Open Lance

How it works

Money is funded first, and released on approval.

Every job follows the same path. The client funds the work, the freelancer delivers, and payment is released when the client approves.

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Where the money is

  1. Funded

    In escrow

    The client funds the milestone before work starts. The money is held by Open Lance, not sent to the freelancer.

    then

  2. In progress

    Working

    The freelancer works knowing the budget is already committed.

    then

  3. Approved

    Approved

    The client approves the work, or asks for a revision. If they go quiet, it approves automatically after a set time.

    then

  4. Released

    Paid

    Payment moves to the freelancer's wallet and clears for a short period before it can be withdrawn.

Step by step

The same job, from each side

For clients

Hiring

  1. 1

    Post a job or buy a Drop-In

    Describe the work and your budget, or pick a ready-made service. Posting is free.

  2. 2

    Choose who to hire

    Read proposals, check reviews from finished contracts, and message people before you decide.

  3. 3

    Fund the first milestone

    The money goes into escrow before work starts. Fees are shown before you pay.

  4. 4

    Approve the work

    Approve to release payment, or ask for a revision. Nothing is paid out until you approve.

For freelancers

Getting hired and paid

  1. 1

    Find a job or get invited

    Browse open jobs, or reply to a client who invited you.

  2. 2

    Send a proposal

    A proposal costs the same number of bids whatever the job's budget.

  3. 3

    Start once it's funded

    The client puts the milestone into escrow first, so you can see the money is there.

  4. 4

    Deliver and get paid

    When the client approves, payment moves to your wallet. After a short clearance period you can withdraw it.

Payments

Where the money is

These apply to every job, whatever its size.

Funded before work starts

The client funds each milestone before work starts. On fixed-price work, only the milestone in progress is funded.

Released on approval

The client approves the work and releases it straight away or after a short review window. If they go quiet, it approves automatically.

Cleared, then withdrawable

Released money clears for a short period before it can be withdrawn, because card payments can be reversed for a while after they are made.

Disputes while money is held

If something goes wrong, either side can open a dispute while the money is still held.

Hourly work

The client and freelancer agree an hourly rate and a weekly hour limit, and the client funds that week up front. The freelancer logs time in a work diary. At the end of the week the client approves the hours, and approved hours are paid from that funding. If the contract is paused or ended, unused funding goes back to the client.

Hourly contracts in detail

Freelancers with a team

A freelancer can add bidders and teammates who send proposals on their behalf. The contracts and the payments stay with the freelancer who owns the account.

Bidders and teammates

Questions

Common questions

Escrow and approval

Can work start before a milestone is funded?
It shouldn't. Without funding there is no escrow, so neither side is protected and there is no record to resolve a problem from.
What happens if nobody approves submitted work?
It approves automatically after a set number of days. The countdown is shown on the contract, and the client is emailed before it runs out.
How is a dispute resolved?
Either side can open one while the money is still held. A mediator reviews what was agreed and what was delivered, and the money is released, returned or split based on the outcome.

Ready to start?

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