Client Management

What to Do When an Upwork Client Asks You to Work Off-Platform

By Christoph
October 2025
12 min read

"Can we continue this project outside of Upwork?" This question puts freelancers in a tough spot. Here's the truth about Upwork's rules, the risks involved, and exactly how to handle this situation without getting banned or scammed.

Why Clients Ask to Work Off-Platform

It happens to every successful Upwork freelancer eventually. A client you've been working with says:

"You're doing great work! To save on Upwork fees, let's continue working together directly. I'll pay you via PayPal/Venmo/bank transfer."

Or the more subtle version:

"Hey, can you send me your email/phone number? It's easier to communicate there."

Seems innocent enough, right? The client wants to save money on fees. You might earn a bit more. What's the harm?

⚠️ Reality Check:

This situation is more dangerous than it seems. Both you AND the client risk permanent account suspension. And there's a good chance you're about to get scammed.

What Upwork's Circumvention Policy Actually Says

Upwork's Terms of Service are crystal clear about this. Their "Circumvention Policy" prohibits:

  • Accepting payment outside of Upwork for work relationships that started on Upwork
  • Sharing contact information (email, phone, Skype, WhatsApp) before establishing a contract
  • Encouraging clients to work outside the platform
  • Using coded language to suggest off-platform work
  • Accepting direct payments during an active Upwork contract

The Penalty: Permanent Account Suspension

If Upwork catches you circumventing the platform, they will:

  • Permanently suspend your account - no warnings, no appeals
  • Withhold any pending payments you haven't withdrawn yet
  • Ban you from creating new accounts (they track this)
  • Potentially suspend the client's account as well

🔍 How Upwork Detects Circumvention:

  • Automated message scanning - they scan for emails, phone numbers, payment app mentions
  • Pattern recognition - sudden drop in hours/payments with a client you still message
  • Client/freelancer reports - either party can report the other
  • Manual reviews - Upwork staff review flagged accounts

When You CAN Work Off-Platform (Legally)

There IS a legal way to transition off Upwork, but you must follow Upwork's rules carefully.

✅ The Two-Year Rule (Updated)

According to Upwork's Terms of Service, you can work with a client off-platform if:

  • 24 months have passed since your last paid contract with that client on Upwork
  • You're not actively working with them on Upwork
  • You haven't been messaging them on Upwork during those 24 months

Important: This used to be 24 months, but Upwork's current policy states freelancers can transition clients off-platform after 24 months of no contact or contracts.

The "Opt-Out" Fee Option

Upwork also offers a legitimate way to work off-platform immediately: pay an opt-out conversion fee.

How it works:

  • You or the client pays Upwork a one-time fee (typically $0-$2,999 depending on lifetime billings with that client)
  • The fee is calculated as the greater of:
    • $0 if you've paid Upwork $10,000+ in fees for that client
    • $2,999 minus the fees you've already paid
  • After paying, you can work with that client off-platform legally

Reality check: Almost nobody pays this fee. It's expensive and rarely makes financial sense unless you're transitioning a very high-value, long-term client.

The Real Risks of Working Off-Platform

1. You Lose All Payment Protection

Remember how we discussed Upwork's payment protection? All of that disappears when you work off-platform.

  • No escrow protection
  • No payment guarantee
  • No dispute resolution
  • Client can simply disappear after you deliver work

2. The "Bait and Switch" Scam

How it works:

  1. Client hires you on Upwork for small project ($50-200)
  2. Pays you promptly, leaves 5-star review
  3. Builds trust, then asks to work off-platform on "bigger project"
  4. You agree, deliver the work
  5. Client ghosts you - no payment
  6. You can't report to Upwork (you'd admit to circumvention)
  7. You have no recourse

This is extremely common. Scammers use small Upwork jobs to build credibility, then exploit freelancers off-platform.

3. You Risk Your Entire Upwork Income

Getting banned from Upwork means:

  • Losing access to all your current clients
  • Losing your Top Rated status and job history
  • Losing your income stream if Upwork is your primary source
  • Starting from zero on other platforms

Is saving 10-20% on fees worth risking all of this?

4. Tax and Legal Complications

When you work on Upwork, you get:

  • Automatic payment records for tax purposes
  • 1099 forms (for US freelancers)
  • Clear paper trail for business income

Working off-platform means managing all of this yourself, plus the risk of clients paying via methods that are hard to document.

How to Handle It When a Client Asks

So what do you actually say when a client asks to work off-platform? Here are your options:

Option 1: The Professional Decline (Recommended)

Use this response:

"I appreciate the offer, but I prefer to keep all my work on Upwork for both of our protection. Upwork provides payment security, dispute resolution, and a clear record of our work together. I've had great experiences working through the platform and would like to continue doing so. I hope you understand!"

Why this works: It's polite, firm, and frames staying on Upwork as beneficial for both parties.

Option 2: Acknowledge Fees, Offer Value

If the client is concerned about fees:

"I understand Upwork fees can add up. However, the platform provides important protections for both of us - payment security for me and the Work Diary/time tracking for you. I'm happy to discuss adjusting my rate slightly to help offset some of the fees if that would help. Let's keep things on Upwork so we're both protected."

Why this works: Shows you understand their concern and offers a compromise without breaking Upwork's rules.

Option 3: The Two-Year Plan

For long-term clients you trust:

"I'd love to work with you long-term! Upwork's policy allows us to transition off-platform after 24 months of our first contract. Let's continue working together on Upwork for now, and we can revisit this conversation down the road. In the meantime, I'm committed to delivering great work for you."

