Enterprise-grade freelancers, without the risk.
GradeSkill is a governance and contracting platform for senior technical freelancers delivering software, data, AI, and cloud projects for enterprise and regulated clients.
Hiring freelancers abroad creates hidden risk
GradeSkill removes the failure modes that legal, procurement, and security teams worry about.
Misclassification exposure
Cross-border contractor relationships can create tax and labor-law risk. We provide a structured vendor model designed for auditability.
IP & confidentiality
We enforce NDA and IP assignment through controlled contracting and operating procedures—so your work product stays protected.
Delivery & continuity
Freelancers can disappear mid-project. We add governance, escalation, and optional replacement mechanisms to keep delivery on track.
How it works
You keep the talent. We provide the grade: legal wrapper, security controls, and delivery governance.
Bring your freelancer—or ask us to source
If you already have a candidate, we validate and onboard. If not, we can source vetted profiles aligned to your role and time zone needs.
You contract GradeSkill (U.S. vendor)
Simple procurement: one vendor, one MSA/SOW, one invoice. Your company avoids contracting individuals across borders.
We contract and pay the freelancer locally
Local compliance, payment administration, and consistent contractual protections (NDA/IP) are handled through our operating model.
Security onboarding + access governance
We apply SOC-2-aligned onboarding/offboarding controls: access provisioning, review, revocation, and evidence when needed.
Delivery oversight and reporting
Weekly status reporting, escalation paths, and delivery governance—so you have accountability beyond “just a contractor.”
Security & compliance
In software and data projects, the main risk is human access to source code, cloud infrastructure, and production systems. GradeSkill focuses on controlled onboarding, access governance, and offboarding evidence.
SOC-2-aligned control framework
We operate under a SOC-2-aligned control framework and have completed a SOC-2 audit. Security documentation and audit artifacts are available upon request.
Access management & offboarding
We enforce access provisioning, review, revocation, and evidence trails that support procurement and security reviews.
FAQ
Common questions from procurement, legal, and security teams.
Can we bring our own freelancer?
Yes. You can onboard your existing freelancer under the GradeSkill framework, and we will handle contracting, compliance, payments, and access governance.
If you don’t already have a freelancer, GradeSkill can also help source senior technical professionals, including frontend, backend, full-stack and mobile developers, UX/UI designers (product-focused), ML/AI engineers, QA and test automation specialists, DevOps and cloud engineers, database administrators, data engineers, and technical project managers.
Do freelancers negotiate directly with us?
No. Your company contracts only with GradeSkill. If you bring your own freelancer, compensation is already agreed between you and the contractor. If we source, you provide the monthly budget, and GradeSkill negotiates and contracts within that budget.
Is GradeSkill an Employer of Record (EOR)?
GradeSkill provides a managed Freelancer-of-Record model focused on contracting, governance, and delivery controls for independent contractors. Details are defined in the MSA/SOW.
Do you replace freelancers who do not perform?
Replacement options are available in Plus and Premium tiers (subject to agreed SOW terms). We also provide remediation and escalation paths to stabilize delivery.
Can we switch a contractor from Core to Plus or Premium?
Yes. Tiers can be upgraded at any time to add delivery governance, reporting, and replacement guarantees. Downgrades are applied at the next billing cycle and only after active governance obligations are fulfilled.
What happens if we terminate a contractor engagement?
GradeSkill manages controlled offboarding: access revocation, contract termination, IP confirmation, and handover where applicable. This ensures no residual access, clean IP ownership, and an auditable termination record.
Request a proposal
Tell us the roles, scope, and whether you already have a freelancer. We’ll respond with a tailored model and pricing.
What we need from you
Role title, expected hours, time-zone overlap, and data sensitivity. If you already have a candidate, include the profile or LinkedIn URL.
NDA available upon request.