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Direct Contracts now live for all freelancers

lenaellis
Community Member

To help grow and support your freelance business on and off Upwork, we are releasing Direct Contracts to all Upwork freelancers today. With this new release, we have also expanded the functionality to now include multiple milestones. 

 

Direct Contracts allows you to enter into fixed-price contracts with non-Upwork clients, offering access to Upwork's safety and security features with greater flexibility for your business. Freelancers can access their Direct Contracts by clicking on the new paper airplane icon next to notifications or directly here.

 

Direct Contract Icon.png

 

Here’s how it works: 

 

On the Direct Contracts page, freelancers will see the option to start a new Direct Contract and a list of all existing Direct Contracts along with the status of that contract.

 

The steps to start a new Direct Contract are very simple:

 

1. Enter your client’s details

1. Create.png

 

2. Add either a single amount or create milestones with each amount

MM - Collapsed.png

 

3. Review and send the contract

3. Review.png

 

4. An email is sent to your client to begin

4. Confirmation.png

 

 

Your client will receive an email notifying them of your detailed proposal, along with some guidance on how the product works. 

 

Just like your other fixed-price contracts on Upwork, your client deposits project funds in escrow before the contract starts. You will see the status of the milestone listed below each one, so you will know when to begin working. When you’ve completed the contract or each milestone, you’ll request payment from your client. And with Direct Contracts, once they’ve accepted your request, the funds are released to you immediately, with no security period.

 

5. - Active - m1.png

 

As a freelancer, you’ll pay a processing fee of 3.4% of the total contract amount, but you won’t pay any freelancer service fees to Upwork. It’s easy for your clients because they won’t have to create an Upwork account.  And with payment protection and dispute assistance, you can work confidently with your clients who are not on Upwork. 

 

Let us know if you have any questions.

 

405 Comments
BojanS
Community Manager

Thank you for following up, MacHin,

 

We’ll have one of our agents reach out to your client via email to assist them with this concern. 

ninja360
Community Member

Can I update the contract from time to time. Means Can I keep the direct fixed price continue by adding milestones in future?

NikolaS
Moderator

Hi M Hussain,

 

I am sorry for the late response. Direct Contracts can be edited by you until your client accepts the contract and funds the project. If a change in terms or scope is needed after that, please reach out to your client to discuss. You can then cancel the existing contract and create a new one.

 

You can find more information in this help article.

 

stephanpyne
Community Member

Hello guys,

 

when paid through direct contract does it take 8 business days for you to get your money or 8 days?

AleksandarD
Community Manager

Hi Stephan,

 

It depends on the chosen withdrawal method. If you are referring to the Direct to Local Bank method, then it's 8 business days. You can check this help article for more information.

 

Thank you.

0b6fab23
Community Member

Hello Everyone. I recently initated a direct contract with a client and he made the payment as he shared a screenshot, however, it does not show on my Upwork and it still says waiting to be accepted.

 

Can someone please help me with this. Thank you!

AleksandarD
Community Manager

Hi Aamer,

 

I checked and it looks like our team already reached out to your client directly via email to assist them further. Please advise your client to check the email and follow up so that the team can continue assisting them.

 

Thank you.

0b6fab23
Community Member

Thank you Alexander. I have done that. I was going to initiate another direct contract with a different client. Is that okay? I mean there are no issues from my side, right?

AleksandarD
Community Manager

Hi Aamer,

 

Yes, feel free to initiate another Direct Contract.

 

Thank you.

zubairkhan7770
Community Member

Hello Sir,

 

I am Zubair Ahmed Khan. I am new on Upwork, but i am active freelacer on other platforms. I want to as a question that what are benefits of directs contracts?

If a want to do work on upwork from my direct client, what are pros and cons?

second will it improve my profile rating?

will it improve my job success rate?

I have completed one job already, second is on working for about three weeks already of 30+ hours..

please update.