The new Serbest İş is live: how a commission-free, pay-per-stage freelance platform works

Serbest İş (serbestis.com) connects clients with freelance experts, and we have rebuilt it from scratch. In the new version, live since 7 October 2026, posting a project and sending proposals is free and there is no commission. Money never sits on the platform: clients pay the expert directly as the work moves forward, one stage at a time.

Why we started over

The old site ran on an off-the-shelf script that had become hard to maintain. When we went through the sign-ups, most of them turned out to be bots, so we removed them. That means the new Serbest İş starts with a clean foundation and real members rather than an inflated member count. We have only just relaunched, and we are welcoming our first experts and clients right now.

How it works for clients

1. Post your project for free. Describe what you need. If you want, the project wizard asks a few clarifying questions and suggests a title, a description, a category and stages with estimated price ranges. You have the final say.
2. Compare proposals. Experts quote a price and a timeline for each stage. On their profiles you can see the "Verified with LinkedIn" badge, the categories they work in and reviews from earlier jobs.
3. Or pick a ready-made service. Experts' services come with packages, extras and steps. Choose a package and send a request, and it goes to that expert only.
4. Approve the stage plan. No stage starts until both sides agree on what each stage delivers and what it costs.
5. Review, approve, pay. When a stage is delivered, you approve it or ask for a revision, explaining what you need (a note is required). You pay the expert directly for each approved stage, and then you review each other.

How it works for experts

1. Create a free profile. Add your fields (up to 15 categories), your experience and links to your portfolio.
2. Add your LinkedIn URL. Our team checks your profile. Once approved, your badge shows and you are listed on the category pages.
3. Set up your services. Up to 4 packages, 6 extras and at least 2 steps whose percentages add up to 100%. The "Suggest steps with AI" button can help you draft them.
4. Send proposals and work stage by stage. "Find work" shows listings that fit you, and you quote per stage. Accepted jobs are collected under "My jobs".
5. Get paid directly. The client pays you for every approved stage and you confirm receipt. Nothing is deducted.

What's new

• No commission, direct payment: the platform never holds the money; clients pay experts directly, stage by stage.
• LinkedIn-verified experts: verified profiles carry a badge.
• AI-assisted listings: the project wizard helps turn an idea into a staged listing.
• Service packages: packages, extras and required steps make the price clear up front.
• Stage plan approval and revision notes: expectations stay on record.
• Messaging: a chat box in the bottom-right corner on every page of the member area; a full page on phones.
• Category pages: dedicated expert and project pages for 10 main categories and 87 subcategories.
• Turkish and English: the site, the member area and emails come in both languages, and emails go out in each member's chosen language.
• Content pre-check: new listings and services are checked for spam, scams and attempts to take work off the platform before they go live; our team reviews anything suspicious.
• Privacy: a KVKK (Turkish data protection) notice and opt-in consent for analytics cookies. Phone numbers are shared only between the two parties, and only after a proposal is accepted. Clients who don't want AI used on their project can say so in the listing.

Why no commission?

Holding other people's money requires a licence, and it adds cost and waiting time for both sides. We chose to reduce risk with small stages instead: the client never pays for the whole job up front, and the expert starts getting paid long before the end. Approvals, revision notes and reviews stay on record. Every lira you pay goes to the person doing the work. We explain the model in more detail in our post on staged payments.

FAQ

Does Serbest İş cost anything?

No. Creating a profile, posting projects, and sending or receiving proposals are free, and there is no commission.

Does the platform hold the payment?

No. After each stage is approved, the client pays the expert directly and the expert confirms receipt.

How can I tell whether an expert is trustworthy?

Look at the LinkedIn verification badge, the categories they work in, their portfolio and reviews from earlier jobs. Starting with a small first stage also lowers the risk.

Get started

If you have a job, post it for free; if you are an expert, create your profile and send your first proposal. Sign up for free, or browse open projects and experts. We would love to hear what you think of the new site: serbestis.com.