0% fee when you bring your own client

[#1]

Where can I find my BYOC link?  (I need it ASAP so that I can start  working on the contract from tomorrow) 

[#2]

i brought a client to upwork and you have a policy that if we bring a client, service fee will be waived, i need the fees to be refunded.

[#3]

So how does that work exactly and does the client need to make an account? I want to utilise Upwork's simple time tracker and payment protection.

I read about Bring Your Own Client and it's 0% fee and on some forum posts you were suggesting freelancers link their profile to their client... I am just confused and need a simple answer from the kind community here.

Thank you in advance,

Diell

[#4]

Diell,

You can simply direct your client to setup an account on Upwork. Once setup, they post a job, and invite you to submit a proposal for the job. To me, this is the easiest way.

Link to Upwork: Post A Job

Your client could also review the steps to Bring Your Own Talent.

[#5]

Diell M.

DO NOT ask your client to set up an account at this point. If that happens first you will not get the perk of no fees to Upwork using Bring Your Own Client.

You should email BringYourClient@upwork.com and get their instructions for bringing your client to Upwork.

Assuming the program is still available, it used to only be available to Top Rated and Rising Talent freelancers.

[#6]

Thanks Will,

I just wrote to that adress and now waiting for them to message me back. I would much rather have the job affect my JSS, so BYOC is a better solution for me.

[#7]

Hi, 

I have a question here if such a client be able to leave feedback & rating on order completion? 

[#8]

Every client you sign an Upwork contract with has the permanent ability to leave feedback for you.

In some (apparently rare) cases, Upwork doesn't include such feedback in calculating your Job Success Score. But if this would be a client new to Upwork, I don't expect excluding their feedback for you would be likely.

[#9]

Since you are not Top Rated (Plus), your best bet is to use Direct Contracts. In my opinion, the Hourly version of Direct Contracts has better promise of payment (erroneously described as "protection", like that for fixed-price) than the standard Upwork Hourly contracts. That is because the client has to fund an entire week of payment into escrow, meaning that there is no question that some funds are available (although there is no protection against chargebacks, because any credit/debit card transaction is vulnerable to chargeback). For anybody who charges more than $62.50/hr, that means that the escrow for a single week promises more than the $2,500 maximum on standard Upwork Hourly contracts.

ETA: strikethrough erroneous information

[#10]

That's an interesting option, Jonathan, but if client chargebacks are still a possibility it isn't an option I'd recommend to any new freelancer when an hourly cpntract is also a possibility. 

It is my understanding (thanks to Preston for confirming) that with fixed price contracts funds are also available (the client's payment method/credit card has been charged) when shown in escrow on Upwork. And that offers the freelancer no assurance against chargebacks.

Does Upwork mediation also come into play if the client disputes payment or requests a refund under a direct contract?

Thanks for any insights in how direct contracts reduce the chance of disputes and refund requests compared to fixed price contracts.

[#11]

Hi Will. There is an entire ToS agreement dedicated to Hourly Direct Contracts that answers your questions regarding dispute mechanics. As for reducing the chance of disputes, refund requests, and chargebacks - I don't have any stats on those. Like I said in my initial reply, it is strictly my opinion based on the info in the ToS agreement and the recent discussions on the inconsistent enforcement of Hourly Protection in this forum.

[#12]

OK, Jonathan. I don't care enough about learning about direct contracts to read through any documentation. I was just wondering how you think that contract arrangement can reduce freelancer losses due to client fraud or disputes.

[#13]

Let me try to understand what you said there, me not being TR+ means I don't have a high chance of getting into the program? How does the payment procection of Direct Contracts differ from the one in BYOC?

[#14]

Actually, upon further review of the Support pages, I can't find any BYOC program. There are just the BYOT/Any Hire programs for clients to use. So you may only use Direct Contracts with clients who don't yet have an Upwork account.

[#15]

Hello Joanne,

I know this is a really late reply to your comment, but I am interested in brining my outside client to Upwork so could you also give me a link to invite them? I am worried about payment security so bringing them to Upwork would be a really good solution.

Thank you in advance,

Diell

[#16]

I hope thread starter will not mind if I ask my question here )

I just asked a client of mine to create an account on upwork and then I get information that there is "bring your client" program is.

What is the workaround to use this program with this client?
Should I ask him to delete account and create new one?

Thank you!

[#17]

Hi Vsevolod,

I want to clarify that this offer is only limited to Freelancers who are either subscribed to the Freelancer Plus membership or have the Top Rated, Top Rated Plus, or Rising Talent badge. At this time, you won't be able to advantage of the program with the client you are referring to. 

[#18]

Hi,

i'd like to bring in a client to upwork, could you please give me a BYOC link so I can invite them? (so they can pay me with 0% fees deduction). Tell me where I can get my BYOC link?

Many thanks

Peter

[#19]

LOOK IN THE SUPPORT FORUM.

[#20]

Click on "Find Work" and then "Direct Contracts."  

But as of March, they switched it up:

[#21]

Keep in mind you have to be a certain "Rising Talent" rank in order to get 0% fees; if not, you'll be charged the 10% fee.

[#22]

There are no longer 0% or 10% fees.

[#23]

Here is the help article on Direct Contracts and the fees for freelancer and client. 0% no longer exists.

https://support.upwork.com/hc/en-us/articles/360025040794-Direct-Contracts-with-clients

[#24]

sorry to come back to this, i'm looking at this page:

https://support.upwork.com/hc/en-us/articles/211062888-Freelancer-Plus

• Enjoy a 0% service fee when you bring new clients to Upwork. That’s 0% in freelancer service fees on all your contracts with those clients forever. Clients cannot have an existing Upwork account; reach out to us for more information

where it clearly says:

is that false advertising then?

many thanks

edit: there's also a handy FAQ:

How do I access the 0% service fee for bringing new clients to Upwork?

You can submit a request to waive the freelancer service fee for any new clients you bring to Upworkfrom your Community profile or by emailing BringYourClient@upwork.com. After you submit your request, our team will be in touch with a client link within the next two business days. Please keep in mind that the client must be a new client and should not have an existing Upwork account.

[#25]

I have a client that I want to bring to upwork. I read the previous posts regarding the process and have now sent two emails asking for my link to bringyourclient@upwork.com which was the guidance provided by customer support in the forum. I have sent two emails over the course of 2 weeks and not received any response. I tried to get support through the bots and they couldn't help because well, they're frickin bots. I'm new to this platform and surprised by how poor support is and getting pretty frustrated at this point. Any suggestions from other freelancers OR is there a support HUMAN that can help??? All advice so greatly appreciated in advance!

[#26]

Hi Emily,

I am sorry to hear about the inconvenience this has caused. I’ve escalated your community post to a support ticket. One of our agents will be in touch with you soon to assist.