Freelancers and agency managers can propose new milestones or changes to future ones in fixed-price contracts, but cannot alter active milestones. Changes must be approved by the client, and unaccepted proposals can be withdrawn or replaced. Clients can also propose changes, and freelancers can respond. Communication with the client is key to ensuring milestones reflect agreed-upon deliverables and terms.
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.
You can’t propose changes to an active milestone — only future milestones can be changed. Clients may be able to request changes to an active milestone, which you can approve or reject.
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.
Respond to a client’s request to edit an active milestone
Clients may be able to request changes to an active milestone — including the title, description, due date, or payment amount — as long as you haven’t submitted work for that milestone. (This feature is not available to everyone yet.)
How to review a change request on an active milestone:
- You’ll get a notification when a client submits a change request
- In the notification, select the link to see and review the request details
- Choose Approve or Reject
- If you approve, the milestone updates automatically — if the milestone amount increased, the client may need to add funds first
- If you reject, the milestone stays the same
What happens while a change request is pending on an active milestone:
- The client can edit the change request
- If you submit work on the active milestone OR the client releases payment on it, the change request is automatically canceled
- If neither of you takes action, the request expires after seven days
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.
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.