Working with Milestones

Working with Milestones allows clients to review freelancers’ workflow and pricing before placing an order. This transparency helps freelancers manage expectations and attract larger projects by demonstrating exactly what deliverables to expect and when.

Why should I work with Milestones?

Why it’s useful:

• Milestones are a great tool to boost conversion and Gig interest.
• Milestones are perfect for large projects that require multiple steps to complete.
• Transparency in the freelancer’s management process builds a level of trust and understanding with the client by clearly setting expectations.
• Milestones are delivered separately to help manage client expectations. This ensures clients know what to expect and by when.
• Freelancers are reimbursed per completed Milestone rather than waiting for the entire order to finish.

Before you begin

To add Milestones to a Gig, it must match the following eligibility:

• Price: The basic package must be at least $100 or more, and each Milestone must be at least $50.
• Minimum requirements: A minimum of 2 Milestones must be added.
• Maximum limits: Up to 5 Milestones to a Gig can be added.
• Available subcategories: This feature is only available in specific subcategories. Eligible subcategories include:

• • 3D Product Animation

  • Custom Application

  • On-Page SEO

  • Accounting & Bookkeeping

  • Customization

  • Online Trading Lessons

  • Ad Review & Optimization

  • E-Commerce Product Videos

  • Personal Finance & Wealth Management

  • Ads Setup & Management

  • Email Automations

  • Producers & Composers

  • Analysis, Valuation & Optimization

  • Email Platform Support

  • Profile Setup & Integration

  • Application Improvements

  • Financial Forecasting & Modeling

  • Search Engine Marketing Management

  • Applications & Registrations

  • Full SEO Package

  • Setup & Strategy Consultation

  • Articles & Blog Posts

  • Full Website Creation

  • Shoppable Content

  • Audience Development

  • General Legal Advice

  • Shopping Ads

  • Book & eBook Writing

  • Ghostwriting

  • Short Stories

  • Book Editing

  • Help/Consultation

  • Social Content

  • Bug Fixes

  • Legal Disputes

  • Social Media Management

  • Business Plans

  • Legal Documents & Contracts

  • Strategy & Planning

  • Campaign Management

  • Legal Research

  • Tax Consulting

  • Character Animation

  • Logo Design

  • Technical SEO

  • Cold Emails

  • Marketing Plans

  • Video Editing

  • Concept Development

  • Marketing Strategy

  • Voice Over

  • Consultation & Audience Research

  • NFT Art

  • Voice Search SEO

  • Consulting

  • Off-Page SEO

  • Website Design

How do Milestones work?

A single order contains multiple Milestones, and they function like this:

• Client charges: Clients are charged for the first Milestone upon placing the order and then for each additional Milestone as they are delivered.
• Clearance period: The clearance period is 14 days and 7 days for Pro, TRS or Seller Plus freelancers.
• Milestone approval: Once a Milestone is approved, the client initiates the next one and pays for it.
• Revision window: Clients have 8 days from delivery to request a revision or accept the current Milestone. If no action is taken, the order is marked completed.
• Delivery: A separate delivery is sent for each Milestone. The client has 10 days to pay for the next Milestone after they accept the delivery. If the client doesn’t pay, the order is stopped.
• Reviews: Clients can leave reviews for Milestone orders.
  • Learn more with reviews and ratings.
• Stopping an order: Clients can stop a Milestone order after any Milestone is accepted. If stopped, the order is marked completed, and you are paid for the approved work.
• Cancellations: Each Milestone can be canceled individually.

Note: As long as one Milestone is completed in an order, the rest of the canceled Milestones won’t affect the freelancer’s statistics.

Once a Milestone order is stopped, it can’t be resumed.

How to set up Milestones

To add Milestones, go to the Description & FAQ tab when creating or editing your Gig.

1. Click Start from scratch to create your first Milestone.
   
2. Click Add a Milestone and fill in the Name and description.
3. Select the Available packages and toggle Zoom on or off if needed.
   
4. Verify that all details are accurate and click Save Milestone.
5. After adding the first Milestone, a 'substep' (optional) can be added to the Milestone.
   1. Click 'Add a substep,' enter the substep name, and select the 'Available packages.'
   2. Verify that all details are correct and click "Save substep."
6. Save all changes by clicking Save and continue.

Adding Milestones to a custom offer

Milestones can be used in custom offers even if they are not applied to your Gig.

1. Go to Messages and select Inbox
2. Open a message and click Create an offer.
3. Select a Gig and click Choose an order type, then select Milestones.
4. Provide a name, completion time, and amount for each Milestone.

Note: Custom offers allow up to 6 Milestones per project.

Best practices

•  
  • Be specific: Define how many Milestones you need and what each Milestone should include.
  • Review the delivery: Carefully review and approve the delivery for each Milestone to ensure a successful start to the next one.
  • Encourage discussion: Discuss every step of the Milestone with the freelancer to monitor progress and avoid misunderstandings.
•  
  • Break it down: Use manageable, deliverable Milestones to give clients an idea of what it is like to work with you.
  • Define revisions: Set specific revisions per Milestone for a more organized project.
  • Use as motivators: Milestones act as motivators for both parties; clients have reduced risk, and you have the incentive to complete each task.

FAQs

• Once each Milestone is completed and approved, the freelancers will be paid. Freelancers are reimbursed per Milestone, rather than waiting for the entire order to be completed.
• Revisions are defined per Milestone and can be utilized at each individual step of the order.
• We recommend using Milestones for larger projects that require more flexibility through smaller, manageable steps.
• Clients are charged for the first Milestone when the order is placed. For subsequent steps, the client is charged when they approve the current Milestone and initiate the next one.
• Yes, clients can choose to stop an order after any Milestone is accepted. This does not cancel previous deliveries but stops the order from progressing to the next step. Once stopped, it cannot be resumed.
• Yes, a specific Milestone or the entire order can be canceled through the Resolution Center or Customer Support for valid reasons.
• If at least one Milestone was completed before the order was canceled, the order will still be considered as completed.
• Clients have 8 days from the delivery of each Milestone to either request a revision or accept it. If they take no action, the order stops and is marked as Completed.
• Clients have 10 days to pay for the next Milestone after they accept the delivery. If the client doesn’t pay, the order is stopped.