As a provider, how do I use Elance Escrow?

Elance Escrow: Provider Instructions

Submitting a Proposal on an Escrow Job 

When submiting a proposal on a job, look for the Escrow icon next to the job name.  This icon indicates that the job payments will be funded and released via Escrow. 

Submitting an Escrow Proposal 

Even if the employer has not requested the use of Elance Escrow, you may request the use of Escrow in your proposal. You can do this by selecting Escrow Payments when you submit your proposal. If possible, you may want to contact the employer to ensure the use of Escrow will be acceptable before you submit your proposal. 

Working with Business Terms

After the job has been awarded, the provider will be notified.  The provider can either accept the default Business Terms (with the amount and dates inherited from the proposal) or update the Business Terms.  The updated Business Terms must be approved by the employer before the job can start.  The Business Terms consists of a Job Agreement and Job Milestones. For Escrow jobs, the Job Milestones are used to deposit funds into the Escrow account and release payments from the Escrow account. If you require an initial deposit to begin working on a job, that initial deposit amount should be used for the first job milestone. 

Requesting Milestone Funding

For Escrow jobs, you are not obligated to begin work until at least one milestone has been funded by the employer. The Elance system will automatically generate a funding request to the employer to fund the first milestone so you can begin working on the job. When the employer funds a job milestone, you will receive a notification.

You may request funding on one or more milestones at any time, and also send a reminder notice to your employer when requesting they fund or release a milestone from the job Workroom, 'Billing & Invoices' page.  

The milestones can only be released in full amounts. If the employer does not intend to make a full payment against a milestone amount, you or the employer will need to modify the Business Terms with additional milestones with smaller payment amounts. The employer cannot fund and release a partial amount against a single milestone. 

NOTE: If a milestone amount is changed or a milestone is deleted, the system automatically refunds the appropriate milestone amounts currently held in Escrow back to the Employer's original form of payment.  If the milestone is deleted, the entire amount will be refunded to the Employer.  If the milestone amount is changed, the difference between the new and older terms will refunded to the Employer.    

Requesting Milestone Release

When you have completed the services related to a Job Milestone, you can request the release of that milestone. If the employer is satisfied that the services have been provided in accordance with the job terms for the milestone, the employer can approve the release of the milestone, releasing the payment from the Escrow account to your Elance account. When you request a milestone release, the employer will receive a notification. When the employer approves a milestone release, you will receive a notification.

You may request the release of one or more milestones at any time provided that the services required for those milestones have been completed.

Viewing Job Milestones Status

You can view the progress of your job milestones and review the funding and release status of each milestone at any time by going to the job's Business Terms page. 

1. Go to MyElance 

2. Click on the Workrooms > Working link on the left panel

3. Locate the job, and on the right, click the 'Select Action' > 'Business Terms' link.

Modifying Job Milestones

You can modify the job milestones if their funds have not yet been released. 

1. Go to MyElance 

2. Click on the Workrooms > Working link on the left panel

3. Locate the job, and on the right, click the 'Select Action' > 'Business Terms' link

4. Scroll down the page and click the 'Edit Business Terms' button.

The job milestones are displayed at the bottom of the Business Terms page. Each Job Milestone is displayed with the delivery date, funded amount, released amount, and current status.

Here you can upload a statement of work and change/add milestone details, delivery dates and payment schedule, if a milestone's funds have not been released.

Click on the Preview button at the bottom of the page and review your changes. Click the back button on your browser if you need to make any corrections. Then click the submit button to send the Business Terms to the employer for acceptance.

If you modified the business terms, be sure to communicate with the employer via the PMB the changes that you made. They will be prompted to review the business terms and either Accept, Decline or Modify the terms.  If a milestone amount is changed or a milestone is deleted, the system automatically refunds the appropriate milestone amounts currently held in Escrow back to the Employer's original form of payment.

If the employer declines or modifies the business terms you will be able to review or modify the document and resubmit or accept the employer's changes.

Requesting a Milestone to be Funded

1. Go to MyElance 

2. Click on the Workrooms > Working link on the left panel

3. Locate the job, and on the right, click the 'Select Action' > 'Billing & Invoices' link.

4. On the 'Billing' page, in the 'Escrow Funding and Release' section, click the 'Request Not Sent' link in the 'Fund Escrow' column, 'Fund and Release' tab for any milestone you are sending a funding request to the employer. 

5. Enter the 'Enter Funding Request Details', and click Continue.

6. Preview the request and Submit.

Request the Release of a Milestone 

1. Go to MyElance 

2. Click on the Workrooms > Working link on the left panel

3. Locate the job, and on the right, click the 'Select Action' > 'Billing & Invoices' link.

4. On the 'Billing' page, in the 'Escrow Funding and Release' section, click the 'Request Not Sent' link in the 'Release Escrow' column,  'Fund and Release' tab for any milestone you are sending a release request to the employer.  (NOTE: You can only request the release of a milestone that is already funded.)

5. Preview the request and Submit.

Requesting Dispute Resolution

If you have provided services in accordance with the job terms, and the employer refuses to approve your requests for a milestone release, you may contact Elance for assistance. To request Dispute Resolution, click here. 

Click here for a step-by-step Provider's Guide.