Fixed-price projects from $950 to $10,000+, with a clear brief, a deposit paid before you start, and payment at every milestone through Stripe.
How it works
Apply: Tell us what you're strongest in and show your work: a portfolio or GitHub. We review every application by hand, usually within 1–2 business days.
Get matched: New client requests go to approved developers in turn, each with an AI-drafted brief and estimate. Take it on or pass.
Quote your price: You set the price, timeline and milestones. We review each quote, then the client approves it and pays a 50% deposit.
Build and deliver: Deliver milestone by milestone. Tests, a build and a Shoalscan security scan run on every change, and each delivery links its report. Messages and files stay in one place.
Get paid: The client approves each milestone and pays. 80% goes to your bank through Stripe Connect.
Why build with Spark
Keep 80% of every payment: A flat 80% of the deposit, every milestone and ongoing maintenance. Clients pay the card fees on top, so your share is of the full price.
Paid as you deliver: Your share is sent through Stripe Connect when the client pays: the deposit at the start, then each milestone once the client approves it.
Work comes to you: Client requests are shared among approved developers in turn. No bidding wars and no sales calls. Pass on anything that isn't a fit.
Clear briefs from day one: Every request arrives with the client's answers, a written description, the features they need and an AI estimate.
You set the price: Write the quote yourself, starting from AI-suggested milestones. We review every quote before the client sees it.
Take a break anytime: Fully booked or on vacation? Switch to Away and new requests go to other developers until you're back.
Your work is protected
Clients pay a 50% deposit before any work starts.
If a client cancels after work begins, you keep 80% of the work you've completed, and paid milestones can't be refunded.
If a project moves to another developer, the money you've already earned stays yours.
Messages, files and approvals live in the project, so every decision is on record.
What we look for
You've built and launched real apps, and can show a portfolio or GitHub.
You reply to client messages within 24 hours.
You deliver the scope you quoted, at the price you quoted.
Every delivery passes automated tests, a build and a Shoalscan security check, run in CI on a runner you host.
How much do I earn?
80% of everything the client pays for your project: the deposit, each milestone and any maintenance plan. Spark keeps 20%. Card fees are paid by the client on top.
When do I get paid?
Your share is sent through Stripe Connect as soon as the client pays: the deposit when the project starts, and each milestone after the client approves it. When it reaches your bank follows your Stripe payout schedule.
Do I have to bid for projects?
No. New client requests go to approved developers in turn. You review the brief, then send a quote or pass, and passing sends it to the next developer.
Is there a fee to join?
No. Applying is free. Spark's share is the 20% of each client payment.
What happens if a client cancels?
Once work has started, you keep 80% of the value of the work you've completed, and milestones that are already paid can't be refunded. If a client cancels before any work starts, there's no payout for the project, and any deposit share you received is returned.
What checks does every project need?
We promise clients that every change is tested, built and checked for security problems. Our quality workflow runs your tests, the build and Shoalscan, our open-source scanner, in GitHub Actions on every change, on a runner you host, and saves a report to the client's repository. You link that report when you deliver a milestone. Shoalscan runs offline, so client code never leaves your machine.