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Tips
for Consumers Who Use the MWC’s Directory
Tips
- Before hiring a freelance professional, be sure to
clearly define the scope, schedule, expectations and
details of your project in
writing. Other items that should be agreed upon in
writing before the project is started includes cost of
services, terms of payment,
and how often the freelancer is to “check-in” with the
consumer regarding the progress of the project.
- It is never a bad idea to investigate a freelancer
before you hire them. Ask for work samples and/or
professional references.
A good freelance professional will be happy to share
these with you.
- Ask the freelance professional to give an estimate of
how long it will take to complete a project. Some
consumers may
wish to set a maximum number of hours a freelance
professional may work on the project.
- The MWC does not endorse any professional listed in
this directory. The MWC has simply compiled this
directory as a resource.
The MWC does not advise or have any control over the cost of service or
quality of output delivered by the professionals listed
in this directory. Any disputes between consumer and
freelance professional must be handled between the
consumer and freelance professional. The MWC will not mediate or intervene.
- Keep a copy of the contract that you and the freelance
professional have agreed upon.
- We’d like your feedback! If you have a positive (or
maybe not so positive) experience with one of our
listings,
please let us know at mwc@midwestwritingcenter.org
Suggested items to include in a
contract between the freelance professional and client:
- What is the timeline for the project? How is the
final project to be delivered to the consumer?
- How often does the freelance professional need to give
a status update of the project?
- What are the details/expectations of this project?
What elements need to be included in the finished
project to
meet the consumer’s expectations? Clearly defining
project expectations protects BOTH the consumer and
freelancer.
- How does the freelance professional and consumer
prefer to be contacted and at what time? (example: Home
phone between
3 p.m. – 7 p.m.., email, face-to-face)
- Fees and costs: Will the freelance professional be
paid hourly and at what rate? Will the freelance
professional be paid a flat fee?
-
Is the consumer responsible for paying for needed
supplies such as paper, ink, telephone? Is the freelance
professional paid when the
job is completed or in weekly/monthly?
- Keep in mind, if the consumer expands the scope of the
project after the contract has been signed and agreed
upon, a new contract
should be written to reflect these changes.
- If a contract is created, both parties should sign and
keep copies for their records. |
