What Malt actually costs freelancers (and what it doesn't)
The fee model nobody explains clearly
Most freelancers assume Malt works like Upwork or Fiverr — taking a cut from your earnings. It doesn't. Malt adds its ~10% commission on top of your rate and charges it to the client. You quote €800/day, the client pays ~€880, Malt keeps €80. Your €800 lands in your account minus payment processing (~2%). That's it from the platform. Compare that to Upwork (10% from your earnings) or Fiverr (20% from your earnings): the difference compounds fast at senior-level rates.
What actually reduces your payout
The real deductions are on your side, not Malt's: processing (1.5–3% depending on method) and your own taxes. At €800/day, after 2% processing and a 19% tax reserve:
- France TVA: 20% · Germany MwSt: 19%
- At €700/day × 160 billable days/year: roughly €18,000 more than the same volume on Fiverr
TJM vs fixed-price: how Malt's two billing modes work
Malt supports two contract types — each with different risk and scope dynamics:
- TJM (daily rate): Log days worked, invoice per day, client approves. Scales naturally as scope expands. Standard for tech and consulting.
- Fixed-price: Agree on deliverable + total price, invoice on completion. Requires strict scope discipline. Best for clearly-defined design or content work.
How to calculate your TJM from an income goal
TJM — Taux Journalier Moyen — is how Malt and French clients benchmark freelancer cost. To earn €5,000/month net after 2% processing and 20% tax reserve, you need to bill ~€6,375 gross.
- 10 billable days/month → TJM of €638/day
- 8 billable days/month → TJM of €797/day
- Most freelancers price by market feel — the right approach is to work backwards from your income goal.
How Malt ranks profiles — and what actually moves the algorithm
Malt's search placement is driven by a profile score. A dormant profile with 10 old reviews ranks lower than an active one with 5 recent ones. Four factors dominate:
- Profile completeness — photo, bio, skills, portfolio, availability status
- Verified reviews from completed missions (recency matters more than volume)
- Response rate to client messages
- Activity recency — update availability regularly, respond within 24 hours, request a review after every mission
Malt Boost: when it's worth it and when it isn't
Malt Boost is a paid visibility feature that increases your placement in client search results. It amplifies what's already there — a sparse profile boosted is still a sparse profile.
- New profile (few reviews): Boost can bridge the credibility gap and accelerate early traction
- Established freelancer (strong review history): Organic ranking typically performs as well
- Rule: build profile quality first, use Boost as a multiplier — not a substitute
Who Malt works for — and where its limits are
Malt's client base is predominantly French enterprises and mid-sized companies, with growing presence in Germany, Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Average mission value: €3,000–€30,000+.
- Dominant categories: tech (dev, data, cloud), design, marketing
- Best for freelancers with 3+ years of expertise, commanding €300+/day B2B rates
- Not suited for early-career freelancers — Upwork's global marketplace gets you more work below €250/day
- Non-European freelancers: fewer relevant opportunities and more friction on every payment
Calculate Your Malt Daily Rate Payout
Estimates only · Actual platform fees may vary · Not financial or tax advice
Malt insider knowledge
Your TJM is not what clients compare
Quote €800/day and clients see ~€880 in search results. That's what they stack against other freelancers and against hiring in-house. Set your TJM based on the visible number — not just your take-home target. At €880 visible you're in a different bracket than at €750.
The payment guarantee most freelancers undervalue
Malt holds full client payment in escrow before any work starts — for every mission, fixed or daily. Independent freelancers typically spend 4–8 hours/year chasing late payments. On Malt that problem doesn't exist. Factor it into your rate when comparing to direct clients.
Malt is not for every freelancer
Malt's enterprise client base expects senior expertise at €300–€1,500/day. If you're early-career and pricing below €250/day, Upwork's global marketplace will get you more work. Malt becomes your best option once you can command B2B rates with 3+ years of solid expertise.
The admin you never have to do
Malt generates your invoice, handles VAT billing to the client, and includes AXA professional liability insurance on every mission. For freelancers used to direct clients, this alone saves 2–4h admin per project — plus eliminates separate insurance costs (typically €300–€600/year in France).
Malt vs Upwork vs Fiverr — honest breakdown
| Malt | Upwork | Fiverr | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commission from you | 0% | 10% | 20% |
| Who pays the platform fee | Client | You | You |
| Payment guarantee | Escrow | Escrow | None |
| Invoice + VAT handling | Full | Partial | Partial |
| Professional insurance | AXA included | None | None |
| Global job volume | EU only | Global | Global |
| Entry-level friendly | €300+/day | All levels | All levels |
Based on publicly documented fee structures. Features subject to change — verify with each platform's official documentation.
Turn Insight into Income
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Estimates based on publicly available fee structures. Not tax advice. Adjust calculations to your specific situation.