Milestones are used to define the deliverables you will submit, and the payment you will receive for those deliverables, during a fixed-price contract. Together with your client, you can plan your deliverables and set expectations throughout the contract.
As a freelancer or agency, you can help manage your fixed-price contracts by proposing changes to your client for future milestones, including editing the amount or due date or asking your client to delete the milestone. You can also propose additional milestones or a new contract.
You cannot propose edits to an active milestone or ask that it be deleted. You and your client can only make changes for future milestones.
When you submit your proposed changes, your client will see the proposal and have the option to accept or reject your suggestions.
Pro tip:
Discuss any changes you would like to make with your client before submitting a request.
Add a new milestone
- Go to My Jobs 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
Note: If you are working on an agency contract, only the agency manager can submit a request to add or change future milestones.
Propose milestone changes
- Go to My Jobs 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 are 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 has not yet accepted or rejected your request you can withdraw your suggestions. To do so:
- Go to My Jobs and open the contract
- From Milestones & Earnings, choose View Changes
- Choose Withdraw
If you want to edit your suggestions please 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 adding or making changes to future milestones themselves. You should not work on a milestone until it is accepted and funded by your client. If the client does not reply to your proposal, you can reach out to them via Messages.
If you didn't agree to the milestone, you can ask the client to delete the milestone. If the milestone wasn't what you were expecting, reach out to your client to discuss the milestone to determine whether it can be edited or should be deleted.