Milestone payments for freelancers

[MidnightAngel]

Another thought occurred to me during my last post, go figure. This question is regarding Milestone payments. If you get awarded a project, and you want to make sure that the project is 'real', what percentage or amount is good for you to request a milestone payment? Or should you not even request it, and let the employer offer it? I have requested one milestone payment for a job that I'm doing for genealogy info, and I needed it to get into some of the pay sites, but haven't asked for any others. What are your opinions on the subject?

 

[RDO Servers]

Escrow payments are good for you and them. Keeps everyone protected.

If I think a job should have milestones, I wouldn't hesitate asking for them.

I don't have any set formula for determining amounts, it just depends on the job. If the project amount is low, I won't worries about it. For some of our large scale projects, we may use 10+ milestones.

Consider your expenses and how much your willing to risk doing for free if they don't pay.

 

[aaron kev]

It can go like
25% upfront
25% at 50% completion of job
25% at beta testing
25% at project delivery

 

[sam.hunt0710]

If project is less the 100$ ...I usually ask for 100% payment .... and above 100$ ...50% upfront and 50% after completion of the job.

 

[RDO Servers]

Asking them to fund a escrow payment upfront is fine.

Most clients will (or at least should) be hesitant to me upfront payments to a freelancer.

There are way to many people out there that will accept a job, take the first payment, and disappear.