This article explains how to propose changes to milestones in a fixed-price contract on Upwork. You’ll learn how to request updates to future milestones — like changing the due date, payment amount, or requesting a new one entirely. It also covers who can submit requests and suggests it’s important to talk to your client first. - AI helped create this summary
You and your client can use milestones to plan out deliverables and payments throughout a fixed-price contract.
As a freelancer or agency manager, you can suggest changes for future milestones, such as updating the amount or due date, or requesting that a milestone be removed. You can also propose new milestones or a new contract.
Active milestones can’t be edited — only future milestones can be changed.
When you send a request, your client can review and either accept or decline your proposed updates.
Pro tip:
Discuss the changes you'd like with your client before sending your request.
Add a new milestone
- Go to Your active contracts and open the contract
- In the Overview tab, choose the Propose a new milestone link
- Enter the details and choose Save
- Select the Send Request button to request approval from your client
Propose milestone changes
- Go to Your active contracts and open the contract
- In the Overview tab, choose the Manage milestones button
- Find the correct milestone and choose the pencil icon
- Edit the milestone details and choose Save
- Select the Send request button to request approval from your client
Note:
If you're working on an agency contract, only the agency manager can submit a request to add or change future milestones.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your client hasn't accepted or rejected your request yet, you can withdraw your suggestions.
To do so:
- Go to Your active contracts and open the contract
- From Milestones & Earnings, choose View Changes
- Choose Withdraw
If you want to edit your suggestions, withdraw your request and submit a new one.
No, you can propose changes to future milestones to your client, or propose new milestones or a new contract, but you cannot edit active milestones as a freelancer.
The milestone request will not expire. Your client will have to either accept or decline your proposed changes before they can add or make changes to future milestones. You shouldn't work on a milestone until it is accepted and funded by your client. If the client does not respond, you can reach out to them via messages.
If you didn't agree to the milestone, you can ask the client to delete it. If the milestone wasn't what you were expecting, reach out to your client to discuss whether it can be edited or should be deleted.