How to submit a milestone and get paid on a fixed-price contract.

On a fixed-price contract you're paid one milestone at a time. When the client has funded a milestone, do the work, then choose Submit milestone on the contract page, add a message and your files, and send it for approval. The client approves and releases the money, or asks for changes. If the client doesn't respond within 7 days, the milestone is approved automatically.

Before you start

• The milestone must show as funded (Payment Secured). Never start an unfunded milestone.
• Check the milestone's What you'll deliver line so your submission matches it exactly.

Steps

1Open the contract

Go to Orders (or My contracts) and open the contract. Your next step shows "Work on milestone … and submit it" with the due date.

2Choose Submit milestone

Choose Submit milestone. A dialog opens.

3Add your message and files

Explain what you delivered, how it meets the milestone and anything the client should check. Attach the files. Files are scanned for viruses before the client can open them.

4Send for approval

Choose Submit for approval. The milestone shows Submitted and the client's review clock starts.

5Handle a change request

If the client chooses Request changes, you see each change they listed. Make the changes and choose Resubmit milestone. The review clock starts again.

6Get paid

When the client chooses Approve & release (or the review time passes), the milestone shows Paid. The amount, minus Belancer's fee, goes to your Pending balance.

What happens next

The next milestone waits for the client to fund it. Belancer reminds the client after 2 days. When it's funded, the card changes to the next milestone. After the last one, either side can end the contract and you both leave reviews.

Troubleshooting

• The Submit button is missing. The milestone isn't funded yet, or it's already submitted.
• A file is "Blocked". It failed the virus check or is a blocked file type. Send it in a safe format, such as ZIP or PDF.
• The client keeps asking for changes beyond the agreed scope. Point to the milestone's agreed deliverables in a calm message. If you can't agree, use Report a problem on that milestone. See report a problem.
• The client went silent. You don't need to chase: the milestone approves automatically after 7 days.

Good to know

• Only that milestone is frozen if someone reports a problem; other milestones and your Balance are untouched.
• Change future milestones with Propose a change to the contract; the client must accept.
• Agency contracts: the assigned member submits; the split is paid automatically on release. See agency earnings split.

Tip: Submit with a short checklist that mirrors the milestone. Clients approve faster when they can tick off each item.

Note: Delivered work that's wrong is handled through Report a problem, not cancellation.