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Overflow Work from Other Freelancers

By: Beth Morrisey MLIS - Updated: 18 Jul 2010 | comments*Discuss
 
Overflow Work Freelancers Business

Accepting overflow work from other freelancers can be a tricky business. Freelancers who are considering taking on overflow work from others should ask to see a copy of the original client brief, ask to see a copy of any work completed on the project thus far, get a feel for the entire project as a whole, ask about the terms and type of payment, and ask about who will end up with the rights to the work completed.

Ask To See A Copy Of The Original Client Brief

Taking on overflow work means accepting work from someone who has agreed to do the job for a client, so freelancers who agree to do overflow work do not necessarily need to have contact with the original client at all. However, asking to see a copy of the original client brief is imperative so that the freelancer can feel confident that (s)he understands what is being asked for and how best to deliver it. If the freelancer offering the overflow work does not want to share the client brief then it should be a warning sign to anyone considering working with them.

Ask To See A Copy Of Any Work Completed Already

Freelancers who take on overflow work will need to understand how best to sync their work with the work already completed by the freelancer who is outsourcing it. The best way to understand this is to ask the freelancer to see a copy of any work completed prior to a freelancer accepting the overflow work. This may mean seeing draft copies of the current project or projects completed for this particular client in the past. Again, if a freelancer does not want to share examples then it should be a warning sign to those considering taking on their overflow work.

Get A Feel For The Project As A Whole

If overflow work will eventually need to be integrated into a larger project then the freelancer considering taking it on should ask for more information about the whole project. This will save everyone time and energy as it will allow the freelancers to more efficiently piece together the project at the end. Freelancers who see the client brief and a copy of any work completed already should have a good feel for the project as a whole.

Ask About The Terms And Type Of Payment

Freelancers who take on overflow work from others should find out all that they can about the terms and type of payment prior to commencing work. How much will they receive for the work? When will it be paid? How will it be paid? Will it be paid by the freelancer or by the client? Will an invoice be required? These are all questions that freelancers should ask prior to accepting overflow work from another.

Ask About Who Will End Up With The Rights To The Work

Freelancers considering taking on overflow work from other freelancers should clarify who will own the rights to the work when the project is completed. Will the client own all rights? Will the client own some rights and the original freelancer the other? Will the rights to any of the overflow work remain with the freelancer who completed it? This may not pertain to some forms of freelancing, but to others it might be the difference between having a significant portfolio available to sell as reprints and having no portfolio – and no credit – attached to the project at all.

Taking on overflow work from other freelancers is always a risk. Freelancers considering completing this type of work should always should ask to see a copy of the original client brief, any work completed on the project thus far, get a feel for the entire project as a whole, ask about the terms and type of payment, and ask about who will end up with the rights to the work completed. If the freelancer offering the overflow work can not or will not answer any of these questions then it should act as a warning sign to other freelancers considering working with him or her.

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