Benefits of Weekly Hiring

1. Consistent Engagement:
   Weekly hiring provides a dedicated commitment from the freelance talent, ensuring focused effort and consistent progress.

2. Simplified Payment Structure:
   Clients pay a fixed weekly rate, making budgeting and cost management straightforward. No need to track individual tasks or hours worked.

3. Flexibility for Long-Term Projects:
   Weekly pricing is perfect for projects that require sustained effort over a longer period or when the scope of work evolves week by week.

When to Use Weekly Hiring

• Full-Time or Part-Time Commitments: When you need a freelance talent to dedicate specific days or weeks to your project.
• Ongoing Support: For tasks like customer service, software development and maintenance, project management, or content creation that require continuous involvement.
• Long-Term Collaborations: When you plan to work with a freelance talent over several weeks or months, and the deliverables may change.

How Weekly Pricing Works on Hourspent

1. Set a Weekly Rate:
   Freelancers set their weekly rate based on the scope of work, the number of days they will be working, and their expertise.

   Example:

   • $5,000/week for web development
   • $3,500/week for full-time project management
   • $700/week for part-time graphic design

2. Agree on Weekly Schedule:
   The client and freelancer agree on the expected weekly time commitment (e.g., full-time, part-time, or specific workdays).

3. Automatic Weekly Invoicing:
   At the end of each week, an invoice is automatically generated based on the agreed weekly rate, streamlining the payment process.

Example Scenario: Weekly vs. Hourly Pricing

Tips for Clients: Managing Weekly Projects

1. Set Clear Weekly Goals:

   • Define expected tasks and milestones for each week.
   • Communicate regularly to ensure alignment on priorities.

2. Monitor Progress:

   • Request weekly updates or reports from the freelancer to track progress.

3. Budget for Weekly Rates:

   • Plan your budget based on the agreed weekly rate and the estimated project duration.

Common Questions

1. What happens if I need to pause or cancel the weekly engagement?
Clients and freelancers can agree to pause or terminate the weekly contract with prior notice. Any partial weeks worked may be prorated.

This means that if a freelancer works only part of a week instead of the full agreed-upon week, they will be paid a portion of their weekly rate based on the amount of time they actually worked.

Example:

• Weekly Rate: $1,000/week
• Full Workweek: 5 days (Monday to Friday)

If the freelancer only works 3 days out of the 5, their payment for that week would be prorated, meaning they would receive:

3 ÷ 5 days​ = 600

In this case, the freelance talent would raise an invoice of $600 instead of the full $1,000.

Prorating ensures that freelancers are fairly compensated for partial work, and clients only pay for the time worked.

2. Can I switch from weekly to hourly or fixed-price mid-project?
Yes, but it requires mutual agreement and a revision of the contract terms to reflect the new pricing structure.

3. How can I ensure fair pricing for weekly work?
Freelancers can provide a breakdown of their weekly activities, and clients can set weekly performance reviews to ensure the arrangement remains beneficial for both parties.

Advantages of Hiring Per Week on Hourspent

• Predictability: Fixed weekly rates allow for easy financial planning.
• Consistency: Freelancers dedicate a consistent amount of time and effort each week.
• Effortless Billing: Automatic weekly invoices simplify the payment process.

What Happens If the Estimated Weeks Are Exceeded?

For most projects, a “do-not-exceed” limit is established to prevent the project from going beyond the agreed timeline and budget. This limit might be outlined in the contract or agreed upon verbally between the client and the freelancer.

Here’s how it typically works if the estimated weeks are exceeded:

1. If the Overrun is Due to the Client:

   • If the project exceeds the estimated timeline because of delays, scope changes, or additional requests from the client, the freelancer has the right to request payment for the extra weeks of work.
   • Both parties should discuss and agree on the revised timeline and additional compensation before continuing.

2. If the Overrun is Due to the Freelancer:

   • If the delay is caused by the freelancer (e.g., due to unforeseen personal circumstances, missed deadlines, or underestimating the work), the client may choose not to pay for the additional weeks unless otherwise agreed.
   • In such cases, freelancers should communicate proactively and offer solutions, such as adjusting the rate, providing additional value at no extra cost, or negotiating a new timeline.

Best Practice:
To avoid disputes, both parties should clearly define the “do-not-exceed” limit in the contract and maintain open communication throughout the project to address any changes or delays promptly.

Conclusion

Weekly hiring on Hourspent is a reliable, flexible, and straightforward way to engage freelancers for consistent, ongoing work. Whether you need full-time dedication or part-time support, weekly pricing provides a clear and predictable framework for collaboration.