Frequently Asked Questions

About Freelancer.com

• How do I become a Gold Member?
  To become a Gold member, simply log in and click on “My Account”, then locate the Become a Gold Member link under the “Upgrade Today” heading on your main account page. If you do not have enough funds in your account, you will need to make a deposit before you'll be able to complete the transaction.
• How do I cancel my account?
  For security reasons, you may only cancel your account by submitting a ticket through our online support desk. To access the Support Desk, click on the Online Support button on your “My Account” page. Please note that if your account balance is negative, you will be required to deposit funds before your account can be canceled.
• How do I sign up?
  1. Fill out a short registration form. You’ll be asked to create a unique username that will identify you on our system. You’ll also need to provide a valid email address and confirm reading our Terms and Conditions. No personal information is requested.

  2. Confirm your email address. When you submit the registration form, a message containing a link and confirmation code will be sent to the email address you provided. You must follow the instructions in the email to provide the confirmation code and activate your account.

  3. Create your profile. Take a few minutes to provide some information about yourself and/or yor business. This information will be stored in your profile to provide other members with an overview of your skills and/or needs. No personal or contact information is shared.

• How much will I have to pay Freelancer.com?
  It's free to join Freelancer.com! We only charge a small commission.

  • For regular projects, employers are charged 3% or $3 commission (whichever is greater) on choosing a worker. Gold members pay 0%.
  • Freelancers pay 10% or $5 (whichever is greater) of the total bid/funds received. Gold members pay 3%.
  • A project can be Featured for a fee of $19 upfront, paid by Employers. Featured projects are displayed on the front page and get a lot more bids.
  • A Full Time project is $99.95, paid by the Employer. If the project is Full Time there will be no other charges as with regular and featured projects.
  • See Gold Memberships for special rates.

    GST will be added on fees where needed according to law.

• Is there a time limit to leave feedback?
  A review must be entered within 90 days after the project completion and payment. Within the 90 day period, if a member submits feedback, it becomes publicly available when one of the following occurs:

  • The other member submits feedback
  • 14 days elapse
• What fees does Freelancer.com charge?
  Joining Freelancer.com is free. Basic members pay small commissions as shown here. GST will be added to fees are required by law.
• What is Freelancer.com.?
  Freelancer.com is an online job marketplace that provides a means for employers and freelancers around the globe to collaborate for mutual benefit. Individuals or businesses in need of skilled help for short or long-term projects can post those projects and allow freelancers to submit bids for the completion of the work.

  For the employer, Freelancer.com provides immediate access to thousands of independent contractors with specific skills, without the need to place job ads or provide work space, insurance, etc.

  For the freelancer, or Service Provider, Freelancer.com offers a constant source of part-time to full-time work opportunities, without the trouble and expense of advertising and self-promotion.

• What is Gold membership?
  Gold membership is an option available to all Freelancer.com members that allows payment of a small monthly fee in to pay either a reduced commission or no commission on projects. In addition to direct savings, this may allow providers to bid lower, increasing their chances of winning projects, and resulting in savings for employers. Other advantages include:

  • Gold members are often regarded as more reliable, since membership requires a commitment to using our services.
  • Gold members pay 0% project commission for hiring workers
  • Gold members pay 3% project commission for being hired as a worker on a project
  • Gold membership provides a higher number of bids allowed for Service Providers (see Bids)
  • Employers may post projects that allow bidding only by Gold members.
  • Gold members are easily recognizable by the “G” icon next to their usernames.
  • Gold members are allowed to be qualified in 50 categories with up to 15 changes per month (instead of 25 with 10 changes per month).

  To upgrade your account to Gold status, verify that you have funds in your account and then click here.

  The monthly fee for gold membership is shown here.

• Why can't I find the option to rate a user?
  Feedback can be left only after a project is completed and paid in full (according to the winning bid amount) via Freelancer.com. If the full amount of the bid hasn't been transferred through our system, the feedback system for that project will not be activated. For this reason, we recommend that the employer and provider mutually agree on the final bid price and make adjustments accordingly before the project is awarded and accepted.

  There is also the ability for employers to submit an Incomplete Project report. If a service provider fails to complete a project after a reasonable amount of time, this report can be posted in lieu of normal feedback. The provider may respond to the report.

Employers

• How do I rate and write a review for a Service Provider?
  After a project is completed and the provider is paid the full amount of his or her winning bid (through Freelancer.com), the feedback system for that project will become available. Click on “My Account”, then on the “My Projects” button to open your project list. Near the bottom of the page, you'll find the “Rate Freelancers” section. Click on a provider's user name to access the feedback and rating system for that member. Please note that the feedback and rating system will not be available for projects paid outside Freelancer.com.
• How do I select a Service Provider for my project?
  Before selecting providers for your projects, we recommend reading our article entitled “Four Questions to Ask Yourself When Selecting a Bidder”.

