Proposal Terms let you define the rates and pricing strategies used when submitting job proposals. With the right setup, you can streamline your workflow, manage expectations more effectively, and focus on winning projects that match your value.
💡 Understanding Upwork Pricing Models
Upwork supports two primary payment types:
Hourly Rate Jobs
You specify the hourly rate you expect to earn. This is the amount the client sees on your proposal.
Fixed Price Jobs
You propose a total fixed amount for the full project. This can be set in two ways:
By Project: A single fixed price for the entire job
By Milestone: Multiple payment stages tied to specific deliverables
📍 Where to Set Proposal Terms
Go to:
Bidding Settings → Terms & Boosting
Choose one of the following modes:
Constant Proposal Terms – Manual, fixed-rate bidding
Smart Proposal Terms – Automated, dynamic bidding based on job budgets
🛠️ Setting Constant Proposal Terms
Set fixed, reusable values that apply to all proposals.
Step 1: Hourly Rate Settings
Define Your Hourly Rate
This is the total rate clients will see in your proposals.
ℹ️ Note: Skip this step to continue using your Upwork profile rate.
Set Auto-Increase Frequency
Automatically raise your hourly rate over time.
Options: Never (default), Every 3 months, Every 6 months, Every 12 months
If selected, set a percentage increase between 1.0%–99.9%.
Step 2: Fixed Price Settings
Choose how you'd like to handle fixed-price jobs:
✅ By Job Terms
Accept the client’s proposed budget as-is for every fixed-price job.
✅ By Milestone
Break the project into payment stages:
Milestone Description
Describe each project phase.
Due Date
Set in days from project start.
Milestone Amount
Between $5 and $5000
Total Project Duration
Unspecified, <1 month, 1–3 months, 3–6 months, or >6 months
ℹ️ Note: You can add up to 15 milestones per proposal.
✅ By Project
Set one fixed amount for the entire job, regardless of the client's budget.
Set Amount
Between $5 and $1,000,000
Set Duration
Unspecified, <1 month, 1–3 months, 3–6 months, or >6 months
🛠️ Setting Smart Proposal Terms
The Smart Terms feature is a Premium tool that automatically calculates your proposal amount based on your preferred rate range and the job’s listed budget. It helps you stay competitive while saving time.
🧠 How Smart Terms Work
Hourly Rate Jobs
If the client’s range is $15–$35/hr, and your preferred range is $25–$40/hr:
0% Bid Percentage → You bid $25/hr (your minimum)
70% → You bid $29/hr
100% → You bid $35/hr (client’s max)
ℹ️ Note: Your bid always stays within your defined range and the client’s range.
For Fixed Price Jobs
If the client’s budget is $1000:
0% → You bid $1000
10% → You bid $1100
70% → You bid $1700
📍 How to Enable Smart Terms
In Terms & Boosting, switch from Constant to Smart mode.
⚙️ How to Set Up Smart Terms
Step 1: Hourly Rate Settings
Set your Minimum and Maximum Hourly Rate
Define your Bid Percentage
Step 2: Fixed Price Settings
Define your Bid Percentage
💬 Need Help?
If you need support or have questions about setting up your Proposal Terms, reach out anytime at [email protected] – we’re happy to assist!