0% fee 'Bring your own client'

[#1]

Just got that mail... that sounds like a great thing, and i will be sure to use it when i get a chance.

But what bugs me: how do you plan to deal with the people who would hire themselves to gain success score, opening fake accounts of clients? It will be so cheap to do so (just some foreign exchange commissions, or maybe not even that when using U.S. payment methods) that it will be tempting to do so. Won't we soon face a whole new brand of fakes?

What i suggest: don't include contracts with these 0% clients into JSS calculation, top rated/rising talent, and otherwise take means to make sure they don't help a profile stand out.

[#2]

Hi Tiffany,

One more incentive is taking advantage of having a strong work history and complete reputation on a freelancer's profile, which will attract best clients on Upwork and can be used as a verified testament of the freelancer's services in their direct marketing efforts.

[#3]

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@Jess C wrote:

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@Joshua T wrote:

I can't think of one good reason I would introduce an non-Upwork client to Upwork. 0% fees? Big deal, I already get that.

Now if you want to offer a reduced fee on future Upwork clients in return for me bringing one of my clients here... THEN we'd be talking.

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I'm with Joshua here - what would be the advantage to me to put a layer of bureaucracy between me and my client? I really don't understand the point of this offer except that my client would then have the opportunity to look for someone cheaper than me, which would benefit Upwork, but obviously not me!

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So, mea culpa, I just today came across a situation where I would use this program. I had a cold contact through my website from a gentleman in Canada looking for book design. Since I don't have any prior experience with him, he's not part of my usual network of clients, and there's no payment protection available to me across an international border, I gave him the Upwork link just to see what might happen. We'll see if he decides to use it, but I think I may be out of his price range. 🙂

[#4]

I just recently asked my client to sign-up on Upwork and use this platform for work because of the 0% offer I received on my email. But, why when she made the offer and I checked the rate, the 20% fee is still there? Okay, let say she didn't use the link I gave her. What should we do? I will not accept the offer unless it's 0%. I talked to one of your chat support and said that there's nothing you can do about it. I bring my client to Upwork because I trusted your you and you will still charge me. Please, I hope you will be more considerate on this matter.

[#5]

Julyn, are you sure the client didn't use the proper link? I seem to recall that the original announcement said the rate would adjust to zero after 3 days for some reason--verification, probably.

[#6]

I just talked their chat support reps. She said that the client didn't use the link I provided and that there's nothing they can do about it. I just hope they'll be more considerate in cases like that. I just feel disappointed...

[#7]

I flagged your post for a moderator to look at. They are often much more helpful that support.

[#8]

I appreciate your help. Thank you so much, Tiffany!

[#9]

Hi Julyn,

I checked your conversation with our Support team after reading your comments here and see your case has already been escalated for further review. Please note that for a client to be accepted in the BYOC program, a dedicated team needs to conduct a review, after which the 0% fee will be applied on your contract within 3 working days. Note that not using the link in your case won't necessarily exclude your contract from benefiting from the special promotion, provided all the other factors are found to be in line with the program's requirements.

I'll reach out to our team as well so please keep checking your ticket for new updates as well as keeping an eye out for further communication from our dedicated team. 

[#10]

Hi Vladimir,

Thank you so much! I was very excited to bring my client to Upwork because of the 0% fee. Then get disappointed when they told me that they couldn't do anything about it. The only way they said I can do is to ask my client to deactivate her account and call Upwork to remove her email, then create another one with the correct link. That might piss her off and waste her time.

I greatly appreciate your help, Vladimir and Tiffany! May you both have a good one!

All the best,
Jules

[#11]

I will now accept my client's offer and just see how after 3 days. Hopefully, the 0% fee will be applied 🙂

[#12]

How did it go, Julyn? 

🙂

[#13]

The 20% fee is still applied. I'm losing my trust on Upwork

[#14]

Hi Vladimir,

Upwork is still charging me 20% fee. I'm losing my trust on Upwork. What do we need to do then? Is Upwork taking advantage of me? I am very disappointed. 

[#15]

Hi Julyn,

0% fee has been applied to your contract with this client. Please, refer to the message our agent sent you via the support ticket for more details.

Thank you for your patience.

[#16]

Hi Valeria,

Everything looks good now! Thank you so much! I was a little disappointed with the previous agent (phone support) that I contacted last time, giving me an inappropriate solution. He was asking me to advise my client to deactivate her account and call support to remove her email, then signup again. It will definitely piss off the client. I hope they will give sensible advice/solution next time. 

Again, Thank you very much and have a good one!

Best,

Jules

[#17]

Does this apply only to new upwork clients? What if they already are members of upwork?

[#18]

Hi Andrei, 

The offer is for new clients only, which is a program open to Top Rated Freelancers. While we currently do not have plans to roll the program out to additional freelancers yet, we are trying to find ways to do this in the future and will notify the community if it is available.

[#19]

This seems like a dumb question, but if a client is new to me, and to Upwork, but was referred to me by another Upwork client, can I bring them on for free? Or is that a violation of the TOS?

[#20]

Kelly,

Yes, you can invite the new client using the personal invitation link you received via email even if they were referred to you by another client you worked with.

[#21]

How can I get access to the invitation link to send to clients?

I am a top rated freelancer. I received an email about the 0% fee, but it was a webinar sign up.

[#22]

My link isn't working. It just takes me to the "find jobs" page on Upwork. I cleared my cache and my cookies.

[#23]

Hi Kelly,

If you are referring to Bring Your Own Client link that was sent to you via email, then you need to send it to your client and follow the instructions in the email to notify Upwork about your contract with them.

[#24]

Hi Syed,

Can your try clearing your cache and cookies and with another browser. If this does not work let me know what type of browser you used and i will escalate it further.

[#25]

Hi Goran,

It's not to do with the browser. 

I would like to invite a new client using the personal invitation link that gives 0% fees. I havn't been emailed a link yet, so can you email me my personal link?

[#26]

Syed,

We'll forward your request to the team and they'll email  you the link.

Thanks!