With the Sign a secure contract feature, you can ensure that you’ll get paid after completing the work for your client. See what the transaction process looks like and what details you’ll need to fill out the form.
Useme is a platform that simplifies your transactions with clients while protecting your interests. The Sign a secure contract feature lets you secure your payment before you begin work. Use it when you want to ensure that the client will pay for your work and that your time and effort won’t be wasted.
This article describes the Sign a secure contract option, not the Invoice a client. Below, we explain the differences between these two transaction types.
Transaction types available on Useme
Before you start
Sign a secure contract form step by step
1. Client details
2. Category
3. Project details
4. Pricing
5. Copyright
6. Days of work
7. Payment deadline
8. Summary
What’s next after filling out the form?
I completed the work – when will I get paid?
Transaction types available on Useme
You can invoice your client on Useme in two ways:
- Sign a secure contract. Choose this option if you already have a client but haven't begun work yet. If you're starting a new project with a client, Sign a secure contract is the best way to secure payment. This process protects you by ensuring payment before you begin work. It's particularly useful for unfamiliar clients, as it builds trust and minimizes risk.
- Invoice a client. Choose this option if you have a client and want to invoice for finished work. It’s a straightforward and efficient option for completed projects with existing clients. Your client doesn’t need a Useme account, and you don’t need to sign any paper contracts.
If you’re not working on anything for your clients now, you can find a new freelance job on Useme Jobs. Learn more about Useme Jobs.
Before you start
You can call Sign a secure contract a process, a transaction type, a feature, or an option available on Useme. Regardless of how we call it, it’s simply an online form. You fill it out to create an online contract with your client and then invoice them via Useme.
With this option, you start work when you know your client has already paid. This is extra important – don’t start working before we confirm the client payment. We’ll email a deposit request to your client, and after they pay, we’ll email you so that you can start working. The money will wait until you complete the work.
When you complete the work, you must upload files that are consistent with your online contract's work description. We'll send you the money after the client accepts your work files. We’ll also send the final invoice to your client – you don’t need a registered company because we invoice your client on your behalf.
You must create an account on Useme before filling out the form. Check how to sign up. Alternatively, you can fill out the Sign a secure contract form first, and then we'll redirect you to the account setup. However, we recommend creating your account first and then proceeding to the transaction with your client.
You can start signing a contract in two ways:
- unfold the dropdown menu For freelancers and click “Sign a secure contract”,
- log in to your dashboard and click, hover above the blue button, and click “Sign a secure contract.”
In a nutshell, the form consists of:
- Providing your client’s email address and invoicing details.
- Describing the work you’ll invoice your client for.
- Pricing your work and providing the work deadline for you and the payment deadline for your client.
If you want to show your client how this process work, send them this article: How to settle accounts with freelancers via Useme?
Sign a secure contract form step by step
1. Client details
We’ll ask you to enter your client’s email address because we’ll contact them via email. If they’ve ever made a transaction on Useme before (with you or another freelancer), we’ll have their details in our database. If it’s their first transaction, we’ll ask you to enter their details.
Your client can be an individual or a company from one of the 170+ countries we support. Thanks to Useme, you can settle deals with foreign clients as if you lived in the same country.
For your client’s first transaction on Useme, we’ll ask you to enter their:
- name or company name,
- personal or company address,
- tax identification number (only for companies),
- optionally phone number and contact person.
2. Category
Choose a category of your work, e.g., Marketing → Social media. The category will be stated on the invoice issued to your client.
3. Project details
This step requires writing the job title and description. They need to match the category.
- Title – this is the title of your deal, which will be stated on the invoice beside the category. The title will help you find the deal on your dashboard. It can be something like: Monthly newsletter copy for fitness startup, Custom API integration for e-commerce site.
- Description – provide as many details about your work as possible (scope, expected results, etc.). This description will be a reference point in case of doubts or disputes. The more specific, the better.
At this point, you can also add a message to your client. We’ll email it to them.
4. Pricing
You can price your work in two ways:
- Keep the field Your payout on the right. We’ll calculate your client invoice amount based on your preferred payout.
- Use the arrow switch to keep the field Your client pays on your right. We’ll calculate your payout based on your client's preferred invoice amount.
5. Copyright
Choose one of the options:
- License – you license your client to use your work for 15 years (learn more about licensing).
- Protocol – you transfer the copyright of your work to the client (learn more about transferring the copyright).
- No copyright transfer – you neither transfer the copyright nor grant the license.
6. Days of work
The number of days you enter here will start counting after your client pays the deposit request. For example, you fill out the Sign a secure contract form on the 1st of August, and enter 10 days of work. If your client pays the deposit request on the 15th of August, you must complete the job by the 25th of August.
You can’t enter less than 7 days. However, if you want to finish later, write this in the project description above.
7. Payment deadline
The number of days you enter here specifies the deadline for the client to send the payment to Useme. We’ll email your client about this.
8. Summary
We’ll write down all the information you entered in the form so you can check them for errors. If you spot one, go back to the previous steps. When everything’s correct, press the “Sign a contract” button to send a contract proposal to your client.
What’s next after filling out the form?
Don’t start the work you’ve just described in the form! We’ll email you once your client accepts your contract proposal and pays. Here’s what will happen after you complete the Sign a secure contract form:
- We verify your form: We check the information you provided on business days from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (UTC+2).
- We email the contract proposal to your client. Once verified, we'll send a contract proposal to your client, including all relevant information and a link to finalize the contract. When the client clicks the link, they enter into a contract and are obliged to pay for your work.
- We email a deposit request to your client. Your client will receive a link to a quick online payment.
- Your client pays – you can start work. Once we receive the money from your client:
- we’ll email you that your payment is kept secure at Useme – you start the work and complete it within the deadline you entered in the form;
- we enter into a contract with you;
- we’ll send the final invoice to your client and tell them you’re starting work.
I completed the work – when will I get paid?
To receive payment, you must upload files with completed work or files confirming its completion. Check what files you can add. Upload them to the deal on your Useme account: log in to your dashboard and go to Deals → Open deals. Open the deal and click “Upload your work.”
Alternatively, you can send work samples instead of completed work. Once you click “Upload your work” you can choose if the files contain completed work or samples.
The client has 7 days to request justified corrections. If they neither accept nor reject the files, the work will be automatically accepted, and we’ll send you the payment. In most cases, the money reaches the freelancer’s account within 24 hours on business days after the files are accepted.