Freelance Payment Information

[edit] Payment Schedule

• In order for a freelancer to be paid in the next payment cycle, Mahalo must receive all required contracts, agreements, and paperwork from the freelancer before the 25th of the month. Unless otherwise instructed, freelancers only need submit contracts, agreements, and paperwork once.
• Mahalo issues payments before close of business on the 15th of the current month for accepted work completed by freelancers in the previous calendar month. If the 15th falls on a weekend or holiday, payments will be issued on the following business day.

[edit] Example 1

• Freelancer Fred signs up for the Greenhouse on May 1st. He completes his paperwork correctly and submits it to Mahalo on May 20th, and Mahalo receives and records it on that day.
• Freelancer Fred does five SeRPs in May, and three SeRPs are accepted to Mahalo in the month of May. Mahalo distributes Fred's payment for the three accepted SeRPs on June 15th.
• In June, Fred gets the other two SeRPs accepted to Mahalo. In July, Mahalo releases the payment for those.

[edit] Example 2

• Contractor Consuela joins the Greenhouse on June 10th. She writes three SeRPs, all of which are accepted to Mahalo on June 20th.
• Contractor Consuela turns in her correctly completed paperwork on July 1st. Unfortunately, this is past the deadline of the 25th of the previous month, so Mahalo won't release payment for those three SeRPs until the next payment cycle in August.

[edit] Complete the Required Agreements

• Mahalo does not pay freelancers until all necessary paperwork is correctly completed and received by Mahalo! Complete your paperwork and turn it in as soon as possible to allow time for corrections and any unforeseen delays.
• Agreements are in Portable Document Format (PDF) and require the Adobe Acrobat Reader to open and print. If necessary, download it here.
• All contracts, agreements and other paperwork must be sent in full, which means each and every page of the contract or agreement must be submitted to us.
• Please review your work. Have you filled out every section according to the instructions? Is your writing neat and legible? The Mahalo Greenhouse is not responsible for errors resulting from illegible information. If we cannot read your writing, you risk delaying your payments. Please make sure you complete the form as neatly as possible.

[edit] The Mahalo SeRP Purchase Agreement

• Mahalo Greenhouse Part Time Guides (PTGs) and anyone creating search results pages in the Mahalo Greenhouse must complete the Mahalo SeRP Purchase Agreement.

1. Download the MSPA here.
2. Print the MSPA.
3. The MSPA is consists of five pages with several places that require information from you:
   1. Date: This is the date you fill out the MSPA. Please use MM/DD/YYYY (12/01/2007, for example.)
   2. Your Full Legal Name: This is your full name. Do not use a pseudonym, nickname, or Internet User Name.
   3. Your User ID Number: Your UID is the number associated with your user account on the Mahalo Greenhouse site. To find your UID:
      1. On the Greenhouse site, go to a SeRP you have authored.
      2. Scroll to the bottom of the page.
      3. You will see "This search result page was written by," your avatar icon, and a green link to your Profile Page. Click the link.
      4. Once your Profile Page loads into the web browser, check the browser address bar on the top of the browser window. You should see a link like this: http://greenhouse.mahalo.com/Special:Mahaloprofile?uid=8 In this example, "8" is the UID.
      5. Enter the UID on line 3 of the MSPA.
   4. On the Signature Page:
      1. Write your signature where "Seller" is indicated.
      2. If you are under the age of 18, your parent or legal guardian must print and sign their name next to "By." If you are 18 years old or older, do not write anything here.
      3. Print your primary mailing address where it says "Address."
      4. You do not need to fill out the right side of the signature page.

[edit] The Mahalo How-To Purchase Agreement

• Any freelancer approved to write How-To pages for Mahalo in the Mahalo Greenhouse must complete the Mahalo How-To Purchase Agreement.

