This article explains Upwork's contract-to-hire program, which allows clients to create a job post with a signal that there’s potential for the role to transition into full-time. If both parties agree, the contract can be converted to full-time employment, with the client paying a Conversion Fee. Clients can convert any contract, even if it wasn’t initially labeled as contract-to-hire. - AI helped create this summary
At times you might want to leave the option open to move a freelancer you’ve hired on Upwork to a full-time role in your company. Our contract-to-hire program allows you to signal that possibility to freelancers when you post your job.
When you label your job post as a contract-to-hire opportunity it will still start out as a freelance position and you can decide whether to move it into a full-time role later. If you decide to transition the role into a full-time employment arrangement, and your talent accepts, you can convert your contract for a fee and hire the talent full-time.
- Go to Jobs > Post a Job
- Choose Create a new job post
- Select either Short term or part time work or Longer term work
- On the scope of work screen, we’ll ask, “Is this job a contract-to-hire opportunity?”
- Select Yes
We always encourage you to talk with your talent before sending them a conversion request. This makes sure that they’re open to the opportunity and that they know an offer is coming.
To start the contract conversion process:
- Go to Jobs > All contracts
- Choose a specific contract and select the (…) menu
- Select Hire talent full time to start the conversion process. Even if you’re keeping an independent contractor or other type of work classification, you’ll still choose this option to convert your contract off Upwork
- You’ll be taken to a new page to fill out a form and make selections that are relevant to your contact. You’ll have an opportunity to enter a message to your freelancer that they’ll see in an email and a notification
- We’ll let you know if the freelancer accepts or rejects the request. If they accept, we’ll send you a link to pay the Conversion Fee
Contact our support team if you need more help.
After you convert a contract to hire a freelancer as an employee, you have the option to use Upwork’s platform for hiring with Any Hire. Any Hire is a specialized self-service platform within Upwork that helps you hire and onboard employees from around the world as either independent contractors or full-time, permanent employees.
With Any Hire, you can process payments, manage contracts, and view reports all in one convenient location. You can also request worker classification assistance if needed.
You’ll see the option to create an Any Hire contract offer after you convert your contract.
Frequently Asked Questions
Upwork talent can select if they are open to contract-to-hire roles in their preferences. When you search for talent, you can filter your results by Open to Contract-to-Hire and invite talent specifically interested in exploring a full-time opportunity.
Yes. We offer the option to convert any closed or active contract, whether it started as a contract-to-hire opportunity or not.
No. We highlight contract-to-hire opportunities so people open to full-time opportunities can identify them, but there is no obligation to do so.
To hire someone you found on Upwork as a full-time employee, you must follow the contract conversion process and pay the Upwork Conversion Fee. This allows you to handle payment and contracts independently. Avoiding the conversion process is a violation of our Terms of Service and could result in permanent loss of account access.
- Go to Jobs > All Contracts
- Choose the specific contract under All contracts and select the (…) menu
- Select Hire talent full time. Even if you’re keeping an independent contractor or other type of work classification, you’ll still choose this option to convert your contract off Upwork
Yes, by following the Upwork process for contract conversion and paying the Conversion Fee, you are following our Terms of Service. We hope you’ll continue to find talent on Upwork and build relationships that last.
We communicate with them during the conversion process so the status is clear to everyone. When talent agrees to the conversion and you pay the fee, we also send a confirmation email letting them know.
Yes, you’ll still need to pay the Conversion Fee to convert your contract, whether you use your own tools to hire or Any Hire to hire the freelancer as an employee.