When starting out, most Irish freelancers choose between Fiverr, Upwork, or going direct. Each has distinct trade-offs in terms of fees, competition, payment, and tax treatment.
Fiverr is a buyer-led marketplace where clients browse seller profiles ("gigs") and order directly. It suits freelancers who can package their service into a fixed deliverable (logo design, article writing, voiceover, etc.).
Upwork is a proposal-based platform where you bid on client-posted jobs. More suited to longer-term relationships and hourly work.
Several platforms cater specifically to the Irish market:
Income from all platforms is taxable in Ireland. The platforms do not report your earnings to Revenue — you are responsible for declaring them. Keep records of all payments received, platform fees paid (these are deductible expenses), and currency conversions if paid in USD.
Going direct (no platform) has zero platform fees but requires more sales effort. Of the platforms, Upwork drops to 5% for long-term clients, making it the best value for ongoing relationships.
You only need to charge Irish VAT if your turnover exceeds the VAT registration threshold (€40,000 for services, €80,000 for goods). Most starting freelancers are below this. The platforms handle their own VAT separately.
Platform terms, fees, and tax rules change. Always verify current information on each platform's website and at revenue.ie.
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