Freelancers Guide

A comprehensive guide to freelancing on Opengates. Learn how to create services, apply to tasks, manage contracts, track earnings, and grow your freelance career on the platform.

Welcome to the Opengates Freelancers Guide

Whether you are brand new to freelancing or an experienced professional looking for a new platform, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about working as a freelancer on Opengates. Opengates is a freelancing marketplace that connects talented freelancers with clients and organizations who need work done. As a freelancer, you have access to powerful tools that help you showcase your skills, find work, deliver results, and get paid — all in one place.

This guide serves as your starting point. Below, you will find an overview of how freelancing works on Opengates, what you can do as a freelancer, and links to detailed articles that dive deeper into each topic.

What Is Opengates?

Opengates is a freelancing marketplace built around three account types: Freelancer, Client, and Organization. Each account type is designed for a specific role in the marketplace.

  • Freelancers are individuals who offer their skills and services to earn money. If you are reading this guide, this is likely your account type.
  • Clients are individuals or small teams who post tasks and hire freelancers to get work done.
  • Organizations are businesses or larger teams that hire freelancers at scale, often managing multiple projects and team members.

As a freelancer, you interact primarily with clients and organizations. You can offer your services for clients to purchase directly, or you can browse and apply to tasks that clients post on the platform.

How Freelancing Works on Opengates

There are two main ways to find work on Opengates:

1. Creating Services

A service is a listing you create that describes a specific piece of work you can do. Think of it like a product in an online store, except the product is your skill and expertise. Each service has three pricing tiers — Basic, Standard, and Premium — so clients can choose the level of service that fits their needs and budget. You set the price, delivery time, and included features for each tier.

When a client finds your service and likes what you offer, they can place an order directly. You then deliver the work according to the package they selected.

To learn how to set up your first service, read Creating Services.

2. Browsing and Applying to Tasks

A task is a project posted by a client who is looking for a freelancer to hire. Tasks include a description of the work needed, the budget, required skills, and a deadline. You can browse available tasks, filter them by category, budget, or skills, and apply to the ones that match your expertise.

To apply to a task, you use gate keys. Gate keys are tokens that you spend when submitting a proposal. They exist to ensure that applications are thoughtful and serious. Gate keys cost money, so you will want to make sure your proposals are strong and well-targeted.

Learn more in Browsing Tasks and Applying to Tasks.

Understanding Contracts

Once you land a job — whether through a service order or a task application — a contract is created between you and the client. Opengates supports two types of contracts:

  • Fixed-price contracts are for projects with a defined scope and total price. These contracts use milestones, which are checkpoints where you deliver a portion of the work and receive a portion of the payment.
  • Hourly contracts are for ongoing or flexible work. You log your time using the platform's time tracking tools, and you are paid based on the hours you work.

All payments go through escrow, which means the client's money is held securely by Opengates until you deliver the work and the client approves it. This protects both you and the client.

Read the full details in Managing Contracts.

Delivering Work and Getting Paid

When your work is ready, you submit your deliverables through the platform. The client reviews your submission and can either approve it or request revisions. Once your work is approved, the funds are released from escrow into your available earnings.

For a step-by-step walkthrough, see Submitting Work.

Your Earnings Dashboard

Opengates provides a detailed Earnings Dashboard where you can track all of your income. Your earnings are organized into three categories:

  • Pending: Money that is in escrow or awaiting client approval.
  • Paid Out: Money that has been released by clients and instantly sent to your M-Pesa or bank account.

You can also view your full transaction history, generate reports, and monitor your income trends over time. All earnings are displayed in USD on the platform, but payouts are made instantly in KES (Kenyan Shillings) via M-Pesa or bank transfer.

Learn more in Earnings Dashboard.

Platform Fees

Opengates charges a service fee on every transaction. The standard fee is 12% of your earnings. This fee covers payment processing, platform maintenance, customer support, and dispute resolution.

If you want to keep more of what you earn, you can upgrade to Opengates Premium, which reduces your fee to just 7%. Premium also comes with other benefits like more gate keys each month, a profile boost in search results, and priority customer support.

Read all about it in Premium for Freelancers.

Building a Strong Freelancer Profile

Your profile is your storefront on Opengates. It is the first thing clients see when they consider hiring you. A complete, professional profile significantly increases your chances of landing work. Here is what makes up your freelancer profile:

  • Profile photo: Use a clear, professional headshot. Profiles with photos get significantly more views.
  • Bio: Write a compelling summary of who you are, what you do, and why clients should hire you. Keep it clear and focused on the value you bring.
  • Skills: Add all of your relevant skills. Opengates uses your skills to match you with tasks and to show your services to the right clients.
  • Portfolio: Upload samples of your best work. This could be designs, code samples, writing pieces, videos, or anything that showcases your abilities.
  • Hourly rate: Set a rate that reflects your experience and the market. You can always adjust it later.
  • Reviews and ratings: As you complete contracts, clients will leave reviews and ratings on your profile. High ratings and positive reviews are one of the strongest factors in winning new work.

Tips for Success on Opengates

Here are some practical tips to help you build a thriving freelance career on Opengates:

  1. Complete your profile fully. Profiles that are 100% complete rank higher in search results and inspire more confidence in clients.
  2. Start with competitive pricing. When you are new and do not have reviews yet, slightly lower prices can help you win your first few contracts. You can raise your rates as you build your reputation.
  3. Write detailed service descriptions. The more clearly you describe what clients will get, the more likely they are to place an order.
  4. Respond quickly. Fast response times show clients that you are reliable and professional. Aim to respond to messages within a few hours.
  5. Deliver on time. Meeting deadlines is one of the most important factors in earning positive reviews.
  6. Communicate proactively. Keep your clients updated on progress. If you hit a snag, let them know early rather than missing a deadline.
  7. Use gate keys wisely. Only apply to tasks where you are genuinely a good fit. A well-crafted proposal for the right task is worth far more than many generic applications.
  8. Consider Premium. If you are doing consistent work on the platform, the reduced fees and extra gate keys from Premium can pay for themselves quickly.

Detailed Guides

Explore each topic in depth using the links below:

Still need help? Contact our support team and we'll be happy to assist you.

Freelancers Guide - Opengates Help Center