If you have a one-time project that you would like to outsource, there are a bunch of freelance sites out there to help you. Here a breakdown of the common sites out there (and a bit about each from my personal POV). Almost all of the links use my affiliate ID, and I would love it if you used them 🙂
Be sure to check in tomorrow and for my post on the “Do’s and Dont’s” of project posting.
- Elance
There is an monthly subscription fee, per category, of apx. $20, plus a per project (when you win a project) fee – min $10 or 8.75%, whichever is greater. Offers escrow service. If you check off this option when bidding, the client must fund the escrow prior to the project being started – this reduces the risk of not getting paid. - Guru
There is an annual subscription fee, per category, of apx. $80, plus a per project (when you win a project) fee – 5%, plus 3% if the client pays via credit card (and who doesn’t?). - vWorker (“vW” for short)
No subscription; You pay a steep per project (when you win a project) fee – 15%. Required escrow service - Scriptlance (“SL” for short)
No subscription; You pay a per project (when you win a project) fee – min $5 or 5%, whichever is greater. Offers escrow service. Lot of foreign labor here, lot of technical jobs. There are some good data entry ones, but you’ll be competing with a lot of foreign labor. - Freelancer (“GAF” for short)
No subscription; You pay a per project (when you win a project) fee – min $5 or 10%, whichever is greater. Offers escrow service. Tremendous amount of foreign labor here. There are a lot of data entry and writing projects, but you’ll be competing with a lot of foreign labor.You get a certain amount of bids per month to begin, and each month you’re a member, you get an additional bid. - iFreelance
There is an annual subscription fee, per category, of apx. $65 (for the “gold” membership level); no project fees. Payment terms are set by you, they do not offer payment services or escrow, which can be risky. So be sure to ask for a deposit to ensure some payment and get to know your client before accepting a project. - GetACoder(“GAC” for short)
A new site that I am still testing out. I won one of the first projects I bid on, only to have the client cancel it after we talked about his project … and there haven’t been a lot of interesting projects (for me) lately. Offers escrow service. - NetAFreelancer
Another new site. Not a lot there, but the potential is there. You pay a per project (when you win a project) fee – min $5 or 5%, whichever is greater. Offers escrow service. - GoFreelance
They advertise an awful lot, but I have never signed up with them. Once your 1-week trial ends (and it’s hard to land a project in one week) the monthly fee of $29.95 seemed a bit high. That’s an annual fee of $360! I have had some friends signup, but they aren’t the type to do this for a living, so I have really concrete to work from. If anyone has some opinions, I’d love to hear from you!
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