Once you have an active hourly contract with a freelancer, you can manage several contract details directly from the contract page. This includes updating the hourly rate, adjusting weekly hour limits, managing manual time and invoices, pausing or closing the contract, and reviewing contract history.
How Do I Access an Hourly Contract?
To open an existing hourly contract:
- Sign in to your goLance client account.
- Select Contracts from the left-side menu.
- Select Hourly Contracts.
- Find the contract you want to manage.
- Select the Contract Name highlighted in blue.
You will be redirected to the individual contract page, where you can review the Work Diary, payment information, contract history, and other contract details.
How Do I Open Contract Settings?
From the individual contract page:
- Locate Send Bonus in the upper-right corner.
- Select the three-dot menu beside it.
- Select Settings.
The Contract Settings page contains the options available for that hourly contract.
When Do Changes to Contract Settings Take Effect?
Most changes made to an hourly contract do not affect the current working week.
Once a working week has started, some settings may not take effect until the current week closes on Sunday at midnight UTC and the new working week begins.
This means changes such as a new hourly rate or weekly limit may apply to the following week rather than changing time that has already been tracked during the current week.
What Can I Change in Contract Settings?
Depending on the contract and your available permissions, you may be able to manage:
- Contract title
- Hourly rate
- Contract fees
- Contract dates
- Historical start date
- Weekly hour limit
- Manual time
- Permanent manual-time weekly limit
- One-time manual-time weekly limit
- Manual invoices
How Do I Change the Contract Title?
- Open the hourly contract.
- Select the three-dot menu.
- Select Settings.
- Edit the Contract Title field.
- Select Save Changes.
How Do I Change a Freelancer’s Hourly Rate?
You can update the freelancer’s rate without creating a new contract.
- Go to Contracts → Hourly Contracts.
- Select the appropriate contract.
- Open the three-dot menu beside Send Bonus.
- Select Settings.
- Locate Hourly Rate.
- Enter the new rate.
- Select Save Changes.
Keep in mind that the new hourly rate may begin with the following working week rather than changing the rate for time already tracked during the current week.
Can I Update Contract Fees?
Yes, when the option is available for the contract.
- Open Contract Settings.
- Locate Contract Fees.
- Update the available option.
- Select Save Changes.
How Do I Change the Contract Dates?
- Open the contract’s Settings.
- Locate Contract Dates.
- Update the available date fields.
- Select Save Changes.
When applicable, the settings page may also allow you to add a Historical Start Date for work or collaboration that began before the current contract.
How Do I Change the Weekly Hour Limit?
The Weekly Limit controls how many hours the freelancer is permitted to work under the contract during a working week.
To change it:
- Open the contract’s Settings.
- Locate Weekly Limit.
- Enter the new weekly hour limit.
- Select Save Changes.
Because weekly limits are tied to the working week, the updated limit may not take effect until the next week begins.
How Do I Enable or Disable Manual Time?
Manual time allows a freelancer to add authorized working time without tracking it directly through goMeter.
To manage it:
- Open Contract Settings.
- Locate Manual Time.
- Turn the setting on or off.
- Select Save Changes.
If Manual Time is disabled, the freelancer must use goMeter to track their working time.
What Is the Permanent Manual-Time Weekly Limit?
The Permanent Manual Time Weekly Limit sets an ongoing weekly limit for how much manual time the freelancer can add.
To configure it:
- Enable Manual Time.
- Locate the permanent manual-time weekly limit.
- Enter the number of hours allowed.
- Select Save Changes.
The limit will continue to apply to future working weeks unless it is changed again.
What Is a One-Time Manual-Time Weekly Limit?
A One-Time Manual Time Weekly Limit lets you provide a different manual-time allowance for one specific working week without permanently changing the regular limit.
To add one:
- Open Contract Settings.
- Confirm that Manual Time is enabled.
- Locate the One-Time Manual Time Weekly Limit option.
- Enter the applicable limit.
- Select Save Changes.
The one-time limit applies only to the specified week.
Can I Enable or Disable Manual Invoices?
Yes.
- Open the contract’s Settings.
- Locate Manual Invoices.
- Enable or disable the option as needed.
- Select Save Changes.
What Other Actions Are Available From the Three-Dot Menu?
The contract’s three-dot menu also provides several actions outside of Contract Settings.
Pause Contract
Select Pause Contract when you want to temporarily stop the contract without ending it permanently.
While the contract is paused, the freelancer cannot continue tracking time. You can resume the working relationship later if needed.
Open Dispute
Select Open Dispute if you want to dispute time tracked by the freelancer that you believe should not be paid.
This opens the dispute process for the contract.
Close Contract
Select Close Contract when you no longer want to continue working with the freelancer under that hourly contract.
Closing the contract ends the active working relationship.
Where Can I See Changes Made to the Contract?
Contract changes can be reviewed from Contract History.
- Open the applicable hourly contract.
- Select the Contract History tab.
- Review the recorded contract activity and changes.
Contract History can help you confirm when settings or other contract details were updated.
Why Didn’t My Setting Change Apply Immediately?
If you updated a setting but do not see it affecting the current week, the change may be scheduled to apply with the next working week.
The current work week closes on Sunday at midnight UTC. Once the new week begins, applicable updated settings can take effect.
Changes are generally not applied retroactively to time that was already tracked under the previous settings.
Need Help? We hope this guide was helpful! If you have questions or need additional assistance, please contact our support team through the goLance chatbot. Our team is happy to provide further guidance.