Freelancing Globally: How to Get Paid in USD From Anywhere

The global freelance economy is booming. Remote work. International clients. Digital nomads. The opportunity is massive—if you can get paid.

For freelancers outside the US, getting paid is the biggest challenge. Until now.

The Freelance Payment Problem

What Clients Want to Pay With

• Direct deposit (ACH)
• PayPal
• Upwork
• Wire transfer
• Stripe

What They All Require

✅ US bank account

What Happens Without One

• ❌ Can't accept jobs
• ❌ Lose bids to competitors
• ❌ Pay 10-20% in fees to intermediaries
• ❌ Wait weeks for payment
• ❌ Risk getting scammed

How Mela Solves This

Get Paid Directly

From major platforms:

• ✅ Upwork direct deposit
• ✅ Fiverr withdrawals
• ✅ Freelancer.com payments
• ✅ Toptal payments
• ✅ Direct client wire transfers

No intermediaries. No high fees. Just your money.

Accept US Employer Payroll

Working remotely for a US company?

• Direct deposit to your Mela account
• Same as any US employee
• Payslips, tax documents, everything

Connect PayPal

Link your Mela account to PayPal:

• Verify your PayPal account
• Transfer funds instantly
• Lower fees than PayPal withdrawal to other methods

Real Freelancer Success Stories

Dawit, Software Developer

Location: London Specialty: Full-stack development Income: $8,000/month

Before Mela:

• Used payment processor (15% fee = $1,200/month lost)
• Clients hesitant about international payments
• Waited 2 weeks for each payment

After Mela:

• Direct Upwork deposit
• Saves $1,200/month in fees
• Paid same day job completes
• Annual savings: $14,400

Sara, Graphic Designer

Location: Dubai Specialty: Brand identity Income: $5,000/month

Before Mela:

• Couldn't accept Stripe payments
• Limited to Middle East clients only
• Low rates due to local market

After Mela:

• Accepts global clients
• Uses Stripe for invoicing
• Tripled her rates
• Income increased from $1,500 to $5,000/month

Platform-by-Platform Guide

Upwork

Setup:

1. Open Mela account
2. In Upwork, go to Settings > Get Paid
3. Add bank account (use Mela routing & account number)
4. Verify with micro-deposits

Fees:

• Mela: $0
• Upwork: Standard Upwork fees apply

Payment time: 1-2 business days

Fiverr

Setup:

1. Open Mela account
2. In Fiverr, go to Settings > Billing
3. Link bank account
4. Withdraw earnings

Fees:

• Mela: $0
• Fiverr: $1 per withdrawal

Payment time: 2-3 business days

PayPal

Setup:

1. Link Mela account to PayPal
2. Verify micro-deposits
3. Transfer funds from PayPal to Mela

Fees:

• PayPal to Mela: ~1%
• Much cheaper than PayPal international withdrawal

Payment time: Instant to 1 day

Direct Clients

Setup:

1. Provide client with your Mela routing & account number
2. They initiate wire transfer or ACH
3. Receive payment directly

Fees:

• Incoming wire: $0
• ACH: $0

Payment time:

• ACH: 1-3 days
• Wire: Same day to 1 day

Tips for Maximizing Freelance Income

1. Price in USD

• Quote all projects in USD
• Eliminates currency risk
• Professional appearance
• Easier to compare with US competitors

2. Offer Direct Deposit Discount

Example: "5% discount for clients paying via direct deposit"

Why?:

• You save on platform fees
• Client saves on payment processing
• Win-win situation

3. Get Paid Weekly, Not Monthly

With traditional methods: Monthly due to high transfer fees

With Mela: Weekly or even per-project

• Better cash flow
• Reduces payment risk
• Keeps you motivated

4. Build US Client Base

Mela advantage: You're as easy to pay as any US freelancer

• No "international payment" friction
• Compete on equal footing
• Access higher-paying market

Tax Considerations

Do You Owe US Taxes?

General rule: If you're not a US person and don't live in the US, you likely don't owe US income tax on freelance income.

But:

• Rules vary by country
• Tax treaties affect obligations
• Consult a tax professional

What Mela provides:

• Annual tax statement (1099-INT if interest earned)
• Transaction history for your records
• Support documentation for tax filing

Claiming Expenses

Track expenses in Mela:

• Software subscriptions
• Equipment purchases
• Professional development
• Home office costs

Use Mela's budgeting tools to categorize and track.

Getting Started as a Freelancer

Week 1: Setup

Day 1-2: Open Mela account Day 3-4: Link to freelance platforms Day 5-7: Update client payment methods

Week 2: Transition

Update proposals: Mention you accept direct deposit Update website: Add payment methods accepted Inform existing clients: Share new payment details

Week 3+: Scale

Bid on higher-value projects: You're now competitive Expand to US market: No payment friction Raise your rates: Better infrastructure = higher value

The Bottom Line

Without Mela:

• Limited platform access
• High fees (10-20%)
• Slow payments
• Client friction

With Mela:

• Full platform access
• Minimal fees (<1%)
• Fast payments
• Professional setup

The choice is obvious.

Ready to Get Paid Globally?

Download Mela

📱 iOS: App Store 📱 Android: Google Play

Have Questions?

📧 Email: support@melafinance.com 📞 Phone: +1 (571) 721-1145

Languages: Amharic, Tigrigna, Oromiffa, English

Join 10,000+ freelancers already banking with Mela. Your global freelance career starts here.