How to Pay Freelancers on Upwork

Introduction

Welcome to Upwork! Don’t worry, paying freelancers on Upwork is an easy and straightforward process thanks to the platform’s built-in payment system. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it.

Get Ready to Pay Your Freelancer

1. Fund Your Account

Before anything else, make sure your Upwork account has enough funds to cover the freelancer’s payment. You can do this by setting up a billing method. Upwork accepts credit card, PayPal, or bank transfers.

2. Set Up a Contract

After finding the perfect freelancer for your project, set up a contract with them. The contract should detail the scope of the project, the agreed upon payment, and the intended delivery deadlines.
Note: Upwork offers two types of contracts — the Hourly Contract and the Fixed-Price Contract.

3. Review and Approve Work

Upon completion of the work, you will need to review it. Satisfactory work should be approved so the freelancer can be paid.

Make the Payment

1. Hourly Contracts

For hourly contracts, Upwork automatically bills you every week for the hours logged by the freelancer. The hours worked by the freelancer are visible on your Upwork account.

2. Fixed-Price Contracts

For fixed-price contracts, you’re required to deposit the agreed upon amount into escrow at the beginning of the contract. Once you’re happy with the work provided, you can release the funds from escrow to the freelancer.

Conclusion

As an employer, it’s important to remember to always review and verify work before making a payment. This helps ensure you’re paying only for high-quality, satisfactory work. On Upwork, you’re given complete control over the payment process to ensure trust and security.