How do I award my job to a service provider?

Elance allows you to easily review service providers’ proposals, communicate, award and manage your project, and send payments to service providers anywhere in the world at no additional cost.  

Elance collects a fee from the service provider when the project is awarded, in accordance with our Terms of Service.  If a service provider asks you to go outside Elance to avoid paying Elance fees (which range between 6.75% and 8.75%), we ask that you report the violation (click here to report) and recommend that you choose a service provider that adheres to the Terms of Service.

You can select a service provider for your project at any time even before the bidding period ends. You will have 90 days after the bidding period ends to award your project before it automatically expires.  To award your project please follow the steps below.

1. Log in to the MyElance Main Menu.

If you are not logged in, enter your Elance username and password.

2. Click the Workrooms link in the left panel.

3. Click your project name to view the list of service providers and their proposals.

A service provider's proposal amount is only part of their proposal. Be sure to click these other items:

   * Profile, including an online portfolio of work samples. (Click the provider's username to view their profile.)
   * Feedback left by other buyers about each of the service providers bidding on your project.
   * Private Message Board (PMB) - Interview your service provider to ensure your requirements match their skills.

NOTE: If a project is not awarded, Elance will delete uploaded files attached to the project descriptions, proposal comments and PMB after 6 months. If a project is awarded, uploaded files will not be deleted.

4. When you have made your decision, click on the associated provider's Award button on the far right side of their proposal.

5. Review the default terms. 

6. Click the Award button if you don't have any initial edits to the business terms or click the Modify Terms button to make changes before awarding the job to your provider. 

5. Your service provider will next review the business terms and milestones that have been submitted and accept the award.

6. If the provider has updates to the business terms you have submitted, you will be notified and will have the chance to accept, decline or modify the terms before the project starts. 

Important Note: You can select multiple service providers for your project, but you must agree to pay each separately.  If you want to divide the project work among multiple providers, you must discuss this via the Private Message Boards first so that the service providers can place updated proposals reflecting the adjusted workload.

   * Always attach a contract for the service provider to sign on your PMB (private message board) when negotiating your project terms.

Click here for a step-by-step Buyer Guide.

For more information on how to review the proposals you've received, please watch the following Elance University video: