FAQ Freelancer Hiring remote? We’ve got you.

How It Works

Feature	Detail
Project Type	Fixed-price, once-off, short-term
Freelancer Fee	20% (calculated on project value)
Client Fee	20% (calculated on project value)
Revisions	3 revisions included within original scope
Conversion Options	Permanent employment or ongoing freelance (after 36 months)
Scope Changes	Additional fees apply beyond 3 revisions or scope expansion

What is a fixed short-term job on Collab.?

It's a once-off project with a clear scope, a fixed price, and a defined deliverable. Examples:

Design a logo
Write 5 blog posts
Build a landing page
Translate a document

You agree on the price upfront. You deliver the work. The client pays. Project complete.

How is this different from contract-to-hire?

Contract-to-hire includes a pathway to permanent employment or ongoing freelance work. Fixed short-term jobs are standalone projects—but they can lead to long-term relationships if both parties choose to convert later (following the 36-month rule).

Can a fixed job turn into something longer?

Yes. Within the 36 months of on-platform engagement, you and the client can:

Move a project off-platform by paying the flat rate per project fee
Convert to permanent employment anytime via the 10-20% CTC fee

The fixed job is just the beginning—it can grow into more.

What is the 36-month rule?

Collab.'s Terms of Service require that for any client-freelancer relationship formed on the platform, all work, communication, and payments must remain on Collab. for the first 36 months of that relationship. This applies regardless of the billing model.

What happens during the 36-month period?

All contracts are managed on Collab., including upfront payments and monthly retainers.
All communication and file exchanges happen on Collab.
Standard platform fees (20%) apply to all billings.
No off-platform communication or project work is permitted.
No personal or banking contact details may be shared.

What happens after 36 months?

Once the 36-month period is complete, you are free to continue your working relationship outside of the Collab. platform with the clients you have retained, with no further obligations or fees to Collab. But if you continue working together on the platform, all terms still apply. All clients have their own 36-month period.

How much does Collab. charge for fixed jobs?

Collab. charges a 20% freelancer fee and a 20% client fee, both calculated on the total project value. This is simple, transparent, and applies to every fixed-price project regardless of size.

Example Rate Table (Fixed Short-Term Jobs)

Project Value	You Earn (after 20% fee)	Client Pays (incl. 20% fee)
R 1,000	R 800	R 1,200
R 2,500	R 2,000	R 3,000
R 5,000	R 4,000	R 6,000
R 10,000	R 8,000	R 12,000
R 15,000	R 12,000	R 18,000
R 20,000	R 16,000	R 24,000
R 25,000	R 20,000	R 30,000
R 50,000	R 40,000	R 60,000

Why both fees?

This model ensures Collab. can provide:

Verified freelancers (ID, qualifications, references checked)
Secure payment handling
Dispute resolution
Platform infrastructure
Marketing and client acquisition

Is the fee really always 20%?

Yes. Collab. keeps it simple: 20% for everyone, every project. No complex tiers, no surprises.

What about VAT?

All fees are exclusive of VAT, which will be added where applicable.

Who pays the platform fee?

The platform fee is deducted from both the client's payment and the freelancer's payout to cover the cost of operating the secure platform. The client always pays the full invoiced amount to Collab., and Collab. then releases the appropriate funds to the freelancer after deducting its 20% fee.

Are banking details or payment methods ever shared between parties?

Never. Banking details and payment methods are stored securely by Collab. and are never shared between clients and freelancers. All financial transactions are processed through Collab.'s secure system. This protects both parties from fraud, identity theft, and payment disputes.

How much does it cost to use Collab.?

Collab. charges a standard platform fee of 20% to both client and freelancer on all billings processed through the platform. This fee applies to full upfront payments and retainer drawdowns.

Does Collab. pay for taxes and UIF?

For Freelancers:

You are responsible for paying your own taxes, including income tax and any other statutory obligations in your country (e.g., VAT, GST, etc.).
You must report and pay taxes directly to your local tax authority.

For Clients:

Clients are also responsible for any tax reporting and statutory obligations that apply to hiring independent freelancers in their jurisdiction.
Collab. does not pay UIF, PAYE, or employer tax contributions on behalf of clients or freelancers.

