It can be really useful to divide your projects into stages or milestones. They can be presented on the project description or sent directly to the professional you chose as a first step before getting started.
What do I gain from this method?
It allows you to have more control over what needs to be done and the time you need to complete each task. These milestones are the material the professional must deliver to you as they move along the project - you must approve each and every one of these deliverables.
As the stages or milestones are completed and approved, the percentage of progress completed will go up to 100%.
🎯 Below, we provide an example of this system for a logo project:
Milestone #1: Presentation of 6 choices of concepts (30%)
Milestone #2: First revision of chosen concept (30%)
Milestone #3: Second revision of chosen concept (30%)
Milestone #4: Delivery of final logo in all formats (10%)
In this way, you will ask professionals when they present you with 6 options of concepts (Milestone 1), to make the delivery for 30%, and once you agree, you will be able to approve that delivery and only release 30% of the funds, and so on until you complete the entire project.
It's very simple. This way, you can better organize your project, and the professional will also know when you will release funds and what to do at each stage.
But remember: Once you release funds, you have no guarantees, so always make sure you are satisfied with the work you receive before approving a delivery. 😉