New Manfred service: Freelance Recruiting

The day has come. Or rather, day F. F for Freelance.
Today we’re launching a new Manfred service: Freelance Recruiting.

For many years, candidates have asked us whether we had freelance opportunities. We did have a few, but honestly, it wasn’t our focus.
Over the last few years, we’ve seen how both entrepreneurs/founders and companies, as well as professionals, were increasingly asking for a more thoughtful, well-done recruiting experience also for freelancers.

So we tested it. We improved it. And today, we’re officially launching it.

So… what is Freelance Recruiting?
Easy. The same Manfred as always, but now also with freelance opportunities.

That means:

• More options for those of you looking for work
• More flexibility for projects (MVPs, very early-stage startups) and for companies that struggle to find freelance talent and can now do so through Manfred

The truth is that not much changes in how we work:

• We advise companies when they come to us, with full transparency, pros and cons included
• We publish clear job listings, with a realistic project scope
• Public rates
• A carefully designed selection process
• Support at every stage

What is new are some extras that come with the business model.
For example:

Many people consider becoming freelance for the first time because a specific opportunity interests them.
That’s why we’ve created a guide for first-time freelance professionals in tech, to act as a compass on this journey. And on top of that, we also advise and support them throughout the selection process.

This is a very common model in other countries, but here it still seems to cause a bit of anxiety.
Our idea is that being freelance shouldn’t be a lonely path, and that you can lean on Manfred whenever you need to.

Our support doesn’t end when the selection process ends.
Since freelance relationships usually last for months, we stay by your side as a link between you and the company, guaranteeing two things:

• Invoices won’t be a problem. You’ll receive your monthly payments in the first days of the following month.
• The relationship is fair. Manfred acts as a guardian to ensure contractual terms are respected.

From now on, you may start seeing freelance opportunities on the Manfred website.
These offers have, by default, a few differences:

• The compensation isn’t annual, it’s an hourly rate
• There’s a defined project duration, at least a minimum one. This may change once the project starts, because things tend to stretch, but you’ll know what the project is, who it’s for, how it works, and the expected timeframe
• We’re talking about service provision. We actively avoid false self-employment and take care of any aspects that could cause legal issues

“Hey, I don’t really know what being freelance is about. I’m just curious.”
Sure thing, comrade.
We don’t have a brochure, but we do have a basic guide with everything you should know before taking the leap into freelancing.

We’ll leave it here. For you, or to share with someone you think might need it.

Now, I’m going to explain a few things that might seem obvious, but we like to make them explicit.

Why we’re doing this

Historically, the freelance community has asked us for opportunities. That was hard in a market where companies were raising a lot of money and hiring aggressively.
The Spanish market hadn’t fully internalised this business model, which is far more common in places like the US or the UK.

In recent years, we’ve seen companies think much more carefully before hiring. Sometimes they have short-term projects, need speed, or are looking for specialists and they’ve started asking us for freelancers.
Not to mention early-stage startups that need a friendly technical hand for a limited time.

It’s all been very organic. And since there’s a clear need, we decided to take a step forward, because none of the existing platforms really fit with our values.
We want the process to be more human, more attentive, and more carefully handled.

How we see the near future

We believe that being freelance shouldn’t feel lonely or like flying blind, when setting rates, negotiating, or looking for projects. And we want to be there, just as we are for the rest of the community.

Our goal is to become your provider of recurring projects.
That means: when you finish one project, or when you have capacity for another, you come to Manfred and choose what fits you best.

This will take time, of course. But we’re confident we’ll get there sooner rather than later, because our process and quality are a seal of trust.

No LinkedIn scrambling.
No platforms where you compete with hundreds of people to offer the lowest rate.
Your new projects should come with a guarantee of trust and quality.

And for that, we’ll need your help spreading the word, to both companies and fellow professionals.
Because we’ve designed a three-phase plan.

TTP (Trust the Plan)

Phase 1: We built an MVP. A pilot. To see whether this was right for us.
During 2025, we worked with several companies refining and improving the process. Several freelancers have already found new projects through Manfred.

Phase 2 (You are here): Build a community of freelancers with Manfred profiles.
Start bringing in clients looking for freelancers for their projects.
Increase the number of opportunities, not just in Spain, but also internationally.

Phase 3: Create a dedicated freelancing vertical within Manfred.
100% focused on freelancing.
With separate listings on our website and a living, active community.
We hope this phase arrives faster than expected.

The values guiding Freelance Recruiting

1. Transparency & Ethics
Clear rates. Clear process. No opaque margins.
You know how much Manfred keeps and how much the company pays for you.
The company knows our percentage.
Manfred Certified process.
A 20% hourly fee. Transparency above all.

2. Support and guidance
We’re the Jedi Masters for those starting to navigate the freelance galaxy.
If it’s your first time, we inform you, support you, and clear up doubts.
Many of us have been freelancers ourselves — we know what we’re talking about.

3. Focus on tech and product roles
A strict focus on technology and product roles.
It’s our speciality. We’re technical recruiters and know the sector deeply.

4. Speed and real matching
Building community and high-quality opportunities.
Strong applications lead to faster processes.
Detailed project information helps you decide quickly whether it’s a fit.

5. Freelance Manfred Certified
Once we’ve spoken with you, you’ve gone through a selection process, or you’ve been hired, you’ll join our VIP Freelance community.
We’re not in love with the word “VIP”, but it gets the idea across.
This allows us to recommend you quickly and clearly to companies with specific needs.

The business model

We didn’t reinvent the wheel, but we want to be transparent.
We’re the intermediaries that make both the match and the relationship possible. And we charge for it.

The model is simple:

• The company hires Manfred to find a freelance professional
• Manfred runs the selection process and selects a candidate
• The selected person signs a framework agreement with Manfred, plus one appendix per project
• The end company signs an agreement with Manfred

The relationship works like this: Company → Manfred → Freelance

The freelance invoices Manfred at their rate.
Manfred invoices the end company for that amount plus a small percentage.

This framework allows us to provide security, advance invoice payments, and mediate whenever necessary.

How you can help

By spreading the word.
Manfred now also does freelance recruiting.
Share it at your company or with colleagues so we can bring clarity and good practices to a sector where platforms have stripped away the human side of relationships.

FAQs

How do I sign up as a freelance on Manfred?
If you already have a profile, you can add it under What kind of job are you looking for? → Contract types.
You can select one or both options; they’re not mutually exclusive.

If you don’t have a profile yet, you can sign up on the platform.
Registering with LinkedIn allows us to sync your data so you don’t have to re-enter everything manually.
Then select the contract type that fits you — or both.

This ensures that when you apply to a freelance role, we have all the necessary context to evaluate your profile properly.

What kind of opportunities will you have?
All roles that fit within technical positions: Backend, DBA, SRE, Frontend, Design, Full-stack, Data…
And also more generalist roles, especially in very early-stage startups.

Opportunities that make sense. Trusted companies. Public rates.

So… are you changing your focus?
No. The focus remains the same: changing recruiting from the inside, with strong processes and genuine care for people.
We’re just also helping freelancers find their next projects now.

How can I stay up to date?
The best way is to follow Saúl Llorente on LinkedIn.
He leads this vertical and will communicate new opportunities and process improvements there.

If there’s anything important you should know (and your profile is marked as freelance), we may also send you an email update or share it via Manfred’s Telegram channel.

Can I browse both freelance and permanent roles on Manfred?
Absolutely.
You can select both options in your profile. One does not exclude the other.