Help & Support
CONTRACT TO HIRE
Work together first. Decide what comes next later.
Need specialist expertise for a project, a growing workload or a longer term business requirement?
Contract to Hire gives businesses the flexibility to engage independent freelancers and consultants on an agreed contract basis before deciding whether a longer term or permanent arrangement is right for the business.
Engage the expertise you need through an agreed hourly, daily or project rate, without immediately committing to permanent employment.
Find the expertise. Work together. Decide what comes next.
HOW IT WORKS
01 | DEFINE WHAT YOU NEED
Tell us what expertise you are looking for, the type of work required, expected duration and preferred working arrangement.
You can browse available professionals on Collab. or send us your requirements.
02 | FIND THE RIGHT PROFESSIONAL
Depending on your needs, you can engage:
One professional
Multiple professionals
Different specialists for different projects
Multiple professionals at the same time
Choose the expertise that fits your requirement.
03 | AGREE THE ENGAGEMENT
Before work begins, the client and professional agree on:
Scope of work
Deliverables
Timelines
Professional rate
Contract period
Working arrangements
Rates may be agreed on an:
Hourly basis
Daily basis
Project basis
04 | WORK TOGETHER
The professional works according to the agreed contract terms.
You get the flexibility to engage the expertise you need without immediately committing to permanent employment.
05 | REVIEW YOUR NEXT STEP
At the end of the engagement, you can:
Continue working together
Extend the contract
Change professionals
End the engagement
Or discuss a permanent appointment
The right decision can be made after working together and understanding the needs of both sides.
NEED TO CHANGE PROFESSIONALS?
Business requirements can change.
You may end an engagement and work with another professional, provided all agreed payments and contractual obligations to the existing professional have been settled in accordance with the applicable agreement.
You can also engage multiple independent professionals at the same time where required.
THE COLLAB. RETAINER ACCOUNT
Flexible access to expertise when you need it.
For businesses with ongoing or changing requirements, Collab. can offer a Retainer Account.
You select an agreed retainer amount, which is paid in advance and used against the agreed professional fees for applicable engagements.
Your Retainer Account can be used to access different freelancers and consultants according to your business requirements.
You can:
Engage different professionals for different requirements
Work with multiple professionals
Use the balance against agreed hourly or project rates
Access expertise as your business requirements change
Continue using the available balance until it is depleted
Each engagement is deducted from the available balance according to the agreed professional fee and work completed.
HOW THE RETAINER WORKS
01 | SELECT YOUR RETAINER
Choose an agreed retainer amount based on your anticipated requirements.
02 | ACCESS PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE
Use the balance to engage suitable freelancers or consultants.
03 | USE YOUR BALANCE
Professional fees are deducted from the Retainer Account according to the agreed engagement.
04 | RENEW WHEN REQUIRED
When the available balance is depleted, you can purchase a new retainer to continue accessing expertise.
Example
Retainer Account Amount
Initial retainer :R30,000
Professional A :R5,000
Professional B :R8,000
Professional C :R4,500
Remaining balance =R12,500
The remaining balance can continue to be used for future agreed engagements.
WANT TO MAKE IT PERMANENT?
Sometimes the right fit becomes clear through the work.
If you decide that a freelancer or consultant is the right permanent fit for your business, a permanent appointment may be discussed.
A once off placement fee may apply when an independent professional introduced through Collab. is appointed permanently.
The applicable fee is based on the role and the professional's annual cost to company.
PERMANENT PLACEMENT FEES
Role Type Once Off Placement Fee
Standard and Entry to Mid Roles 12% to 17% of annual CTC
Specialised and Professional Roles 18% to 25% of annual CTC
Executive and Headhunted Search 25% to 35% of annual CTC
The applicable percentage will be confirmed based on the role, level of expertise and specific placement requirements.
RATES
Independent professionals set their own rates based on their expertise and the scope of the engagement.
Rates may be:
Hourly
Daily
Project based
Retainer based
Rates may be displayed on a professional's Collab. profile or provided after reviewing the business requirement.
RATES ARE AGREED BEFORE WORK BEGINS.
THE COLLAB. SERVICE FEE
A 20% Collab. service fee applies to the consultant or freelancer's agreed professional fee for applicable contract engagements.
The service fee is deducted from the professional's agreed fee.
Example
Amount
Agreed professional fee R10,000
Collab. service fee, 20% R2,000
Professional receives R8,000
Registration on Collab. is free.
COLLAB. IS THE CONNECTION POINT
You bring the requirement.
Professionals bring the expertise.
Collab. helps bring the two together.
The client and professional remain responsible for agreeing on:
Scope of work
Deliverables
Rates
Timelines
Contract arrangements
Payment terms
Working arrangements
Collab. facilitates connection and the applicable service process.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Contract to Hire is designed to facilitate flexible professional engagements.
Collab. is not the employer of freelancers or consultants registered on the platform.
Professionals remain independent service providers.
A contract engagement does not guarantee permanent employment, and a permanent appointment is not automatic.
Collab. does not guarantee the performance, suitability or outcome of an engagement.
READY TO GET STARTED?
NEED FLEXIBLE PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT?
Find the expertise you need and work together before deciding what comes next.
WANT TO OFFER YOUR EXPERTISE?
Register with Collab. and give businesses another way to discover what you do.
REGISTER WITH COLLAB.
Enquiries: registration@collabza.co.za
Collab.
Connecting creators, innovators & visionaries.