How to Request a Payment on Upwork

Understanding Upwork Payment System

Firstly, Upwork uses an automated payment system. This means that you don’t actually have to manually request payment from your clients. Instead, the payment process will be initiated automatically upon completion of the contract or as per the payment schedule specified in your contract.

Few Steps to Make Sure of Your Payment

Milestones and Fixed-Price Contracts

• Once you have completed a milestone for a fixed-price job, you will need to submit the work through the Upwork platform.
• After the work is submitted, your client will have 14 days to request changes or approve the work.
• If your client does not respond within 14 days, the payment will be released to you automatically.

Hourly Contracts

• For an hourly job, you need to log your hours through the Upwork desktop app.
• Every week, from Monday to Sunday, the hours that you log will be invoiced to the client.
• The client then has until the following Friday to review and dispute (if there is any problem) the hours worked.
• If there are no issues, the payment is processed to you on the following Wednesday.

Requesting Early Payment

Keep in mind that Upwork does not usually allow you to request early payment. This is to protect both the clients and the freelancers and to maintain a standard workflow.

Before you request an early payment, it is always a good idea to have a dialogue with your client. Ensure that they are comfortable with this arrangement and are aware that you are requesting the payment ahead of schedule.

Upwork’s Payment Protection

Remember, Upwork’s Payment Protection is there to help ensure that you get paid for all the work you have done. It offers protection for both hourly and fixed-price contracts. Just make sure you are adhering to all the guidelines and prerequisites specified by Upwork and that all work for a milestone or contracted hours are tracked and documented on the platform itself.

I hope this answers your question. Happy freelancing!