Reviewed & Fact-checkedIf you’ve never done it before, figuring out how to hire a freelancer can be a bit overwhelming. Should you hire from your network? Use a platform like Upwork? Or is there some secret method you don’t know about yet?
Whether you’re looking to add a freelancer to your team or you’re a freelancer looking to hire your first sub-contractor, this guide will help you understand the ins and outs of hiring someone who won’t disappoint.
Step 1. Sign Up for Upwork (FREE)
As one of the largest freelance platforms globally, you can trust Upwork’s services and processes.
Get Weekly Freelance Gigs via Email
Enter your freelancing address and we'll send you a FREE curated list of freelance jobs in your top category every week.
I’ve personally hired a lot of freelancers through Upwork and it makes the process of hiring your first freelancer much more manageable and less scary.
Upwork hosts professionals from a wide range of domains, but predominantly, you’ll find experts in online marketing, programming, and website design.
The platform is secure for payments and provides users with tools for time-tracking and communication.
To hire your first freelancer, I suggest you sign up for Upwork as a client right now and see what options there are.
Step 2. Analyze Your Needs
If you want to hire the right freelancer, you need to know exactly what the job is and what it implies.
Take a step back and think about what you’re really trying to achieve:
What are your end goals?
Instead of just “writing,” look for someone who “grows traffic through quality articles.”
Instead of just “social media marketing,” find someone who “grows sales from Facebook and Pinterest.”
What are your timelines and deliverables?
Clear timelines will help you determine if you need a long-term collaboration or a one-time project.
Having specific deliverables allows you to set milestones right in Upwork’s platform.
Which skills should your freelancer excel at?
Beyond technical skills, look for freelancers who are:
- Friendly & polite in communication
- Open to constructive feedback
- Reliable with deadlines
- Transparent and easy to talk to
- Curious about their field
- Determined & consistent
And keep notes of answers to all of these questions, because you’ll use them later when you fill out your first Upwork brief. From there, thousands of freelancers (or more) can bid for your job. It’s awesome.
Step 3. Establish Your Budget
Before posting on Upwork, you must understand the financial investment required.
Freelancers are independent contractors, so you don’t pay taxes or fees that apply to employees.
You can avoid overhead costs like computers or healthcare when hiring freelancers.
Research average rates for the type of freelancer you want to hire.
For instance, US-based developers may cost between $70 and $300/hour, while South Asia-based developers start around $30/hour.
Don’t aim for the cheapest freelancers unless you’re looking for beginners or low-quality work.
A freelancer who is happy with your offer may become a long-term collaborator, so be fair from the start.
Step 4. Submit a Compelling Job Post on Upwork
Your job description is crucial for attracting the right freelancers.
For a well-designed Upwork job listing, include:
- A comprehensive title (this catches freelancers’ eyes when skimming)
- A short company presentation
- The type of work you’re looking for
- Specific duties and tasks
- Required skills (and their level)
- Project length and expected availability
- Budget details (or ask freelancers to send their rates)
Use Upwork’s questionnaire feature as a pre-interview tool.
Ask freelancers to send samples or portfolio links.
Step 5. Select the Best Candidates
Once your job is posted, it becomes visible and freelancers from all over the world can apply.
Trim down applicants to include only those matching your specifications.
Check pre-interview questionnaires and sort applicants based on reviews and overall scores.
Upwork offers a compatibility tool to sort applicants from most to least compatible which is SUPER helpful.
Start with applicants that have the most (and best) reviews.
Check if they fit within your budget and have the skills you need.
Don’t forget to use Upwork’s invite feature for promising freelancers.
Step 6. Interview Your Shortlist
Meet top candidates via Upwork’s video call feature when possible.
During the interview, consider covering:
- Their portfolio and previous work samples
- Their thoughts on your project
- Experience with similar projects
- Availability and current workload
- Openness to feedback
- How they handle client dissatisfaction
- Preferred communication methods
After interviews, you should have 2-3 top candidates.
The person most open to communication with high-quality work is often the best choice.
Step 7. Hire the Freelancer on Upwork
Once you’ve chosen your freelancer, click to hire them through Upwork’s platform.
Establish important next steps:
Do you need an NDA?
If sharing sensitive information, consider an NDA through Upwork.
Will this be work-for-hire?
Ensure they agree that creations belong to your company after payment.
How will they report progress?
Establish protocols for progress reports and communication.
Talk about handling errors and mistakes through Upwork’s messaging system.
8. Follow Progress & Provide Feedback
Even with a qualified freelancer, you must follow progress and provide constructive feedback.
Use Upwork’s milestone feature to track project stages.
Consider starting with a test period of a few weeks to ensure fit.
Try saying, “Let’s try this out for a few months and then revisit to make sure it’s good for both of us.”
Final Thoughts
Learning how to hire a freelancer isn’t complicated but it can definitely feel overwhelming at first.
The process is similar to online job applications, but without the long-term commitment of a traditional hire.
The freelancing market on Upwork is wide and diverse, allowing you to find specialists in almost any domain.
Follow this advice to hire your first freelancer without disappointment in the end result.
Keep the conversation going...
Over 10,000 of us are having daily conversations over in our free Facebook group and we'd love to see you there. Join us!
