Building longer-term work relationships is one of the many benefits of using Upwork as a freelancer. When you finish one contract, you can propose another to continue working together.
If you would like to pursue another contract with an existing client, you can create and send a new contract with new terms directly for their review. Once you send the proposal, clients can respond with a final offer.
If you have a project or offer consultations on Project Catalog, you can propose a contract if a prospective client messages you from your project or consultation offering, even if you have not worked together before.
Propose a new contract to an existing client
You can propose a new contract to both past and current clients on Upwork.
There are several places to propose a new contract to an existing client:
- Messages (all past clients)
- Your active contracts (if you have a current contract with the same client)
- Your Contract history (all current and past clients)
Under Messages:
- Select View contract
- Select the Propose new contract button on the Overview page or under the (...) options menu
Within each of your contract workrooms, you can find Propose new contract under the (...) options menu.
Propose a new contract to a prospective client on Project Catalog
You can propose a new contract to prospective clients if these two conditions apply:
- You have a project or consultation offering on Project Catalog
- The prospective client messages you directly from your project or consultation
If a prospective client messages you from Project Catalog, you’ll see a Propose New Contract option in messages with that client. Select the Propose New Contract link to start the process.
Limitations
There are some limitations to proposing new contracts.
- You can only submit one proposal per client at a time.
- You must have worked with the client and received at least one payment from them, or the client must have messaged you directly from your project or consultation offering on Project Catalog.
- You cannot propose a new contract to Enterprise clients.
Notifying the client
Anytime you propose a new contract, we automatically notify your client by both emailing them and sending a note via Upwork Messages. It will display in their Pending Contracts.
Your client can then choose to approve the proposal, make a counteroffer, or decline the proposal.
Withdraw a proposed contract
Proposed contracts can't be edited, but they can be withdrawn.
- Go to Contract history and select the proposed contract in the Pending contracts section
- Choose the Withdraw button to delete the proposal
If you withdraw a proposed contract, you can choose to submit a new one in its place.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, you can’t edit a proposed contract that has already been sent. However, you can withdraw the contract and create a new version.
In Messages, you’ll need to select View Contract, then find the Propose a New Contract button on the Overview page or in the (...) options menu. Under the My Jobs tab, you will find Propose New Contract in the (...) options menu.
If a client messages you from your project or consultation offering in Project Catalog, you’ll see a Propose New Contract option at the top of your message history.
There are three limitations to proposing a new contact:
- You can only submit one proposal per client at a time.
- You cannot propose a new contract to clients without at least one payment on a contract with you, unless they have messaged you from your project or consultation offering on Project Catalog.
- You cannot propose a new contract to Enterprise clients.
