How to Get Started on Fiverr (2026): Profile, Gigs & Levels

Updated September 12, 2026 · 5 min read · How we research

Compiled with AI-assisted research from the official help pages and sources listed at the end of this guide. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

Tip: fees and payout rules change often. Check the numbers on the platform's page and work out what you'll keep before you commit.

To start selling on Fiverr, switch to a freelancer profile, publish your first Gig on desktop, then verify your phone and ID so it goes live. Fiverr keeps 20% of each order, including extras and tips, and your 80% clears 14 days after the order is completed. New freelancers can run up to 4 active Gigs, and Level 1 requires 5 orders, 3 unique clients, $400 in earnings and a 4.4+ rating.

Before you start

You must be 18 or older. Users aged 13 to 17 can only sell through a parent's or guardian's account.
Freelancer profiles can be created on desktop or mobile web but not in the app, and Gigs can only be created on desktop.
You need a real phone number (Google Voice and other VoIP numbers are rejected), and each number can belong to one Fiverr account only.
Run one account from your real location. Multiple accounts or tools that hide your location can make an account ineligible to sell.

Step 1: Create your freelancer profile

If you already have a buyer account, click your profile picture > Become a Seller. New users choose the freelancer path at sign-up.
Upload a PDF resume or LinkedIn export (up to 10 MB) to pre-fill the profile, or enter everything manually.
Display name: Fiverr recommends your first name plus the first letter of your last name, in English, with no words like "expert" and no level references.
Photo: a clear, front-facing, current photo of you (or your company logo) on a plain background.
Title: a short, truthful tagline without descriptive words such as "expert", "best" or "Fiverr".
Add languages, an About section, skills, work experience, education and certifications. Keep contact details, URLs and company names out of the About text.
Click Continue, say whether you work as an individual or a team, then finish the New freelancer onboarding tasks on your dashboard. Your profile becomes visible only after those tasks are done.

Your country is set from where you registered, and changing it later requires proof of residency such as a utility bill.

Step 2: Build your first Gig

Go to My Business > Gigs > Create a New Gig and complete six tabs:

Tab	What to know
Overview	The title starts with "I will", the category is locked after publishing, and you can add up to 5 search tags
Scope and pricing	Up to 3 packages (Basic, Standard, Premium) priced in USD from $5, at least one revision each, plus optional extras such as Extra Fast Delivery
Description and FAQ	Up to 1,200 characters and up to 10 FAQs
Requirements	Questions the client must answer before the order starts
Gallery	1 to 3 images (1280 x 769 px recommended), an optional 20 to 60 second video, up to 2 PDFs
Publish	U.S. person declaration (W-9 for U.S. sellers), DAC7 for EU sellers where applicable, phone and personal verification

Your Gig limit depends on level: 4 active Gigs for new freelancers, 10 at Level 1 and Level 2, and 30 for Top Rated. Some categories have standardized minimum prices, for example $100 for full mobile app creation and $80 for a full WordPress website, and some are vetted-only, which means applying and waiting up to four weeks for approval. After publishing, an automatic review checks the Gig. Changing a live Gig's core service can get it pulled from search, so create a new Gig for a new service.

Step 3: Finish verification

Phone: Account settings > Account security > Phone verification, done on a computer, plus a security question.
Personal and business info: choose "Outside of my primary job or profession" (phone and security question only) or "As part of my primary job or profession" (adds personal or business details and ID). Traders' names and addresses can be shown to EU clients under the Digital Services Act.
ID: the ID task unlocks after your first Gig is published, and until it is complete your Gigs stay out of the Fiverr catalog. You need a physical, unexpired government ID and a smartphone for the photo and selfie. You typically get five attempts, and should wait 6 hours after a failure and switch off any VPN. Some new freelancers pay a one-time ID verification fee, which is included in Seller Plus Kickstart ($15 a month).

Step 4: Price for your 80%

Fiverr takes 20% of the order value, extras and tips included, and clients pay a separate service fee of 5.5% plus $3.50 on orders under $200. On a $50 package, you receive $40 and the client pays $56.25 before any taxes. Use all three packages so there is an entry option and a premium option, and run your numbers in our fee calculator or hourly rate calculator before you set prices.

Step 5: Win your first orders

Freelancers cannot message new clients first. Clients either order or message you from your Gig, or send a project brief. Through Briefs, Fiverr matches a client's brief to your skills and pricing, and you can reply with an offer, ask questions or pass. For requests that don't fit a package, send a Custom Offer.

Reply to every new message within 24 hours. Response rate counts first replies over the last 90 days, auto-replies don't count, and Level 1 needs 80%.
Keep all talk on Fiverr until an order exists. Third-party tools are allowed only after an order is placed.
Deliver with Deliver Now. The client then has 3 days to accept or ask for revisions before the order auto-completes. Use Share Draft for work in progress.
Stay active, because Gigs are paused after 30 days of inactivity.
From Level 1 you can buy pay-per-click Fiverr Ads.

Your earnings clear 14 days after completion, then you can withdraw to PayPal or Payoneer.

Step 6: Move up the levels

Level	Success Score	Rating	Response rate	Orders	Unique clients	Earnings
Level 1	5+	4.4+	80%	5	3	$400
Level 2	7+	4.6+	90%	20	10	$2,000
Top Rated	9+	4.7+	90%	40	20	$10,000

Level 1 and Level 2 are awarded automatically within 24 hours of qualifying, and Top Rated adds a manual review. If your metrics drop, you get a 30-day grace period. Level 1 unlocks 10 Gigs, Fiverr Ads and Seller Plus Standard ($25 a month, with 7-day clearing). Level 2 unlocks paid consultations and Seller Plus Premium ($49 a month). Top Rated brings 30 Gigs, 7-day clearing, Early Payout and priority support.

Common problems and fixes

Publish button blocked: you are missing a display name, a tax form (W-9 or DAC7), phone or email verification, personal and business verification, or a Gallery image.
Profile shows as unlisted: complete ID verification.
Gig denied or marked Requires Modification: open My Business > Gigs to read the reason, remove contact details or other policy issues and resubmit.
No phone code: codes expire after 10 minutes, only the latest works, and you can request 5 per 24 hours.
Warnings: they expire after 90 days, but two for the same violation or three different ones lead to suspension.

If Fiverr's 20% commission is too steep for your niche, compare Fiverr alternatives or Upwork, where you bid on posted jobs instead.

Sources

Fiverr fees, payouts & alternatives