A direct comparison of Starkworth's two roles — Account Owner and Annotator — covering what each involves, who they suit, and how to decide.
Starkworth's model has two distinct participants, and confusing the two is the most common source of misplaced expectations. An Account Owner is verified and signs a profit-sharing agreement, then has their account professionally managed. An Annotator registers, gets approved, and performs the actual annotation work for weekly pay. Neither role is "better" — they're structurally different arrangements suited to different people.
This guide is for anyone unsure which path to take. If you're weighing whether to apply as an Annotator or go through Account Owner verification, read this before starting either process — it will save you from starting the wrong one.
Picking the right role up front matters because the two onboarding paths are different (identity verification and live screening for Account Owners; registration and review for Annotators), and switching later means starting over. Understanding the distinction also prevents a common misconception: that one role is simply a "better-paid" version of the other. They aren't comparable that way.
| Account Owner | Annotator |
|---|---|
| Owns the verified account | Performs annotation tasks on managed accounts |
| Goes through ID verification + live screening | Goes through registration + 48-hour review |
| Signs a profit-sharing agreement | Acknowledges profit-sharing terms at registration |
| Earns a share of account profit, paid weekly | Earns pay based on task performance, paid weekly |
Both paths ultimately lead to the same place — a signed, individual agreement and weekly payouts — but the roads there differ. Account Owners move through explanation, verification, screening, then signing. Annotators move through registration, review, then approval. See the dedicated step-by-step guides for each: Become an Account Owner or Register as an Annotator.
Account Owner onboarding runs through several sequential steps (explanation, verification, screening, signing) that typically take longer than Annotator onboarding, which is a single registration form followed by a 48-hour review window.
Account Owner earnings are a percentage share defined in their individual agreement. Annotator earnings are based on task performance and input, also defined at registration. Neither is a fixed public rate — see Understanding Your Profit-Sharing Percentage for more detail.
Still torn between the two? Chat with Support or use the Contact form — describing your situation (time availability, comfort with verification, whether you want active task work or managed passive involvement) gets you a direct answer faster than guessing.
Illustrative example — not a real customer case study
Someone with a full-time job who wants supplemental income without daily task commitments is more likely to fit the Account Owner path, since the account is professionally managed on their behalf. Someone with consistent free time who enjoys detail-oriented work and wants direct weekly pay for hours of effort is more likely to fit the Annotator path.
The two roles serve different functions in the model. If you're interested in both, raise it directly with Support so they can explain how that would work for your specific situation.
There's no universal answer — Account Owner earnings are a profit share on managed account performance, while Annotator earnings are based on task output. They're not directly comparable figures.
No prior experience with AI freelance platforms is required for Account Owners. Annotators are asked about prior experience at registration, but it isn't a strict requirement.
Both are governed by a written, signed agreement. Security in the sense of data protection is the same regardless of role — see How Does Starkworth Keep Payment Information Secure?
Reach out through Support to discuss — since the onboarding requirements differ significantly, this isn't an automatic switch.
It's presented and explained during onboarding and set out in your individual signed agreement, not decided unilaterally after the fact.
Registration is open to multiple countries as listed on the Annotator registration form; specific eligibility questions are best directed to Support.
That's exactly what the explanation step (for Account Owners) and Support chat (for anyone) are for — ask before you commit to either path.
Review the full agreement, register as an Annotator, or chat with our Support assistant.