; it's worth it. Forget about sites like Fiverr and earning peanuts. This course really boils down the essentials of starting a new web design business as a freelancer. It does not go into management details, but this course isn't for that: this course is designed to get you started and earning money. I'll update my review once I've started up my business and put the advice into practice.
By Keegan Teel on 10/8/2020
Brad gives a lot of solid advice for starting up a freelance business. The course is short but for the content it is a good amount of time spent on the subjects of starting a freelance business. Worth the sale price I paid of twelve bucks.
Quality Score
No CourseDuck member has rated this course yet. Taken it? Give each part a thumbs up or down.
Overall Score : 92 / 100












