How it Works (FAQ) for Clients
Billing
How does billing work?
The system creates a consolidated monthly invoice for one or more developers assigned to your project.
When will I be charged?
Invoices are issued at the end of each month and are payable within 5 business days.
What about days off and sick leave?
Each developer has 12 paid days off / sick leave days per year (calculated monthly). If a developer takes unpaid leave, the system applies a corresponding discount to your invoice.
How can I cover outstanding hours if the developer works extra hours?
- Developers normally do not work outside standard working hours. If overtime is required and agreed by both parties, it is billed at 2x rate and included in the same billing period.
- The system will take care of it and charge you for the hours reported by your developer for the previous period.
Do I collect extra hours?
You do not accumulate hours at all. In an FTE allocation model, you have full access to the developer’s capacity (typically 8 hours per day). If there are no priority tasks, you align on long-term work such as research, learning, or self-improvement activities.
What payment options are available?
- We operate on a monthly model.
- Payments can be made via ACH direct debit, credit card (Wise), or USDT.
Can I dispute an invoice?
No. Invoices are based on approved reports and must be paid. If concerns arise, we review them, provide an expert assessment, and offer a free replacement if needed.
General
What is Upstaff.com?
Upstaff.com is a platform that connects companies with trusted, pre-vetted engineers in AI, Web3, software, and data.
How are you different from freelance platforms?
Our key difference is the KYD (Know Your Developer) approach. It involves a significant amount of structured internal work on our side, resulting in better matching for the same budget, or the same quality match at a lower cost:
- technical interviews
- real project evaluation
- reference checks
- ongoing performance tracking
- pre-vetted engineers (KYD)
- speed (24–48h start)
- replacement guarantee (free replacement, no downtime guarantee, continuity of delivery)
- FTE flexibility (not gig-based chaos)
- human matching vs algorithm bidding
Is there a minimum number of hours?
Typically, a full-time engagement (FTE) means a standard working day of 8 hours. Depending on your project needs, we can provide developers available for full-time (40 hours per week) or part-time (20 hours per week) engagement.
Is there a minimum project duration?
As long as there are at least one month of work we can start the ball rolling. The average contract duration at Upstaff.com is six months. Many customers have continued employing Upstaff.com developers for years!
How can I stop working with a developer?
It’s very simple. One of the advantages of working with Upstaff.com is that you are not “married” to a developer. The standard notice period is 14 days and does not include any additional compensation.
Do I own the IP?
Yes. All intellectual property belongs to you. Additional agreements (MSA, NDA, etc.) can be signed if needed.
Can I offer equity to a developer?
Yes. A typical structure is developer 90% and Upstaff 10%.
Will I get a project estimate before starting?
Yes. Share your requirements, and we’ll estimate time, scope, and cost.
What technologies do you work with?
Most popular “destinations” for engineers are below and cover 99% of startup or software companies’ tech stack.
- AI Automation, RPA & Agentic Systems
- AI Engineering
- Data Analytics and BI
- Data Science and Data Engineering
- Mobile Applications
- Web Applications
- Digital Platforms and Enterprise Systems Engineers
- Operations and Cloud Infrastructure Team
Are there any upfront fees?
A one-month deposit may be required for USDT payments. It is fully refundable at the end of cooperation.
Developers
Do your developers speak English well?
Yes. All developers have B2–C1+ English proficiency.
How do you vet developers?
We follow the KYD (Know Your Developer) framework, including:
- background checks
- reference validation
- technical interviews
- continuous performance evaluation
What are your hourly rates?
Market-based rates starting from $30–$40/hour depending on stack and seniority.
Can developers work from my office?
- Hiring developers on a full-time basis means they can visit your office to meet your team. You will cover all travel expenses in this case.
- We can discuss relocations individually.
Can I communicate with developers directly?
Absolutely. You can use Slack, Teams, or any preferred communication tool.
Where are your developers located?
- Our developer network is continuously expanding geographically and now includes specialists located in Europe, LATAM, the U.S. (W-9 form owners), Canada, Asia, Oceania, and the UK.
- We operate in compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements. We are unable to accept applicants from Russia, Belarus, Iran, and North Korea, including cases where applicants attempt to apply through proxy countries or third locations used to bypass these restrictions.
Can you build a full team?
Yes. We can assemble developers, QA, PMs, and product managers.
Can you set up an R&D center in a certain location?
Yes. We have experience launching and supporting R&D teams from 2 to 50+ people.
Can I interview developers?
Yes, you are welcome to run interviews and technical assessments.
Can I see CVs?
Yes. All developer profiles and CVs are available in our talent portal.
Can I request live coding or test tasks?
Yes. Additional evaluation can be arranged if needed.
How experienced are your developers?
We focus on mid-level to senior engineers who solve complex hiring and technical challenges.
Do you offer junior developers?
No. We focus on mid-level and senior talent to ensure reliability and speed.
Do your developers use AI-assisted coding tools?
Yes. Our engineers actively use AI-assisted development tools such as code copilots, AI-based debugging, and automated code generation where appropriate.
AI does not replace engineering expertise; it enhances productivity. Developers still take full responsibility for architecture decisions, code quality, security, and final delivery.
This approach helps accelerate development cycles, reduce routine coding work, improve debugging speed, and focus engineers on higher-value tasks such as system design and problem-solving.
Is it safe to work with you as a Ukraine-based company?
To be honest, the situation is challenging, but the Upstaff.com team continues to operate like clockwork. Most of our staff has been relocated to safe zones. Ukraine-based developers remain in constant contact with our internal team, ensuring they can fully focus on their work and delivery.
Do you support fixed-price projects?
Yes, fixed-price engagements are available.
Can developers use my hardware?
Yes. We can arrange work on your infrastructure or provide equipment if needed.
Getting Started
How long does it take to start the project?
Usually 24 hours to find a match and 1–2 days for onboarding.
How do I hire a developer from Upstaff?
You provide requirements, we propose candidates, you approve, and work starts.
How do I start?
You share details, we assign a manager, you meet candidates, approve, and begin.
Do you use software to track the developer’s progress / working hours?
We use a trust-based system. Developers report hours transparently. No mandatory tracking tools unless required by your policy.
Claims & Support
I have an issue with the developer. What should I do?
Contact your personal talent manager. We will investigate and help resolve the issue.
- Bohdan – bk@upstaff.com
- Maria – ml@upstaff.com
- Yaroslav – yk@upstaff.com
- Yuriy – yr@upstaff.com
I’m not satisfied with developer’s work, how can I get a refund?
Contact your personal talent manager. We will investigate and help resolve the issue.
- Bohdan – bk@upstaff.com
- Maria – ml@upstaff.com
- Yaroslav – yk@upstaff.com
- Yuriy – yr@upstaff.com
I don’t like the developer, it’s not working out. How can you help me?
Contact your personal talent manager. We will investigate and help resolve the issue.
- Bohdan – bk@upstaff.com
- Maria – ml@upstaff.com
- Yaroslav – yk@upstaff.com
- Yuriy – yr@upstaff.com