Why this works: Acknowledges the request, shows you're open to it eventually, but sets clear boundaries.

Option 4: Report and Move On

If the client is pushy or you suspect a scam:

  • Politely decline
  • Report the client to Upwork (flag the message or contact support)
  • End the contract if they continue to pressure you
  • Move on to better clients who respect platform rules

Red flags that suggest a scam: New client, pushy behavior, promises of "big future projects," asks for off-platform work immediately.

What NOT to Do

❌

Share Contact Info in Upwork Messages

Don't write your email, phone, Skype, WhatsApp, or any other contact info in Upwork messages. Upwork's automated systems will flag this instantly.

❌

Use Coded Language

Phrases like "let's take this offline," "contact me at my business site," or "I'll send you my details" are all flagged by Upwork's systems.

❌

Accept "Just This One Project" Off-Platform

"It's just one small project" is how most freelancers get burned. If you break the rules once, the client knows you're willing to do it and may pressure you for more.

❌

Trust a Client Just Because They Have Good Reviews

Even clients with 5-star ratings can scam you off-platform. Those reviews mean nothing when you're working outside Upwork's protection. Learn to spot red flag clients early.

❌

Gradually Reduce Hours While Still Messaging

If you're secretly working off-platform but still messaging the client on Upwork, the pattern is obvious: hours drop but communication continues. This gets flagged.

Special Situations and Gray Areas

"The client wants a quick phone call to discuss the project"

This is allowed - as long as you have an active contract. Upwork permits communication off-platform (phone, video calls, in-person meetings) for work-related purposes during active contracts.

The rule: You must have a contract first, and you must bill the work through Upwork. Having a phone call to discuss requirements is fine. Working off-platform and getting paid outside Upwork is not.

"I met this client in person at a conference"

This is fine - if you genuinely met them outside of Upwork and didn't find them through the platform, you can work with them directly.

The rule: The relationship must have started independently of Upwork. If you first connected on Upwork, then later met in person, you still need to work through Upwork.

"The client found my website and wants to hire me directly"

Gray area - if they genuinely found you through your website/portfolio/social media (not through Upwork), and you've never communicated with them on Upwork, you can work with them directly.

Warning: If you first connected on Upwork and they later "found your website," that doesn't count. The initial connection was still through Upwork.

The Smart Way to Build Beyond Upwork

The real question isn't "how can I circumvent Upwork's fees?" It's "how can I build a sustainable freelance business that doesn't depend entirely on one platform?"

The Legitimate Path:

  1. Use Upwork to build your reputation and portfolio
    • Get 5-star reviews
    • Build case studies from successful projects
    • Earn Top Rated status
  2. Build your personal brand outside Upwork
    • Create a professional website/portfolio
    • Publish content on LinkedIn, Medium, or your blog
    • Grow your network on social media
  3. Attract NEW clients through your own channels
    • These clients never found you on Upwork
    • You can work with them directly from day one
    • No Upwork fees, completely legitimate
  4. For Upwork clients, follow the 24-month rule
    • Continue working with them on Upwork
    • After 24 months, you can legally transition off-platform
    • By then, you should have other income sources anyway

This approach is slower, but it's sustainable, legal, and builds real business assets you control.

📚 Related Reading:

Learn more about building a sustainable freelance career beyond Upwork and why relying on one platform is risky long-term.

My Personal Take: Is It Worth the Risk?

I've been on Upwork for 4+ years and earned over $100K on the platform. I've had multiple clients ask to work off-platform, and every single time, I've declined.

Why?

  • The risk of losing my account (and all current/future income) isn't worth saving 10-20% on fees
  • I've heard too many horror stories of freelancers getting scammed off-platform
  • Upwork's payment protection has saved me multiple times from difficult clients
  • I focus my energy on attracting NEW clients through my own marketing, not on circumventing Upwork

The math:

Let's say a client wants to pay you $5,000 off-platform to "save fees." If you get caught:

  • You lose access to your entire Upwork income (potentially $30K-100K+ per year)
  • You lose your Top Rated status and job history
  • You might not even get paid for that $5,000 project

Is $500-1,000 in saved fees worth risking $30,000+ in annual income?

My advice: Play by the rules while you're building your Upwork reputation. Once you're established and have multiple income streams, you won't care as much about one platform's fees anyway.

Quick Decision Guide

Client asks to work off-platform during active contract:

✅ Response: Politely decline and explain you prefer to keep work on Upwork for both parties' protection.

Client wants phone/email to discuss project details:

✅ OK if: You have an active contract and will bill through Upwork. ❌ NOT OK if: No contract yet or they want to pay outside Upwork.

Worked with client 24+ months ago, no contact since:

✅ Legal to work off-platform - You can reach out and work with them directly now.

New client pressures you to work off-platform immediately:

❌ Major red flag - Likely a scam. Decline and report to Upwork.

Long-term trusted client wants to transition off-platform:

⏰ Suggest waiting: "Let's keep working together on Upwork for now, and we can revisit this conversation after the 24-month mark."

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About Christoph

I'm a Top Rated Upwork freelancer with 100% Job Success Score and $100K+ in earnings. I've been approached by clients wanting to work off-platform dozens of times and declined every single one. I focus on building sustainable income through multiple channels while maintaining my Upwork presence the right way.

Learn more about my story → Get in touch →

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