Creative & Design ✓ US Eligible Contractor 1099

Working Not Working

Working Not Working (owned by Fiverr) is an elite, highly vetted creative network connecting top art directors, copywriters, animators, and designers directly with top brands and agencies.

Last Verified: October 28, 2026 • Evaluation: JOBUS Independent Research

Editorial Rating

★ 7.1 / 10

Good (6.5 - 7.4)

Visit Official Platform ↗

Editorial Overview

Founded by Justin Gignac and Adam Tompkins and acquired by Fiverr in 2021, Working Not Working (WNW) fundamentally disrupted traditional creative agency recruiting. Instead of taking commissions or posting cattle-call bidding lists, WNW charges brands (such as Apple, Google, Nike, and Droga5) a subscription to search its curated roster of elite creative talent.

For admitted creatives, the business model is ideal: members pay zero commission and maintain direct billing relationships with clients. Creatives simply toggle their status between 'Working' and 'Not Working' to indicate availability. However, for everyday job seekers and unemployed workers without a commercial advertising background, WNW is virtually inaccessible due to its rigorous peer-review admittance filter. It represents a premier career aspiration rather than an immediate emergency income resource.

Worker Suitability & Realities

✓ Best For

Seasoned creative professionals, agency veterans, art directors, and senior commercial illustrators with award-winning portfolios.

✕ Not Recommended For

Entry-level creatives, self-taught beginners, or workers without a substantial portfolio of commercial agency campaigns.

Primary Limitation / Drawback

Extremely selective admission process (historical acceptance rate under 10%); no opportunities for junior talent.

Verified Fee Schedule & Financials

Verified fee schedule researched directly from official terms of service.

Registration Fee	Free to apply
Subscription Fee	None for creatives
Platform Commission	0% (creatives keep 100% of their invoiced day/project rates)
Bidding / Connects Fee	None
Withdrawal & Payout Fee	Direct invoicing between creative and client; no platform withdrawal fee
Minimum Payout Threshold	Determined by direct client contract
Payment Timing & Frequency	Invoiced directly to client upon contract terms (typically Net 15 or Net 30).
Payment Protection & Escrow	Contractual direct engagement; creatives execute independent service agreements directly with hiring companies.

Application & Admission Process

Required Skills:

Senior art direction, commercial copywriting, motion graphics, UI/UX leadership, commercial brand design.

Portfolio Requirements:

Comprehensive professional portfolio displaying published commercial campaigns and client credits.

Screening & Testing:

Peer-reviewed portfolio evaluation by creative directors and industry veterans.

Profile Setup Effort: high

Independent Pros & Cons

Key Advantages

✓ Zero commission: creatives keep 100% of contracted earnings
✓ Direct contact with premier global advertising agencies and corporate brands
✓ Transparent availability indicator ('Working' / 'Not Working') prevents burnout
✓ Prestigious industry community and career networking opportunities

Key Disadvantages & Risks

✕ Extremely restrictive acceptance rate (under 10%) excludes entry and mid-tier workers
✕ Requires extensive, proven commercial portfolio from recognized agencies or brands
✕ Payment collection and contract disputes must be managed directly with clients

Actionable Job-Seeker Advice

Recommended First Steps

Curate your top 4-6 commercial case studies with verifiable role credits, assemble a clean web portfolio, and request an invite through the creator application portal.