Howcanwehelp?

For Independents

For Clients

General

If I'm not based in the US, can I still join?
Absolutely! We're based in the US, but we're a global platform— everyone is welcome! 💛
What is flexible work?
Flexible work includes:
- Independent work
- Freelancing
- Consulting
- Creating
- Full/Part-time remote work
- Flexible schedules
- Flexible payment types (💸 + equity)
Who is Contra for?
Whether you are looking to hire or get hired, Contra is for you. We help facilitate job discovery, communication between Clients and Independents, contracts, and payments.
What is Contra?
Contra is an Independent-first community and commission-free hiring platform empowering the future of work. For Clients looking to hire Independents, we provide the tools to discover talented individuals, initiate projects, and get the work you need done!
Do I have to pay to use Contra?
No, Contra is a free service and doesn’t cost you a dime! In the future, we will charge clients for premium features. For now, don't worry! We'll let you know if you're ever going to be charged.
What is the Contra Community? How do I join?
Once you have created and completed your Contra profile, you'll have the option to join our Slack community! Our Slack community is filled with talented Independents, recruiters, founders, and more! The main purpose of the community is to help you grow your professional community, access helpful resources, and learn with like-minded individuals. 🤩

Profile & Account

Why do I have to wait to unlock all of Contra's features?
We require users to complete a few basic steps to ensure that your account is ready for you to begin your journey on Contra! Follow your onboarding checklist (found on your profile) to complete your profile.
If I have projects under NDAs, can I make them private?
At this time, we’re asking that all NDAs be handled off platform. Soon, you’ll be able to initiate private projects on Contra! 👀
How do I delete my account?
We're sad to see you go! 🥺
We would really appreciate hearing why Contra is no longer for you. Feel free to tell us more about how your career has changed, or what Contra can provide for you.
To permanently delete your account:
Go to your "Account Settings" click "Delete Account" and at the bottom of the page, click "Permanently Delete Account"
You have 30 days before your account is permanently deleted if you decide to change your mind.
How do I change the email associated with my account?
To change your email:
- Go to your "Account Settings" page
- Update the email in the Email field
- Click "Save Changes"
- Go to your email inbox
- Click the link to update your email address associated with your Contra account
Do I have to be a certain age to sign up and use Contra?
In accordance with labor laws, we require all users to be over the age of 16. When signing up for Contra, you’re acknowledging you are 16+ years old.
How long does it take to set up my profile?
You can set up your profile in under 10 minutes from start to finish! 🤩
What should I do after I sign up?
Fill in your profile details, post an opportunity, browse our list of top Independents, and share that you are hiring on Contra everywhere on the internet! 🚀

General Payments

If I require further payment assistance who can I contact for support?
Please send all questions to payments@contra.com!
How are my payments secured?
Our third-party payment processor, Stripe, has been audited by a PCI-certified auditor and is certified to PCI Service Provider Level 1. This is the most stringent level of certification available in the payments industry. To accomplish this, Stripe uses best-in-class security tools and practices to maintain a high level of security as per Stripe’s terms, contained in the link below. Please note Contra is not responsible for Stripe payments processed by Stripe.
Learn more about how your payments are secured here.
What fees does Contra charge for payments?
Contra is 100% commission-free! However, Clients will be charged a Stripe processing fee for each payment.
How does Contra make money?
Contra does not make money from users transacting on our platform, and we do not take a commission fee or sell your data. In the future, we will charge for access to premium features, and will keep you posted on any updates.
How does Contra process payments?
Contra uses Stripe for all payment transactions.

Payments for Clients

How do I cancel or dispute a project?
Disputes and cancellations can be made through the Contra platform. Cancellation can only occur before a payment is made. If a payment has been made, you will have to submit a dispute. Once a dispute request is made, our support team will review the request and proceed with a resolution. Disputes that are outside the scope of Contra’s dispute resolution process will be arbitrated by the parties.
If you require further assistance email payments@contra.com.
How do I report taxes from spendings on Contra?
Clients and Independents are responsible for compliance with all applicable tax laws. All transaction history can be found in your Contra wallet.
My payment was refunded; where are my funds?
Refunds can take 5-10 days to be processed from the day the refund was initiated. If you need payment assistance, please contact payments@contra.com.
How often will I be charged?
When initiating a project with an Independent, you will be charged for the entire project. Your deposit will be securely held by Contra until the project deliverables are approved.
Can I be refunded if an Independent is not meeting my project needs?
Yes, refunds are handled on a case-by-case matter, and we take into consideration multiple factors to ensure fairness for both parties. If an Independent is not meeting your standards, please file a project dispute.
Will my credit card information be saved on the Contra platform?
Credit card information is saved to your Stripe profile and therefore is hosted on Stripe. Your credit card information is not stored on the Contra platform.
How can I pay an Independent?
You can pay an independent as long as you have one of the following credit cards:
- American Express
- China UnionPay (CUP)
- Discover & Diners
- Japan Credit Bureau (JCB)
- Mastercard
- Visa
Can I have more than one ongoing project at a time?
Yes, as a Client, you can manage as many projects as you want at the same time.

