How to submit a proposal on Upwork

Learn how to submit, edit, and customize proposals on Upwork, set competitive rates, and use Uma™ AI to improve your proposals.

In this article

• How do I submit a proposal?
• How do I decide my rate or bid on my proposal?
• Can I edit a proposal?
• Can I edit proposals generated by Uma?

How do I submit a proposal?

When you find a project you're interested in, you can use Connects to submit a proposal by following these steps:

1. On the job post page, select Apply now
2. Choose whether to submit the proposal as a freelancer or an agency
3. Set your terms — your hourly rate and suggested scheduled rate increases, or your bid on a fixed-priced project and whether you want to be paid by project or milestone
4. Estimate how long the project will take
5. Write your cover letter. Describe what you can do for the client, ask questions about the project, and suggest next steps, such as a chat or video call via Upwork Messages. Once you begin, you can select Get tips to get tips from AI to improve your letter.*
6. Answer any client’s screening questions
7. Show the client what you can do — add work samples, or link items from your profile such as past Upwork jobs, portfolios, and certificates in the Profile highlights section. (This feature is not available to agencies)
8. If boosting is available, decide if you want to boost your proposal and set your Connects amount
9. Review and proofread your proposal, then select Send
    

Good to know: When you start a proposal, you may be asked to confirm your identifying information as part of Upwork’s Know Your Customer process. This helps keep the platform safe and spam-free.
 

*Some job posts may require a video interview with Uma™, Upwork’s Mindful AI instead of a cover letter. You can still include written notes in your proposal. Learn more about Uma-powered interviews.

Learn more about creating winning proposals and succeeding on Upwork.

How do I decide my rate or bid on my proposal?

Here are a few factors to consider when setting your rate or bid:

• Competitive rates — Check profiles of freelancers with similar skills and experience to gauge market rates. With a Freelancer Plus membership, you can view competitor bids on specific jobs
• The job — How much time, effort, and skill it will take? Complex jobs may call for higher rates, while simpler ones may mean you’re willing to lower your bid — but be cautious if clients try to convince you to charge less than your personal minimum by saying it’s an easy job
• Circumstances — You might offer a lower rate for long-term projects that provide steady work, and a higher rate for short-term or urgent projects
• Expenses — Freelancers cover their own business costs, from office supplies to health insurance. Factor these in along with your cost of living and financial needs

Get more insights on setting your rates as a freelancer.

Can I edit a proposal?

You can edit most parts of a proposal up to six hours after submitting it, or until the client has viewed it. After that, you can still edit the terms until a client accepts or rejects your proposal. Learn more about editing a proposal here.

Can I edit proposals generated by Uma?

Yes. Uma-generated proposals are fully customizable, and it's a great idea to review and edit your proposal to make sure it's accurate and reflects your personal style. Uma can also proofread or refine proposals you've drafted. Note: Uma-generated proposals aren't available to all freelancers.