Freelancer-initiated Direct Contracts on Upwork allow clients to work securely with freelancers who invite them to Upwork, without having to post a job. Clients deposit funds upfront, which are protected until work is approved. Fixed-price contracts use milestones; hourly contracts are reviewed weekly. Clients are charged a Contract Initiation Fee and a Marketplace Fee.
If your freelancer has invited you to have a Direct Contract on Upwork, this means you'll get to work with a trusted talent and have the security and convenience of paying through Upwork.
In this article
- What are the benefits of a freelancer-initiated Direct Contract?
- What’s my cost to use Upwork’s Direct Contracts when a freelancer invites me?
- Do I have to create an Upwork account to accept a Direct Contract from a freelancer?
- How do I view my Direct Contract after accepting it from the freelancer?
- How do I review and accept a Direct Contract from a freelancer?
- How do I pay for a Direct Contract from a freelancer?
- Can I change the title of my freelancer-initiated Direct Contract?
- Can I start more contracts with my freelancer after I accept their Direct Contracts invitation?
- What happens if I'm not satisfied with my freelancer’s work after I’ve accepted a Direct Contract?
What are the benefits of a freelancer-initiated Direct Contract?
When a freelancer invites you to a Direct Contract on Upwork, you’ll get the following benefits:
- Payment protection — you’ll deposit funds, but we won’t release them until you've had the chance to review the work and approve it. You can dispute a payment or request a refund before the funds are released. This window is 4 days for hourly contracts and 14 days for fixed-price contracts.
- Convenient project management tools, such as invoices emailed directly to you and easily accessible reports.
What’s my cost to use Upwork’s Direct Contracts when a freelancer invites me?
You’ll pay a Contract Initiation Fee per contract and a Marketplace Fee. This fee may vary depending on market conditions, your chosen billing method, and other factors. We directly notify all impacted customers in advance of pricing updates.
Do I have to create an Upwork account to accept a Direct Contract from a freelancer?
Yes, you’ll need to create an Upwork account to begin the contract.
How do I view my Direct Contract after accepting it from the freelancer?
When you accept the contract, you'll receive an email confirmation. That email will have a link to allow you to view the contract. Once you’ve accepted the contract, you can see it on our platform in Your contracts.
How do I review and accept a Direct Contract from a freelancer?
You’ll receive an email with a few key details about the contract and a link to sign up for Upwork. Once you do, you can review and accept the contract. Learn more about how to review and accept a freelancer-initiated Direct Contract.
How do I pay for a Direct Contract from a freelancer?
Your payments will be processed securely on Upwork. Learn how to pay freelancers for Direct Contracts.
Can I change the title of my freelancer-initiated Direct Contract?
No, you can’t change the title of an existing contract. If you need a new title, you’ll need to ask the freelancer to send you a new contract and let them know your title preferences for future Direct Contracts.
Can I start more contracts with my freelancer after I accept their Direct Contracts invitation?
The freelancer who invited you to Direct Contracts needs to initiate all your contracts together to receive discounted freelancer service fees. If you want to work with any other freelancers on Upwork, you’ll need to initiate those contracts by posting a job or making a direct offer.
What happens if I'm not satisfied with my freelancer’s work after I’ve accepted a Direct Contract?
For fixed-price contracts, you have 14 days to review after your freelancer submits work and a payment request and ask the freelancer for changes. Doing nothing is considered approval under the Fixed-Price Service Contract Escrow Instructions, and we’ll automatically release funds to the freelancer’s pending payments.
For hourly contracts, you'll be invoiced on Mondays for any hours your freelancer worked the previous week. You'll have 4 days to review the hours before the payment is released on Friday. It is during these four days that you can file a dispute, if needed. Learn how to dispute a freelancer’s hours here.