⚠️ Important
Freelancers are typically considered independent contractors, not employees. This means:

You are responsible for your own tax filings.
You must handle your own UIF, retirement, medical contributions, etc.
Collab. does not function as an employer for tax or employment purposes.

How do I start an engagement on Collab.?

For Freelancers: Build your profile (using a pseudonym) and wait for direct opportunities, or apply to client-posted jobs.
For Clients: Post a job or search for freelancers directly.
Agree and Start: Once matched, agree on the scope, terms, price/rate, and payment schedule, and start the contract on the platform. No personal or banking details are exchanged.

How do I submit and approve work?

Freelancer: Completes 100% of the work and notifies the client for review through the platform. All correspondence will come directly to your inbox at the email address provided.
Client: Reviews the work. If satisfied, they approve the work through the platform. All correspondence will come directly to your inbox at the email address provided.
Payment & Release: Upon client approval, the funds are released to the freelancer (minus fees), and the final work files are delivered.

What happens if there's a dispute or client abandons the project?
Collab. offers a dispute resolution service. Because all communication, work submissions, and payment records are stored on the platform, our support team can review the complete history to mediate a fair outcome. In the case of client abandonment, funds will be released as outlined in Section 3, Step 8, with Collab.'s 20% fee deducted and the remaining 80% paid to the freelancer for work completed and delivered.

Is Collab.'s 36-month rule enforceable under South African law?
Yes. Collab.'s Terms of Service are legally binding agreements governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa, supported by the Consumer Protection Act, the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, and common law.

What legal action can Collab. take if a client or freelancer bypasses the platform?
Collab. reserves the right to pursue all available legal remedies, including claiming damages equal to the fees that would have been payable, instituting legal proceedings in a South African court, and permanently suspending all involved accounts.

What happens if I share personal contact or banking details?
Sharing personal contact details (email, phone, WhatsApp, etc.) or attempting to share banking information is a direct violation of our Terms of Service and is considered an attempt to bypass the platform. It will result in immediate and permanent account suspension for all parties involved.

Does Collab. comply with South African data protection law?
Yes. Collab. complies with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA) . All personal and banking information is processed and stored in accordance with POPIA's conditions for lawful processing. Your information is used for verification and security purposes only and is never shared publicly.

Contact our support team. We're here to help you navigate short-term engagements, choose the right billing model, and understand any part of your Collab. experience or any profile updates.

Email: support@collabza.co.za or go directly to"join as a freelancer" on the platform
Hours: Monday–Friday, 08:00–17:00 SAST

*Short-term engagements, simplified. Build your profile (with privacy), get discovered, receive opportunities, and get paid securely. 100% upfront payment for fixed-price projects. Retainers paid on the 1st. Three revisions included. Protected if a client abandons the project. All work and payments on-platform. No personal or banking details shared. *

Collab. – The link. The connection. Your work. Your privacy. Your chance.

Operated in the Republic of South Africa. Protected by South African law.

Collab. operates solely as a platform connecting clients and independent freelancers across all service categories. Collab. is not a recruitment agency, employer, or supervisor, and does not control, supervise, guarantee, or warrant any services provided by freelancers. We do not interview, test, or endorse any freelancer. All contractual relationships, work quality, project outcomes, and communications are solely between the client and freelancer and are conducted exclusively through the Collab. platform.

Collab. requires personal information upon registration for verification purposes only to ensure a safe and trusted environment. This information is never shared publicly. Freelancers may only use a pseudonym on their public profile; their real name is never disclosed.

Collab. processes all payments securely. Banking details and payment methods are stored by Collab. and are never shared between clients and freelancers. The platform fee of 20% is deducted from both the client's payment and the freelancer's payout. Payments are released upon client approval. In the event of client abandonment, Collab. will release funds to the freelancer for verified work completed and delivered, after deducting the applicable 20% platform fee.

Any attempt to share personal contact details, communicate outside the platform, exchange banking information, or conduct work off-platform is a direct violation of our Terms of Service. Collab. reserves the right to pursue legal action to recover fees, enforce its terms, and seek remedies for any unauthorised bypass. Users engaging in such actions do so at their own risk and without recourse to Collab.