1. Pre-qualify the project in order to place an accurate bid

• Before you bid, ask questions about the project requirements on the Project Clarification Board.
• Once you have placed a bid, if the buyer opens the Private Message Board (PMB), exchange details about the buyer’s expectations, your relevant experience and your price. 
• If you need to update your price, you can place a new bid for free.

2. Confirm business terms before you accept the project

• Elance will automatically open the Private Message Board as soon as the buyer chooses your bid, in order to facilitate communication.
• After the buyer chooses your bid, use the Business Terms process in MyElance to finalize scope, milestones and payment terms. Before you begin work, exchange a signed copy of the Business Terms. 
• Reflect any changes to project scope and price by updating the Business Terms and your bid amount before you accept the project. Please note that the buyer is obligated to adhere only to the final bid and business terms.

3. Document contact information, milestones and changes

• After you accept the project, exchange and confirm contact and business information, i.e., company name, address and phone number. 
• Upon delivery of each key milestone, get a signed copy of acceptance from the buyer. This will help prevent future disputes and charge-backs.
• If the scope changes during the project, document the change by submitting a Change Order on Elance. This will be appended to the original Business Terms and a record of this change will be maintained.

Elance Business Terms - What to confirm before you accept the project
After the buyer has chosen your bid and before you accept the project, the Business Terms process is used to finazlie project details.  Using Business Terms, confirm the following:

• Project Scope. Document the work that needs to be completed, what you will deliver during and at the end of the project. Specify all details, i.e., system requirements, additional services or materials not included in original bid, materials or information you will need from the buyer.
• Buyer Expectations. Discuss what performance criteria is most important to the buyer, i.e., deadlines, frequent communication, as well as how the buyer will evaluate your performance and deliverable.
• Milestones and Payment. Schedule the key deliverables, payment expected at each deliverable and feedback or materials you will need from the buyer before beginning each phase of the project
• Delivery Schedule. Define expected dates of delivery for each milestone and the final project. Factor in additional time to allow for unexpected changes or circumstances.
• Payment Terms. Specify how payment should be made. If you want to be paid through Elance, make sure the buyer has authenticated his credit card through Elance.
• Dependencies. Indicate up-front any dependencies that will affect your delivery schedule or price. These may include receipt of payment, holidays, speed of feedback from the buyer.
• Process for Scope Changes. Determine whether changes to project scope will be allowed and how they will be handled. You may decide to use the Change Order process on Elance, invoice for any additional fees through Elance or submit a repeat project from Provider Activity.
• Cancellation Terms. State the circumstances under which the project may be cancelled, what happens upon cancellation and any payment that will still be owed by the buyer.
• Detailed Contract or Statement of Work. For larger projects, Elance recommends creating a contract or statement of work. After both parties have signed these documents, you can upload them into MyElance.

Take advantage of Elance features throughout the bidding, negotiation and delivery phases of your projects.