Freelancer and client: a fruitful relationship

Every freelancer and client pair is different, and as a result, each project will have its own unique set of needs and concerns. However, there are some universal questions that should be asked when hiring any freelancer into your business (or at least considered). These questions are designed to cover the ground rules for all freelance contracts; they’re not intended to be exhaustive or all-encompassing, but they should help you start thinking about what’s important to you .

When hiring a freelancer ask the right questions first

• How long have you been doing this?
• What projects have you worked on in the past? Do they align with what I’m looking for?
• What industry experience do you have and how does it apply to my project needs (or lack thereof)?
• What type of work do you enjoy doing most, and why? This can give a clearer sense of which aspects of your project might appeal most to them.

1. What is your hourly rate?

Asking a freelance worker what their hourly rate is may seem like an obvious question to you, but it’s actually one of the most important ones. Why? Because knowing how much money you’re going to be shelling out for a project will help you determine whether or not it’s worth hiring this person in the first place.

If you’re looking for someone who charges less than average rates (which usually run between $20-$50/hour), try asking friends who work in similar fields if they know anyone who might fit your needs better than others do–you never know when word-of-mouth could lead directly towards finding exactly what you need!

2. How do you charge for your time?

The next question to ask is how the freelancer charges for their time. The answer to this question can help you determine whether or not they’re a good match and whether they have the right attitude toward your project. There are several common methods:

• Flat rate — This is when a freelancer charges one price for all projects, regardless of length or difficulty. It’s best used when working with someone who has experience in a particular field (e.g., graphic design).
• Hourly rate — This method charges by the hour and works best when there isn’t much risk involved (e.g., copywriting).
• Fixed price — A fixed-price contract means that the client agrees to pay an agreed upon amount up front before any work begins on the project; however, both parties should expect changes during production.

3. Do you charge for project management time?

This question is a good one to ask because it can help you understand how much time your project manager is actually spending on each task. If they’re not charging for their time, that’s great–but it raises some red flags if they are. A freelancer who charges for project management time should be able to provide an itemized breakdown of their costs and explain why they charge what they do.

4. What are the payment terms for freelancer work?

• What are the payment terms for all work done?

This is the first question you should ask a freelancer, because it’s important to establish a working relationship based on mutual trust and respect. Payment terms should be clear and agreed upon before work begins, which means that if you’re hiring someone from overseas or from another country where there are different laws governing contracts (such as Canada), they should be consistent with other contracts you have signed and your business model. The best way to do this is through an email agreement that specifies how much money is being paid upfront versus after delivery of services; whether payment will be made via check or PayPal (or both); what happens if one party fails to fulfill their end of the bargain (e.g., does this result in forfeiture of funds already paid?).

5. Are there any expenses that I should expect you to cover as a freelancer?

This is an extremely important question. The answer will tell you whether or not your freelancer is going to be a good fit for the project, and whether or not they’re going to cost you more than necessary.

If they’ve got their own equipment and software, that’s great! You don’t need to worry about providing them with anything beyond an internet connection and access to your company email account (which they should have anyway). But if they’re going to be using something that belongs solely in your office space–a printer or scanner, for example–then this should be factored into the overall price of the project before any contracts are signed.

6. Will I own the rights to any intellectual property created during this contract?

• Will I own the rights to any intellectual property created during this contract?

You should own the rights to any intellectual property created during this contract, and your freelancer should agree with that. If they don’t, it’s likely that you will be required to sign an additional agreement before they start working on your project that gives them ownership of anything made by them while under contract with you. If this happens and they make something amazing (like a website), then there’s no way for you ever again being able to use it in another project without paying them again!

7. Can I get a breakdown of your hourly rate for every task that is part of this contract?

• What is the task?
• How long will it take to complete?
• What skills and experience are required to complete this task?
• How much are you willing to pay for this particular task.

8. Will this contract be ongoing or will there be a fixed end date where we agree that our relationship has ended as a freelancer?

This is a key question to ask your freelancer. You need to know how much money they are charging, but also if the contract will be ongoing or if there is an end date.

If there is no end date specified in the contract, then make sure that your freelancer has an understanding of when they expect to finish.

Freelancing is the future!

Any freelancer worth their salt will be able to answer these questions, and if they can’t then it might be time to move on. You don’t want someone who doesn’t know how they charge or what their rates are going to be – especially when they’re handling your money! It’s important that both parties understand each other’s expectations before any work begins so there aren’t any surprises later down the line.