Freelancer tutorial
Win your first project on Freelancer
You will complete your Freelancer.com profile, use your free bids on well matched projects, write a clear bid with milestones, and know the fees and how to withdraw.
What you’ll need
- A Freelancer.com account
- Two or three samples of your work
- A clear list of your skills
- A withdrawal method such as PayPal or a local bank
- 75 minutes
75 minutes, about. Your progress saves in this browser, so you can stop and come back.
Freelancer facts, live from our listing
- Fees
- 10% or $5 minimum on projects
- Minimum payout
- $50 after withdrawal fees
- Payout speed
- First withdrawal waits 15 days. After processing, PayPal, Skrill or Payoneer within 24 hours, express bank 2 to 3 business days, wire 3 to 5.
- Ways to get paid
- PayPal, Payoneer, Skrill, Wire transfer
Listing updated Oct 2026. Full Freelancer profile · Fee calculator
Complete your profile
You cannot bid until your profile is complete. Freelancer.com says so directly in its bidding FAQ.
- Photo: a clear, friendly photo of your face
- Headline: the service you sell and who it is for
- Rate: an hourly or starting price you can sustain
- Overview: the first lines show in search, so lead with the client's problem
- Skills: the exact words clients search for
- Portfolio: two or three real samples of your work
Add a real photo, a short headline that says what you do, and a summary that explains who you help and how. Upload two or three samples to your portfolio. Keep everything honest and specific.
Add the right skills
To bid on a project, you need at least one of the skills the project asks for. So your skills list decides which projects you can bid on.
Pick skills you can really deliver. A short, focused list is easier to match than a long random one.
Decide whether to take an exam
Exams are optional. They can show a client you know a skill. Exam fees vary by exam. As of 2026 they are typically free, $5, $10 or $15, and the price shows before you buy. Source: Freelancer fees and charges.
Start with free exams in your main skill. Only pay for one if it clearly matches the projects you bid on.
Spend your free bids wisely
Free members get 6 bids a month, as of 2026. One bid comes back every 120 hours. Source: Freelancer bid replenishment FAQ.
With so few bids, choose carefully. Bid on projects that match your skills, have a clear description and a realistic budget. Skip vague posts and anything that asks you to work or pay outside the site.
Show the answer
6. Freelancer's FAQ says free members earn 6 bids a month at 1 bid every 120 hours (Freelancer FAQ).
Write a clear bid
The bid form asks for your amount, delivery time in days, a proposal, and a list of milestones with amounts. You can also pay for optional upgrades, such as a highlighted bid. Source: Freelancers bidding FAQ.
- Greeting: Use their name if you know it
- Hook: Repeat their problem in one line
- Plan: Two or three steps of how you would do it
- Proof: One relevant sample or result
- Question: A smart question that starts a reply
- Sign-off: Short, with your name
Keep the proposal short. Greet the client, show you read their post, explain your plan in a few steps, share one relevant sample, and ask one useful question.
0 of 6 checks passed
- Opens with a name or a specific greeting, not “Dear Sir or Madam”
- Talks about the client (“you”, “your”) more than about yourself
- Describes a plan or next steps
- Points to proof: a sample, link or past result
- Ends with a question
- Between 60 and 220 words
Simple checks in your browser. A real client cares most that you understood their job.
Split the work into milestones
Milestone Payments are Freelancer.com's recommended way for clients to pay. The client deposits funds, which are held until the client releases them or a dispute is resolved. Once released, the money cannot be taken back.
Only clients can create milestones. You can request one from the project's Payments tab by entering an amount and a short description. Source: Requesting for Milestone Payments.
Know the fees
For a fixed price project, Freelancer.com takes 10% or $5, whichever is greater, as of 2026. For hourly projects the fee is 10% of each payment. Source: Freelancer fees and charges.
Price your bid with the fee in mind. The figure below shows what you keep from each $100.
Show the answer
$5, because 10% is less than the $5 minimum. Freelancer charges 10% or $5, whichever is greater, on fixed price projects (Freelancer).
Withdraw your earnings
Freelancer.com has a minimum withdrawal of $50 after fees, as of 2026. Methods include PayPal, Skrill, Payoneer, express withdrawal, international wire and local bank deposit. Withdrawal fees depend on the method, for example $1 for PayPal and $25 for an international wire. Your provider may charge extra.
- Client
- Freelancer.com
- PayPal or Payoneer
- Your bank
Compare options before your first withdrawal. Read Payoneer vs Wise for freelancers if you are not sure.
Done! You finished every step.
Nice work. Keep the momentum with one of these next.
Sources
Checked in October 2026. Platforms change their rules often, so follow the links for the latest version.
- Freelancer.com: Fees and charges freelancer.com
- Freelancer.com FAQ: Freelancers bidding freelancer.com
- Freelancer.com FAQ: Bid replenishment freelancer.com
- Freelancer.com Support: Requesting for Milestone Payments freelancer.com
- Freelancer.com FAQ: Milestone Payments freelancer.com
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