New Initiation Fee Impact to Clients

[#1]

Hello, 

I'm a client. I have a few freelancers on Upwork working together all the time. Typically, I initiated a new contract for a new project and ended once it's done. Another project came, and I created another new contract with the same freelancer. Just for my easy filing use.

So, as the new initiation fee is coming up, is there any impact on my case? Does that mean, for the same freelancers, it's better not to end the contract but to add new milestones so it would not cause the Initiation Fee? As it seems the initiation fee is once-per-contract, my understanding right?

Best,

Rebecca

[#2]

Dm let's talk about it 

[#3 · Accepted solution]

Hi Rebecca,

The contract initiation fee is a charge of up to $4.95 for clients on new contracts on Upwork’s Marketplace and Project Catalog. We will charge this fee once per contract, when you make the first payment to a freelancer. The fee is per contract which means if you start a new contract with a previously hired freelancer, you will pay the contract initiation fee again for the new contract.

Thank you,

Pradeep

[#4]

Thank you, Pradeep! Clear now. 😊

[#5]

It's not fair that the fee is charged even if the contract ends when the freelancer issues a refund. The fee should be refunded, too. It's a failed contract with the freelancer.