Got Questions? We've got answers.
If you've made it this far, you're probably curious. Let's help you understand how folio works.
What is Folio?
Folio is a contract-to-hire platform that de-risks entry-level hiring by turning students into teams of skilled freelancers who graduate with a validated portfolio and 20x more experience.
What happens after I post a project?
There are 3 steps between when you post a project and when you are introduced to vetted candidates.
a. Once you've posted your project, it is published on our 'Opportunities' section for our community of student freelancers to apply.
b. You will receive an email for each new applicant. You can review applicant's profiles by navigating to Projects > Open > Review Applicants.
c. The folio Team will review each applicant's skills and fit for your project.
Vetted applicants will be introduced to you via a 1:1 email introduction. You are also welcome to vet applicants on your own by exploring their profiles and reaching out via direct message.
How do I create a company profile?
a. After you have created an account, you will be prompted to create your company and individual profile.
b. You can also create a company profile by clicking on the profile icon on the right side of the navigation bar > tap on ‘Company profile’ > click on the edit icons > fill out details
c. You can create your individual profile by clicking on the profile icon on the right side of the navigation bar > tap on ‘Manage Profile’ > click on the edit icons > fill out details
What is the difference between a Project and a Challenge?
Projects allow you to Hire 1-20 freelancers to complete a single project. Pay per hour or deliverable
Challenges create an opportunity for all 20,000 freelancers to create content, testimonials, or test your product. Set a budget and pay per qualified engagement
How do I accept and work with a freelancer?
From the ‘My Projects’ tab, you can view all the applicants for an ‘Open’ project.
Select the freelancer you want to work with and press 'accept freelancer.'
Once you've accepted a student freelancer, your project will then be moved to ‘Active’
From there, your freelancer can track their hours, deliverables and progress. You can review their hours and progress and complete payments on folio.
How do I post a project?
Once you have created a folio account and profile, you can post a project immediately.
Here’s how it works:
a. Login and select ‘Post a Project’ from the Home page
b. Complete questions about project's deliverables and skills required to be successful.
c. Review the project and then post!
Your project will be published and students will be able to view and apply. You will receive email notifications for each new applicant
How do I apply for a project?
Before you apply, we highly recommend you build out your profile because it's the first and only thing employers will see when you apply.
a. Complete your profile, including your resume and projects that fit your skills and interests
b. Select the project and press Apply.
Once you press Submit, you'll receive an email confirmation. Your can track your application status under My Projects.
What happens after I apply to a project?
After applying to a project, your profile will be reviewed.
If your profile is incomplete, you receive an email from folio support requesting that you add more before we can complete our review process
If your profile passes review, you will be introduced to the employer via 1:1 email.
The employer will review your application and may request a call to learn more about your skills, or may accept your application without further review.
If you are accepted, you will receive an email and can start working on the project.
If you are not accepted, you will also receive a notification. But don’t worry, there will be more projects to apply to!
Your can track your status under My Projects any time.
How do I get paid?
You must create and connect a Stripe Express account to get paid. To do this, navigate to your User Icon > Settings > Payment Methods > Connect to Stripe.
You will be taken through an onboarding process to create and connect a Stripe account. This should take less than 1 minute.
From there, you can log hours. Your clients will reviews these hours and complete a payment on a schedule that suits you both. We recommend setting up a regular schedule with your client to avoid confusion and surprises.
What happens after I apply to a project?
After applying to a project, your profile will be reviewed.
If your profile is incomplete, you receive an email from folio support requesting that you add more before we can complete our review process
If your profile passes review, you will be introduced to the employer via 1:1 email.
The employer will review your application and may request a call to learn more about your skills, or may accept your application without further review.
If you are accepted, you will receive an email and can start working on the project.
If you are not accepted, you will also receive a notification. But don’t worry, there will be more projects to apply to!
Your can track your status under My Projects any time.
How do I leave a review?
To leave a review, select My Projects > Completed > Leave a Review.
Leaving a review helps the freelancer build credibility and get more projects, and provides invaluable feedback to clients.
What does folio charge for its services?
For self-serve projects, employers are charge 5% which covers Stripe fees (30 cents + 2.9% + applicable foreign exchange fees). Freelancers are charged 15%
For team projects, both employers and freelancers are charged 15%.
For Challenges, only employers are charged 15% and freelancers only cover the Stripe fee.
Do freelancers sign an NDA?
Yes - When freelancers sign up for Folio they agree to our Terms of Service which outlines the requirement to request consent from clients before sharing information about their project outside of folio.
Who owns the work produced by freelancers?
Once a freelancer is paid, their works ownership transfers to the client. To learn more, read section 3 of our Terms of Service.
Can I cancel an active project?
Yes - to cancel an active project, go to My Projects > Cancel
How do I setup my profile?
This brief tutorial will walk you through the process of creating an account and creating a profile.
How do I apply to projects and track my applications?
This brief tutorial will walk you through the process of applying to projects and tracking your applications
How do I get paid?
To collect your earnings, you must create and connect a Stripe account. Head to Settings > Stripe and follow the guided process.
How do I schedule meetings?
Connect to Calendly to schedule meetings with ease. Navigate to Settings > Integrations and paste your Calendly link. Or, go to Messages > Schedule a Meeting to add it directly to a group chat.
How do I log my hours and progress?
Navigate to Projects > Active > Log Hours. After pressing Save, this information will be sent to your client to review and pay.
How do I pay freelancers and download invoices?
Navigate to Projects > Active > Pay. You will be taken to a secure Stripe portal to complete payment.
To view invoices, navigate to Settings > Invoices.
How does vetting work?
Before freelancers and clients are introduced, folio reviews each applicant's profile and external links to understand if they have the right skills and experience for the project.
Experiences can come from many places - school work, volunteering, personal projects, student organizations and beyond. We get to know each student's strengths and capabilities so that every introduction is a valuable experience for both freelancers and clients.