1. Download the MHPA here.
2. Print the MHPA.
3. The MHPA is consists of six pages with five places that require information from you:
   1. Date: This is the date you fill out the MHPA. Please use MM/DD/YYYY (12/01/2007, for example.)
   2. Your Full Legal Name: This is your full name. Do not use a pseudonym, nickname, or Internet User Name.
   3. Your User ID Number: Your UID is the number associated with your user account on the Mahalo Greenhouse site. To find your UID:
      1. On the Greenhouse site, go to a How To you have written.
      2. Scroll to the bottom of the page.
      3. You will see "This search result page was written by," your avatar icon, and a green link to your Profile Page. Click the link.
      4. Once your Profile Page loads into the web browser, check the browser address bar on the top of the browser window. You should see a link like this: http://greenhouse.mahalo.com/Special:Mahaloprofile?uid=8 In this example, "8" is the UID.
      5. Enter the UID on line 3 of the MHPA.
   4. On the Signature Page:
      1. Write your signature where "By" is indicated.
      2. Print your primary mailing address where it says "Address."
      3. You do not need to fill out the right side of the signature page.
   5. On Attachment 1, fill in the title, Greenhouse URL, date accepted, and purchase price of your first How-To page accepted to Mahalo.com.

[edit] The Mahalo Video Game Walkthrough Agreement

• Any freelancer approved to write Video Game Walkthrough pages for Mahalo in the Mahalo Greenhouse must complete the Mahalo Walkthrough Purchase Agreement.

1. Download the Walkthrough project contract here
2. Print the Walkthrough contract.
3. The Walkthrough contract consists of six pages with five places that require information from you:
   1. Date: This is the date you fill out the Walkthrough contract. Please use MM/DD/YYYY (12/01/2007), for example.)
   2. Your full legal name: This is your full name. Do not use a pseudonym, nickname, or Internet User Name.
   3. 3.1 Enter your UID number at the end of the provided URL: Your UID is the number associated with your user account on the Mahalo Greenhouse site. To find your UID:
      1. Log in to the Greenhouse, and click on "My Profile" on the top tool bar.
      2. Once your Profile Page loads into the web browser, check the browser address bar on the top of the browser window. You should see a link like this: http://greenhouse.mahalo.com/Special:Mahaloprofile?uid=8 In this example, "8" is the UID.
   4. On the Signature Page:
      1. Write your signature where "Author" is indicated.
      2. If you are under the age of 18, your parent or legal guardian must print and sign their name next to "By." If you are 18 years old or older, do not write anything here.
      3. Print your primary mailing address where it says "Address."
      4. You do not need to fill out the right side of the signature page.
   5. On Attachment 1, fill in the title, Greenhouse URL, date accepted, and purchase price of your first Video Game Walkthrough page accepted to Mahalo.com.

[edit] Tax Forms

• Mahalo.com is required to report to the IRS what we pay our Greenhouse Guides. Whether or not you intend or need to declare your Greenhouse income on your tax return, you must complete and submit the necessary tax form to Mahalo.

1. If you are a United States citizen, you need to submit a W9 form:
   1. Download the W9 form here.
   2. The W9 form is a PDF file. See Step 2, part two, above, for how to read PDFs.
   3. The W9 form includes instructions. Please read them thoroughly if you are unsure of how to complete the W9.
   4. You must complete the W9 form on your computer. Hand-written forms will not be accepted. After completing the form on your computer, you will need to print it to add your signature.
   5. Be sure to save the W9 file after you complete it on your computer.
2. If you are a citizen of a country other than the United States and you do not pay taxes in the United States, you need to submit a W8-BEN form:
   1. Download the W8-BEN form here.
   2. Download the W8-BEN instructions here if you are unsure of how to complete the W8-BEN.
   3. You must complete the W8-BEN form on your computer. Hand-written forms will not be accepted. After completing the form on your computer, you will need to print it to add your signature.
   4. Be sure to save the W8-BEN file after you complete it on your computer.
3. If you change your address or name, you must complete and submit a new W9 or W8-BEN form.

[edit] Choose A Method Of Payment

We offer two different ways to compensate Greenhouse Guides. All payments are made in United States dollars.

