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How to place your first freelance order

Buying a freelance service for the first time — how to pick a seller, check the package, pay safely and accept the delivery.

  • Figures checked on
  • Platforms compared: 12
workana.com · contra.com · zinnhub.com ·

  1. Shortlist three sellers

    Compare portfolios in your style, recent reviews and response times. Message each with one question and see how they answer.

  2. Read the package, not the headline price

    Check what the package includes — revisions, source files, delivery time — and what the platform adds to the price at checkout.

  3. Pay on the platform

    Pay through the marketplace so your payment is held until you accept the work. Never pay a seller directly to save a fee.

  4. Send the brief straight away

    Delivery clocks often start when you send the requirements. A clear brief is the best protection you have.

  5. Review before you accept

    Check the delivery against the brief before accepting. Most platforms accept automatically after a set number of days, so do not leave it.

What a fixed-price marketplace looks like

Zinn Hub®, our top pick, lists ready-made services at a fixed price, and a seller who passes its identity and proof-of-work checks carries a Verified badge on every listing — the kind of detail this guide tells you to check before you order.

zinnhub.com — home page, as captured
zinnhub.com — home page, as captured ·
How to choose a freelance marketplaceSix questions that decide which freelance marketplace suits you — fees on both sides, payouts, protection, how work is found and what it costs to start.How to move from Fiverr to another marketplaceA step-by-step plan for sellers moving from Fiverr to another freelance marketplace without losing income, reviews or clients.How to write a brief for a freelancerWhat to put in a freelance brief so you get what you need the first time — goal, audience, examples, deliverables, deadline and budget.How buyer protection works on freelance marketplacesEscrow, auto-acceptance, disputes and refunds explained — what protects a buyer's payment on Fiverr and its alternatives.Freelance marketplace payouts explainedClearance periods, withdrawal methods, fees and minimums — how and when freelance marketplaces pay sellers.How to price freelance servicesSetting prices for fixed-price freelance services — work out your hourly floor, include the platform's fees, and design packages buyers understand.How to avoid freelance marketplace scamsThe common scams on freelance marketplaces and how buyers and sellers avoid them — off-platform payments, fake checks, and work taken without payment.

Keep reading

How we compare the platforms, the questions people ask most, and practical guides for buyers and sellers.