Hourly contracts: log hours, submit timesheets and get paid weekly.

On an hourly contract, the client funds each week in advance up to the weekly limit (rate × hours). The freelancer logs hours as they work, with a note and proof, and submits a timesheet after the week ends. The client approves it or asks about specific hours. Approved hours are paid and anything unused goes back to the client.

Before you start

• The contract must be accepted and the week funded. The card says Fund week 1 to start until it is.
• Weeks run Monday to Sunday, Dhaka time.
• Freelancers: keep proof as you work (screenshots, files, links).

Steps

1client: Fund the week

On the contract page choose Fund week. The amount is your rate times the weekly limit. You can turn on automatic funding each Monday. If a week isn't funded, work pauses.

2freelancer: Log hours as you go

Choose Open timesheet and add an entry for each work session: date, start and end time, a note on what you did, and proof for longer entries. Entries can't overlap, must be at least 15 minutes, and the week total can't go over the limit.

3freelancer: Submit the timesheet

After Sunday sunday 23:59 Asia/Dhaka, the week closes. Your next step shows "Submit your hours" for that week. Check your entries and choose Submit timesheet.

4client: Review the hours

You see "Approve the hours" for the week, with every entry, note and proof. Choose Approve & pay, or Ask about these hours to question an entry. You have 5 days.

5freelancer: Answer a question

If the client asks about hours, you have 48 hours to choose Answer. You can explain or lower the hours. Only that week waits; other weeks continue.

6Get paid

Approved hours × rate are released to the freelancer's Pending balance (minus Belancer's fee of 10%) and become Available after 14 days. Unused money returns to the client.

What happens next

The next week starts on Monday. Repeat until the work is done, then either side chooses End contract and both leave reviews. See end a contract.

Troubleshooting

• "Limit reached." You've logged the weekly limit. Ask the client to propose a higher limit for future weeks.
• I missed the Sunday deadline. Entries lock when the week closes. Talk to the client; time you didn't log can't be added later.
• Proof is required. Add files or links for entries longer than 120 minutes.
• The week isn't funded. Freelancers: don't work until it is. Clients: fund it or turn on auto-fund.
• We can't agree on hours. Use Report a problem on that week. Only that week's money is frozen.

Good to know

• Maximum per day: one day's entries can't exceed 720 minutes.
• Rate changes use Propose a new rate or limit and apply from the next week once accepted.
• Refunds only ever cover that week's unused or disputed money.

Tip: Write notes a client can understand without asking: "Built the login page and fixed two form bugs" is better than "Coding".

Note: Hours are logged by hand with notes and proof. Each entry shows exactly what the client is paying for.