Understanding Payment Schedules on Upwork

Hello!I understand that in the early stages, freelancers often have several queries about how the payment process works on Upwork. Your question about the timeline for getting paid is a common one, and here’s the answer to it:

Payment Timeline Overview

When you get hired on Upwork, and the client funds the milestone or the hourly contract, it triggers the start of your payment process.

• Fixed-Price contracts: As soon as you submit your work and request for a payment, and your client approves it, the funds are immediately made available for you.
• Hourly contracts: Upwork follows a weekly billing cycle for hourly contracts. Once the week-long Work Diary gets approved by the client, which happens in the subsequent week, the payment enters a standard 5-day security period. After these 5 days, the funds are made available for you to withdraw.

In a Nutshell

In general, payments could take anywhere from a few minutes (for Fixed-Price contracts) to 10 days (for Hourly contracts), depending upon the client’s approval and invoice schedule.

Remember

Some vital things to remember while you’re working on Upwork:

• Communication is key: Always keep communication lines open with your client.
• Invoicing: Make sure you understand how the invoicing process works.
• Due diligence: Check your Upwork account regularly for updates and notifications.

Feel free to ask if you have more questions!