1. Direct Deposit is our preferred method of payment and takes priority over PayPal. With Direct Deposit, money owed is transferred to the Greenhouse Guide's bank account. The transfer typically appears in your bank account within twenty four hours of being submitted. There are no fees and no paper checks to get lost in the mail or take to the bank. If you have a bank account in the United States or Canada you are strongly encouraged to select Direct Deposit.
   1. Download the Direct Deposit Authorization form here.
   2. The Direct Deposit Authorization form is a PDF file. See Step 2, part two, above, for how to read PDFs.
   3. You must complete the Direct Deposit Authorization form on your computer. Hand-written forms will not be accepted. You will need to print it to add your signature.
   4. Be sure to save the file after you complete it on your computer.
   5. How to fill out the Direct Deposit Authorization form:
      1. Select New Agreement if you have never applied for Direct Deposit with us.
      2. Select Change Account if you currently have Direct Deposit with us and want to change to a different account.
      3. Select Cancel Agreement if you want to stop the Direct Deposit. By default, future payments will be made by check unless you indicate otherwise.
      4. Designate your bank account as either Checking or Savings.
      5. Complete the Name, Branch name or location, City, State, and ZIP Code of your bank.
      6. Provide your bank's Transit Number (also called an ABA or Routing Number.) This number is always 9 digits.
      7. Provide your Bank Account Number.
      8. To assist you, examine a check or savings deposit slip. A mock check is illustrated on the Direct Deposit Authorization form as an example of where the Transit and Bank Account Numbers are located.
      9. Print your name as it appears on your bank account.
      10. Print your UID. Note that your UID is not your Username -- see the instructions on the MSPA for how to find your UID.
      11. Print the sheet
      12. Sign your signature
      13. Write the date on which you complete the form.
2. PayPal. This is an online payment transfer service that enables nearly anyone with an e-mail address to send and receive money to and from dozens of countries. Please see PayPal for more details. After Direct Deposit, this is the most efficient way to be paid. To receive compensation via PayPal:
   1. Indicate that you would like to use PayPal when you send you MSPA and tax documents to the Greenhouse.
   2. Indicate your e-mail address associated with your PayPal account, either in the body of your email, the cover of your fax, or in writing in the envelope you mail. See Deliver Your Paperwork, below, for more details.
   3. Mahalo.com is not responsible for potential fees charged by PayPal. Please consult PayPal for more details.

[edit] Deliver Paperwork

• Mahalo cannot pay freelancers until all contracts, agreements and paperwork are correctly completed and received. Send complete contracts and agreements -- contracts and agreements missing pages will not be accepted.
• There are three ways to send your paperwork, listed in order of preference:

1. Scan the paperwork and send it via e-mail to contracts@mahalo.com. If you would like to use PayPal, please indicate your PayPal e-mail address in the body of the e-mail message.
2. Fax the paperwork to 1-310-388-0993. If you would like to use PayPal, please indicate your PayPal e-mail address on a cover sheet. Please make sure that your fax machine is in good working order and delivers clean, crisp faxes. Mahalo.com is not responsible for errors or delays resulting from illegible or unreadable faxes.
3. Mail the paperwork. If you would like to use PayPal, please indicate your PayPal e-mail address on a note. Mail to:
   • Mahalo.com
   • Attention: Greenhouse Paperwork
   • 902 Colorado Avenue
   • Santa Monica, CA 90401-2717

• We cannot automatically confirm that we received your paperwork. If you require confirmation, please e-mail contracts@mahalo.com. You will receive confirmation when we process your paperwork. Use the following format in the subject line:
  • Confirm Delivery FirstName LastName UID
  • For example:
    • Confirm Delivery Nate Charters 1985

[edit] Change Your Information

• If you move, change your name, your e-mail address, or your bank, you may need to change your records with the Greenhouse.
• We require a new W9 or W8-BEN form if you change your name or physical address. Please re-submit the form according to the instructions listed above.
• We require a new Direct Deposit Authorization form if you change banks, bank accounts, wish to have your payment deposited to a different account, or if you wish to discontinue using the direct deposit service. Please re-submit the form according to the instructions listed above.

[edit] Changing E-mail

• If you are using PayPal with us and change the e-mail address associated with your PayPal account, please e-mail contracts@mahalo.com and advise us of the change.
• To change your e-mail address in the Greenhouse or Mahalo system, please log in to your account and visit http://greenhouse.mahalo.com/Special:Preferences and http://www.mahalo.com/Special:Preferences