5 Ways to Slash Upwork’s 20% Fees!
Here are some ways to reduce or avoid Upwork fees in 2022. Amazingly, these methods are totally in conformity with Upwork’s terms of service. Upwork is a helpful platform for both clients and freelancers. Upwork as a business needs to make a profit to keep the platform running. But here are some ways you can get around the Upwork fee as a freelancer.
1. Focus on long-term, ongoing contracts.
Upwork charges you 20% on every payment you receive as a freelancer using the platform. If you exceed $500 with a single client, you are only charged 10%. If you exceed $5,000 with a single client, you are only charged 5%. This is an edge Upwork has over Fiverr, which keeps charging you 20% forever. I give a lot of bonuses and complimentary services to my long-term clients.
2. Apply for enterprise client jobs.
These are premium clients. You can identify jobs posted by these clients by the blue building-like icon that shows on the job. You don’t get charged 20% for enterprise jobs, but just 10%. The downside is that at no point in the contract will the enterprise charge 5%. It remains at 10% from now till the kingdom comes.
3. Bring your own client to Upwork.
Many of us have local clients and clients we connected with on other platforms. I got some global clients who want to work with me after seeing my LinkedIn. I refer them to my Upwork for two reasons. One, payment to me in Nigeria. Two, I can use Upwork’s Direct Contract which has the advantage of escrow and protects you. You get charged 3% for this and not 20% as the usual fee.
4. Take your client off the platform.
Doing this totally frees you from Upwork fees. I know you are thinking your account will get suspended for this. No, not if you go through the legal means. Work with a client for two years after which you are free to go off the platform if the client wants. Waiting that long might be a lot. You and your client can arrange to pay a conversion fee. The conversion fee is very high. Honestly, it’s more seamless and simpler for you to keep your client on the platform.
5. Build the Upwork fee into your rate.
It is only normal for a business to build all expenses into its rates. Since the Upwork fee is an expense to you, load it into your fee to ensure the net income is profitable to you. However, to be fair to your clients, don’t overload this to make the fee burdensome for your client. The client is saddled with a lot hence, you can’t afford to deliver less than an excellent service to justify their payments.
See more Upwork Tips and Tricks on my LinkedIn