  When you're ready to select a provider or providers, follow these simple steps:

  • Log in to Freelancer.com
  • Click on "My Account" in the main menu.
  • Click on the "My Posted Projects" button.
  • Go to the project you wish to award.
  • On the list of bids, locate the drop-down list for the selected bid, and select “Choose bid as the winning bid”.

  The service provider that placed each bid you select will be notified and may accept or decline the project. When the project is accepted, Freelancer.com will share the Buyer's and Provider's respective contact information with the other member and the project is consider started.

• How does Freelancer.com work for Employers?
  Hiring freelancers for your projects is simple:

  1. Register
  2. Post your project(s)
  3. Review bids and samples; communicate as necessary with bidders
  4. Select one or more providers
  5. Pay the provider on successful completion of the project
  6. Submit feedback (if payment was made through Freelancer.com)

  For more details on hiring, see our article entitled “How to Hire With Freelancer.com”.

• What fees will I pay as an Employer?
  It's free to join Freelancer.com! We only charge a small commission on regular projects. Gold Members don't pay this commission.

  Click here for a full schedule of fees.

• What if a Service Provider fails to complete my project?
  Employers may submit an Incomplete Project Report if a service provider fails to complete a project after a reasonable amount of time. This report provides an option for Service Buyers to rate a Provider when the option of feedback isn’t available because payment has been withheld. The provider may also respond to the report. Please note that Freelancer.com recommends making every attempt to resolve any issues before submitting an Incomplete Project Report. If you find it necessary to submit a report, keep your comments at a professional level and refrain from derogatory statements.

  Incomplete Project Reports can be submitted from the “My Posted Projects” section of your account.

• Why is my account temporarily suspended?
  There are several possible causes for suspension of a member’s account. Please check to see if any of the conditions below apply (Account suspension may be due to activity as an Employer or Provider.) :

  • Contact information or links to contact information posted in a project description, bid, or in the message boards. This is the most common reason for project removal and account suspension. Posting contact information is prohibited with the exception of projects in the "Full Time" section.
  • Posting invalid or disallowed content in a project description, bid or in the message boards: This may include advertisements, illegal or inappropriate information.
  • Posting a request for any exchange of funds between accounts without a valid project. Freelancer.com does not provide money transfer service. Any transactions meeting this criteria will be reversed.
  • Creation of multiple accounts. Members are allowed only one Freelancer.com account, which can be used for both hiring and acquiring jobs.
  • Your account balance has been negative for 35 days or more: Account suspension in this case is automatic and will still allow you to receive payments and make deposits. Your account will be re-activated as soon as the balance is 0 or positive.
  • Any action that violates the Freelancer.com Terms of Service may result in account suspension or termination. Please read and understand the Terms of Service before using our services.

  If you feel your account has been suspended in error, please submit a ticket through the Online Help Desk, along with a scanned copy of your photo ID.

• Why is there a refundable fee for posting a project? How does it work?
  When an Employer posts a project, a fee is deducted from that user’s account. This fee is normally refunded immediately when a Service Provider is selected and accepts the project or the project is properly cancelled. This fee may, however, be retained by Freelancer.com under the following conditions:

  • The project is found to be in violation of our Terms of Service. Violations may include such items as posting “fake” projects as advertisements or posting contact information in your project description. Buyers are encouraged to read the Terms of Service carefully before posting to avoid loss of fees, cancellation of projects and possible account suspension.
  • The project was not properly cancelled within 30 days after bidding closed. If a suitable Service Provider isn’t found for your project, please close your project promptly to avoid loss of the fee.

  The refundable fee serves two main purposes: It helps ensure quality projects for our freelancers and represents the Employer's commitment to the project.

Employers/Payments

• Can I make an advance payment to a Service Provider?
  While it is not unusual for service providers to request an advance payment, particularly on large-scale projects, employers are under no obligation to provide one and should only consider this option with well-trusted providers. Freelancer.com assumes no responsibility for any loss of funds due to advance payments.

  If an advance payment is agreed upon, we highly recommend using our Miletsone Payments system to transfer funds to the Provider. In addition to providing more security for both parties, this allows the use of Freelancer.com'sDispute Resolution Services if problems arise.

• Do I need to have sufficient funds in my account to accept a bid?
  No, you don't have to have the funds in your account before you accept a bid. However freelancers may require you to put up a Milestone payment in part or in full before they will start work. Additionally, freelancers that have been chosen with winning bids will see an icon on the final accept page of whether there are sufficient funds in your account to pay for the project in full or not before they complete acceptance.
• How do I cancel a Milestone Payment?
  For the protection of Service Providers, Milestone Payments cannot be cancelled by the Employer. If you feel a Provider isn’t entitled to a Milestone Payment, you should first contact the Provider to request a refund. If an agreement cannot be reached, please consider using Freelancer.com's Dispute Resolution Services.
• How do I deposit money into my account?
  You can deposit funds to your Freelancer.com account from your PayPal or MoneyBookers account, by Wire Transfer, or by credit card.

