How to check a freelance delivery before you accept it

The general checklist

• Every deliverable in the order is included.
• File formats match what was promised.
• Files open correctly on your devices.
• Names, numbers and contact details are correct.
• All agreed revisions are done.
• Usage rights and licenses for fonts, music or stock are clear.
• Copies are saved in a place you control.

Design work

Open the files at the size they will be used. For logos, check the vector files, transparent backgrounds, color versions and a version that works at very small sizes. For print work, confirm the size, bleed and color mode with your printer before you accept. Check that any fonts used can be licensed for your use, and ask for the font names if they are not listed.

Writing and translation

Read the final text in full, not just the changed parts. Check facts, product names, prices you supply yourself and links. For translations, ask a native speaker you trust to read a sample if you can. Run any required checks your business uses, such as plagiarism or style checks, before accepting rather than afterwards.

Video and audio

Watch or listen from start to finish on the devices your audience will use, including a phone. Check sound levels, captions, spelling on screen and the end card. Confirm that the export settings, such as size and aspect ratio, match each platform. Ask for the project file if it was included, and confirm the music and voice licenses in writing.

Websites and apps

Test every page and form on a phone and a computer. Submit each form and check that the messages arrive. Test checkout or booking flows with test transactions where possible. Make sure you have administrator access in your own name, that the freelancer's temporary access can be removed and that backups are set up. Ask for a short handover note listing plugins or services used and how to make common edits.

Accounts and access

For any work involving accounts, such as ad platforms, analytics, email tools or social media, confirm that everything is owned by your business, not the freelancer. Change any passwords you shared during the project and remove access that is no longer needed. This is good security practice, not a sign of mistrust.

Set aside time for the review

Many problems are missed simply because the review is rushed. When you know a delivery is due, block out time to check it properly, and involve anyone who needs to approve it. If the work will be printed, published or launched on a fixed date, plan the review a few days before that date so there is time for fixes. Reviewing late at night on a phone is how small mistakes slip through.

It also helps to keep your original brief and the order details open while you check. Compare the delivery with what was agreed, not with what you might like in hindsight. If you now want something new that was not in the brief, that is a fair request for a new order, not a fault in the delivery. Being clear about this keeps the relationship fair for both sides and makes the seller more willing to help with genuine issues.

Finally, rename and organize the files as soon as you download them. Clear names, such as the project, version and date, make it much easier to find the right file months later.

If something is wrong

Write one clear message listing what is missing or not as agreed, with screenshots or timestamps. Most sellers fix genuine problems quickly. If the issue cannot be solved, contact the platform's support before accepting. For tips on writing these messages, see how to give feedback to a freelancer.

After you accept

Leave an honest, specific review that will help other buyers. Mention what went well, such as communication or speed, and anything future buyers should know. If you plan to work with the same freelancer again, keep notes on what worked in your brief. Your next project will start much faster.