Chapter 1 of 9 · 4 checks · 3 min
Choose platforms and read their fees
Each marketplace works differently and charges differently. Know how you will find work and what you keep before you invest time in a profile.
Pick platforms by how clients find you thereShould
Why it matters and how to check
Platforms differ in who does the searching. On Upwork, clients post jobs and freelancers send proposals, which cost Connects. On Fiverr, you publish gigs (fixed service packages) and buyers search and order them. Toptal screens freelancers before matching them with clients. Contra lets you build a portfolio profile, get discovered and invoice clients, including work found elsewhere.
Proposal-based platforms reward strong writing and fast, targeted applications. Gig-based platforms reward a clear, well-packaged service. Screened networks reward passing a demanding evaluation.
Check it: you can say in one sentence how clients will find you on each platform you join, and you have chosen at most two to start.
Do
- Start with one or two platforms and do them well
Avoid
- Half-finished profiles on five platforms at once
On Upwork, check the service fee shown before each proposalMust
Why it matters and how to check
Upwork's help centre says the freelancer service fee ranges from 0% to 15% per contract and is shown before you submit a proposal or accept an offer. Once a proposal, offer or contract is sent, the fee is locked in for that contract. Proposals also cost Connects, and Upwork says the number of Connects needed varies by job and is shown on the job post.
Because the fee varies, calculate your take-home amount for each job rather than assuming a fixed share.
Check it: before each proposal, you read the fee and Connects cost shown for that job and confirmed the job is worth it after both.
Do
- Read the fee shown on each job before applying
Avoid
- Assuming the same fee applies to every contract
On Fiverr, price gigs knowing the seller fee and clearance periodMust
Why it matters and how to check
Fiverr's help centre describes a 20% fee on each order a freelancer completes, including tips, and a clearance period after an order is completed before earnings are available to withdraw: 14 days as standard, and 7 days for some seller programmes. Buyers also pay their own service fee on top.
Set gig package prices so the amount after the seller fee still meets your minimum rate, and plan cash flow around the clearance period.
Check it: for each gig package, you have calculated what you receive after Fiverr's fee, and you know when earnings from a completed order become available.
Do
- Price packages from your take-home amount backwards
Avoid
- Counting order value as money you can spend today
Know what Toptal and Contra expect before applyingShould
Why it matters and how to check
Toptal describes a screening process in stages: a language and personality interview, an in-depth skill review, a live screening with domain experts and a test project, which Toptal says takes 1 to 3 weeks. Prepare for a significant time commitment and a real assessment, and apply when your skills and communication are strong.
Contra says it does not charge freelancers commission, and its pricing page notes that this does not include payment processing fees charged by third-party providers. Optional paid plans add features.
Check it: you have read Toptal's screening page before applying, and you have read Contra's current pricing page for processing and payout fees before your first invoice there.
Do
- Block real time in your calendar for a Toptal test project
Avoid
- Applying to a screened network before your portfolio is ready