  To make a deposit:

  1. Log in to Freelancer.com
  2. Click on “My Account”
  3. Click the “Payments & Account” button
  4. Click on “Deposit money”
  5. Select the funding source
  6. Enter an amount
  7. Click the “Next” button and follow the on-screen instructions.
• How do I make a Milestone Payment?
  1. Log in to Freelancer.com
  2. Click on “My Account”
  3. Click the “Payments & Account” button
  4. Click on “New Milestone Payment”
  5. Select or enter a reason for the payment
  6. Select a Provider from the list or enter a username
  7. Enter the amount to be transferred
  8. Click the “Next” button and follow the on-screen instructions.

Employers/Projects

• How can I ask questions before selecting providers?
  Use the Private Message Board to discuss any details with potential providers before you make your selections. To access the Private Message board:

  1. Log in to Freelancer.com
  2. Click on “My Account”
  3. Click the “My Posted Projects” button
  4. Select the correct project
  5. Use the “PM” button next to a username to post a message for that user.
• How do I accept a bid from a service provider?
  Before selecting providers for your projects, we recommend reading our article entitled “Four Questions to Ask Yourself When Selecting a Bidder”.

  When you're ready to select a provider or providers, follow these simple steps:

  • Log in to Freelancer.com
  • Click on "My Account" in the main menu.
  • Click on the "My Posted Projects" button.
  • Go to the project you wish to award.
  • On the list of bids, locate the drop-down list for the selected bid, and select “Choose bid as the winning bid”.

  The service provider that placed each bid you select will be notified and may accept or decline the project. When the project is accepted, Freelancer.com will share the Employer's and Provider's respective contact information with the other member and the project is consider started.

• How do I cancel a project?
  1. Log in to Freelancer.com
  2. Click on "My Account" in the main menu.
  3. Click on the "My Posted Projects" button.
  4. Locate “the Click here to cancel a project” link at the bottom of your project list.
  5. Follow the on-screen instructions.
  6. Your request will be processed within 3 business days and any pending funds will be returned to your account.
• How do I edit a project after bidding starts?
  Changing your original project description after bidding starts is prohibited, since Providers base their bids on your description. You may, however, add additional information to your description to help bidders better understand the project. You may want to consider this is you’ve received several questions via the Project Clarification Board or private messages. To add details to a project:

  1. Log in to Freelancer.com
  2. Click on "My Account" in the main menu.
  3. Click on the "My Posted Projects" button.
  4. Locate the project in your list.
  5. Select “Edit” from the Actions list for the project.

Payments and Billing

• Can I use my existing Payoneer debit card with my Freelancer.com account?
  Yes. If you have an existing Payoneer debit card, you can use it instead of or in addition to a Freelancer.com Payoneer card. To set up your existing Payoneer card for use with your account, click the Withdraw money link from your Payments & Account page, then select the Freelancer.com Debit Card option. On the right hand side of the sign up page, follow the instructions under “I already have a Payoneer card.”

Service Providers

• Can I modify a bid I've already submitted?
  Yes. You may edit your bid on any active project:

  1. Log in to Freelancer.com
  2. Click on "My Account" in the main menu.
  3. Click the "Projects I’ve Bid On" button.
  4. Click on the project name in the list
  5. Locate your bid (it will be the only one with buttons)
  6. Click the “Edit Bid” button
• How do I deliver a project?
  You may deliver a project by any method agreed upon by you and the Employer. Depending on the project type, options may include upload to the Buyer’s hosting account, email, and more. You may, of course, use the Freelancer.com Private Message board to deliver individual files as well. We recommend using our Milestone Payment system to ensure payment on delivery of the finished project.
• How do I rate and write a review for an Employer?
  After a project is completed and you’ve been paid (through Freelancer.com) the full amount of your winning bid, the feedback system for that project will become available. Click on “My Account”, then on the “Projects I’ve Bid On” button to open your project list. Near the bottom of the page, you'll find the “Rate Employers” section. Click on a Employer’s user name to access the feedback and rating system for that member. Please note that the feedback and rating system will not be available for projects paid outside Freelancer.com.
• How does Freelancer.com work for Service Providers?
  Working through Freelancer.com is simple:

• Register
• Search for projects
• Submit bids and samples; communicate as necessary with employers
• Accept project awards when selected
• Complete the projects according to your agreement with the Employer
• Collect payments
• Submit feedback (if payment was made through Freelancer.com)

  For more details on finding and obtaining work, see our article entitled “Successful Freelancing with Freelancer.com”.