8 ms·

Ask HN: What contract agreement do websites like TopTal have with contractors?

• tedmiston 9y ago
  I'm not familiar with the TopTal agreements specifically, but in general with contracts (master services agreements) provided by marketplaces you see things that benefit the project owner as opposed to the contractor. One example, might be if you create a tool that helps generate something for that client, that the client also owns the tool you created. This kind of thing can become a big deal if you want to use your generator across multiple clients. To anyone who is serious about contracting, I highly recommend (1) avoid the contracting marketplaces, and (2) work with an attorney to craft an MSA you're happy with.
  • muzani 9y ago
    On the contrary I find contracting marketplaces to be much better environments. Toptal treats contractors more like staff, in that they provide training and things like copywriting. It's really about the pros and cons of the job. I used to say that 90% of the work in consulting is negotiating features/price and actually getting clients to pay up. Contracting marketplaces remove a lot of that risk. You might get paid less or have more limits, but it's up to you how much you want to "pay" for that kind of security.