Client Onboarding

If I sign up as an Independent can I still hire?
Yes, you can still post opportunities and hire Independents even if you’ve signed up as an Independent. To browse the platform as a Client, click on the profile dropdown menu and select “Switch to Client”!
Can I switch my account type after signing up?
Yes, you can switch your account type after signing up by clicking on the profile dropdown menu and selecting “Switch to Client” or “Switch to Independent”. Depending on what you’ve added to your profile, you may be required to add information before hiring or applying to opportunities.
How do I find Independents to work with?
After you complete your profile checklist, you’ll be able to browse our highest rated Independents at contra.com/discover!
I’ve completed my profile, but my opportunity is still pending. Now what?
Now that you’ve completed your profile, our team will reach out if any edits are required before your opportunity goes live. If no action is required, and we’ll alert you when your opportunity has gone live and you should start to receive applications within a few hours. In the meantime, you can browse our top Independent profiles here!
Why do I need to add a billing method?
Don’t worry, you won’t be charged for anything just yet! We require Clients to add an eligible billing method prior to activating their opportunities to ensure Clients are serious about hiring prior to asking our Independent community to take the time to apply.
If I sign up as a Client can I still apply to opportunities?
Yes, you can still apply to opportunities and get hired even if you’ve signed up as a Client. In order to browse the platform as an Independent, click on the profile dropdown menu and select “Switch to Independent”!
How do I post an opportunity?
You can post an opportunity by clicking on the “Post an Opportunity” item in your profile checklist, clicking on the “Post an Opportunity” button in your profile, or by navigating to contra.com/hire. Keep in mind that you’ll need to add a billing method to your profile in order for your opportunity to be visible to Independents.

Paid Projects

Can I edit a Milestone project's terms?
Editing a Milestone project is not yet available. We are working on letting Clients and Independents edit project terms & add milestones to existing projects.
Can I share the proposal via a URL link?
Yes, you can! Once you have created a proposal, we generate a link that you can share to accept the proposal and sign the contract. Another method to retrieve the URL: Navigate to projects tab → click on copy icon
How do I send a proposal?
Once you’ve created a Contra account & signed in:
You can get started by clicking the ‘Projects’ tab in the nav bar → Click ‘ + Create a proposal’
How do Milestone payments work?
For Milestone projects, each milestone will be funded individually. Clients will be charged at the beginning of each milestone. These funds will be held in escrow until the deliverables for a specific Milestone is approved by the client. If the client fails to approve the Milestone within 72 hours of approval, Contra will release the funds automatically to the Independent. All subsequent payments will be charged automatically once the client approves the previous Milestones deliverables.
Are upfront payments refundable?
All upfront payments are non-refundable.
How do I cancel a project?
Disputes and cancellations can be made directly through Contra’s platform. Note that project cancellation can only occur before a payment has been made! If a payment has been made, you will need to submit a cancellation request, which will be reviewed by our support team to proceed with a resolution.
How do Milestone projects work?
Milestone projects projects can be broken down into a series of small phases, due dates, or deliverables based on a project's life cycle.
Does the person I invite need a Contra account?
No! At the time of inviting another user, the user does not need to have a Contra account, however, once they click the link and validate their email, we will create an account for them!
How much does it cost to send a proposal?
Sending a proposal is free for both Clients and Independents!
What project types does Contra support?
Contra support a number of popular projects types. Project types include:
- Flat rate projects
- Hourly rate projects
- Milestone projects
- Flat rate paid on a weekly or monthly cadence - coming soon 👀

Still have questions?

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General

If I'm not based in the US, can I still join?

What is flexible work?

Who is Contra for?

What is Contra?

Do I have to pay to use Contra?

What is the Contra Community? How do I join?

Profile & Account

Why do I have to wait to unlock all of Contra's features?

If I have projects under NDAs, can I make them private?

How do I delete my account?

How do I change the email associated with my account?

Do I have to be a certain age to sign up and use Contra?

How long does it take to set up my profile?

What should I do after I sign up?

General Payments

If I require further payment assistance who can I contact for support?

How are my payments secured?

What fees does Contra charge for payments?

How does Contra make money?

How does Contra process payments?

Payments for Clients

How do I cancel or dispute a project?

How do I report taxes from spendings on Contra?

My payment was refunded; where are my funds?

How often will I be charged?

Can I be refunded if an Independent is not meeting my project needs?

Will my credit card information be saved on the Contra platform?

How can I pay an Independent?

Can I have more than one ongoing project at a time?

Client Onboarding

If I sign up as an Independent can I still hire?

Can I switch my account type after signing up?

How do I find Independents to work with?

I’ve completed my profile, but my opportunity is still pending. Now what?

Why do I need to add a billing method?

If I sign up as a Client can I still apply to opportunities?

How do I post an opportunity?

Paid Projects

Can I edit a Milestone project's terms?

Can I share the proposal via a URL link?

How do I send a proposal?

How do Milestone payments work?

Are upfront payments refundable?

How do I cancel a project?

How do Milestone projects work?

Does the person I invite need a Contra account?

How much does it cost to send a proposal?

What project types does Contra support?

Still have questions?

Work the way you want