You can lower your hourly rate on an existing freelance contract anytime, but only clients can raise it. Learn how to adjust your rate and when changes take effect.
In this article
- Can I change my contract's hourly rate?
- How do I lower my rate on an hourly contract?
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When does the new rate take effect?
Heads-up: As part of a test we are running, some clients may choose to adjust your hourly rate so you receive your full earnings. This feature, which only applies to hourly contracts, is currently being tested on a limited number of contracts with a limited number of clients.
What this means for you
If your client enables this option, your hourly rate on the contract will increase. This means you receive the full intended earnings from the contract even with the usual service fee being deducted from your pay. You don’t need to take any action — the client enables the adjustment directly from the contract workroom.
What happens when your client enables it
When your client confirms the adjustment:
- The hourly rate on the contract increases
- The update appears in the contract workroom
- An activity record is added under Recent activity
- You receive an email notification
The new rate applies only to future hours billed. Hours billed before the adjustment continue using the previous rate.
What happens if my client increases my rate later?
If your client increases your hourly rate in the future, the contract will continue using the same setup. You’ll receive notifications whenever the rate changes.
Important things to know
- This feature applies only to eligible hourly contracts
- Fixed-price contracts aren’t included in this test
- Contracts with agency freelancers aren’t eligible
- Once enabled, the adjustment remains active for the rest of the contract (not applied to hours already billed)
Do I need to accept the adjustment?
No. Once the client confirms the change, the contract rate updates automatically.
Can the rate be lowered after this is enabled?
No. Once the adjustment is activated, decreasing the hourly rate on that contract is disabled.
Can I change my contract's hourly rate?
As a freelancer, you can lower your hourly rate on an existing contract at any time. But only your client can increase the rate.
A couple of exceptions to keep in mind:
- If you're part of an agency, you won’t be able to change the rate yourself. Your agency manager handles that
- If there's a scheduled rate increase already set up, you won’t be able to change your rate
How do I lower my rate on an hourly contract?
- Go to Your active contracts
- Open the contract
- Select Contract details
- Click the pencil icon next to your current rate
- Enter your new rate and save
That’s it — no approval needed from the client to lower your rate.
When does the new rate take effect?
Right away — but only for hours you log moving forward. Anything you’ve already logged will still be paid at the original rate.
Also good to know: your work history will update to show the new rate moving forward.