Add or edit milestones for fixed-price contracts

Upwork milestones allow clients and freelancers to manage project phases with flexibility. Only one milestone can be funded at a time, with a $5 USD minimum. Future milestones can be added, edited, or reordered before activation, and clients may be able to request edits to active milestones if the freelancer hasn't submitted work for it. Both parties can propose changes, and notifications are sent automatically to ensure coordination.

Adding another milestone

1. Go to Manage work > All contracts and open the contract
2. From Overview, choose Add new milestone
3. Enter the milestone details and choose Save or Save and add another

Funding additional milestones

Before you can activate and fund the next milestone, you must release funds on the current one. If needed, you can release a partial milestone payment and use any remaining funds to fund the next milestone. 

When you approve the last milestone you’ll be asked if you want to end the contract or keep it open. You can then activate or create the next milestone.

Note:

You only pay a Contract Initiation Fee at the beginning of a new contract. You’ll fund that fee with the first milestone, but you won’t have to fund it again for additional ones.

Edit or delete future milestones

You can delete or edit the title, due date, and amount of any future milestones that have not yet been activated and funded. 

1. Go to Manage work >  All contracts
2. Select the contract
3. From the Overview section, choose Manage milestones
4. The button will open a window where you can add, edit, delete, or reorder your milestones — choose the pencil icon to edit the milestone
5. To rearrange the milestone list, grab the drag-and-drop toggles on the left of each milestone
6. Check your progress with the Show Changes toggle in the window's upper right corner
7. Select Save to save your changes

Request changes to an active milestone

Note: This feature is being tested and is not available to everyone yet.

You may be able to request changes to an active milestone — including title, description, due date, and payment amount — as long as the freelancer has not already submitted work for payment. The freelancer can approve or reject the request. To make a request for changes:

1. In the contract workroom, select Manage milestones
2. Select the edit icon next to the active milestone
3. Update the details and select Send for approval 

Once you submit the request, you’ll see “Pending change request” in the workroom. You can still edit or withdraw the request until the freelancer responds. 

What happens after a change request is submitted on an active milestone?

• If the freelancer rejects the request, the milestone stays the same
• If the freelancer approves, the milestone will automatically update — if you increased the amount, you may need to add funds
• If the freelancer submits work OR you release payment on the milestone while the change request is pending, the request is automatically canceled
• If no action is taken, the request expires after seven days 

Respond to a milestone change request

Freelancers and agencies can send requests to add, edit, and delete future milestones. If your freelancer submits a milestone change request, you’ll be notified by email and can accept or reject it. You’ll need to respond to the request before you can make any additional changes.

1. 1. Select the link provided in the email or Review changes in the contract room
   2. Select Accept or Decline as needed

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Related Media

Can I fund multiple milestones at once?

No, you can only fund one milestone at a time, with a $5.00 USD minimum per milestone. You’ll have to release funds on the current milestone before you can activate and fund the next one. 

How many milestones can I have per contract?

There is a limit of 200 milestones per contract. After that, you will need to close the current contract and create a new contract.

How do I change the order of milestones?

You cannot change the order of active milestones. To rearrange milestones that aren't active yet, use the drag-and-drop capability (the six dots) on the left side of each milestone. 

How do milestone changes show on the freelancer end? Is the freelancer notified about each change?

Don’t worry. We take care of notifying your freelancer or agency via email and through Upwork Messages when changes are made. All additions and changes made to existing contract milestones are detailed in these notifications.

Can freelancers edit milestones?

Freelancers can propose edits to future milestones, but not active milestones. They can also propose a new milestone or a new contract.

Can I change the due date on a milestone?

You and your freelancer can agree to change the due dates of upcoming milestones. You may also be able to request an edit to an active milestone — this feature is not available to everyone yet. However, Upwork does not impose any negative consequences for working beyond a milestone due date, so you can still accept work past the due date.

What happens if I reduce the amount when I edit an active milestone?

If the freelancer approves, the updated amount will reflect in the contract — and any leftover funds will remain in project funds for future milestones unless you withdraw them.

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