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| <a class="brand" href="calculator.html" title="The Dollar Client Kit - free fee leakage calculator"><span class="mark"></span> THE DOLLAR CLIENT KIT</a> |
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| <span class="pill hide-s">GH · NG · KE</span> |
| <span class="pill live" title="Last fee verification date">FEES CHECKED — OCT 2026</span> |
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| <div class="kicker mono"><span class="num">04A</span> <span>CONTRACTS · GH · NG · KE</span></div> |
| <h1>Sign nothing <em>undefined.</em></h1> |
| <p class="sub">Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya share English common-law contract heritage — a plain written agreement, signed by both sides, is the whole ceremony. What matters is <b>which clauses</b>: scope, payment terms, IP transfer, kill fee, jurisdiction. Here is what each does and why US clients accept them without blinking.</p> |
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| <h2>The seven clauses.</h2> |
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| <div class="brow good"><div class="bl"><b>Scope of work</b><small>what IS and IS NOT included, in writing</small></div><div class="bv">the anti-drift clause</div></div> |
| <div class="brow good"><div class="bl"><b>Payment terms</b><small>amount, currency, due date, late fee</small></div><div class="bv">USD · net-15 or 50/50</div></div> |
| <div class="brow"><div class="bl"><b>Revision limit</b><small>rounds included, then hourly</small></div><div class="bv">e.g. 2 rounds</div></div> |
| <div class="brow good"><div class="bl"><b>IP transfer</b><small>on full payment, not on signature</small></div><div class="bv">payment-gated</div></div> |
| <div class="brow"><div class="bl"><b>Kill fee</b><small>client cancels mid-project</small></div><div class="bv">25-50% of scope</div></div> |
| <div class="brow"><div class="bl"><b>Termination notice</b><small>either side, days of notice</small></div><div class="bv">7-14 days</div></div> |
| <div class="brow"><div class="bl"><b>Jurisdiction</b><small>whose law governs the dispute</small></div><div class="bv">state it explicitly</div></div> |
| </div> |
| <div class="note"><b>IP transfer on payment is the freelancer's seatbelt:</b> work stays yours until invoice is paid in full — the strongest leverage you will ever have, and the standard term in US service agreements. <b>Kill fee protects both sides:</b> clients accept it because it also binds you. If a client refuses both, you are not negotiating a contract — you are meeting a risk transfer. <b><a href="invoice-template.html">Invoice pairs with this contract.</a></b></div> |
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| <h2>Why US clients sign these without friction.</h2> |
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| <p><b>These are not aggressive terms — they are default terms.</b> US service agreements carry payment-gated IP, kill fees and defined scope as standard; a freelancer who presents them reads as experienced, not difficult. What makes a contract signable is <b>precision, not length</b>: two pages of clear clauses beat twelve pages of boilerplate nobody reads. Our pack is written to be read by both sides in ten minutes.</p> |
| <p><b>The cross-border specifics:</b> (1) contract states <b>USD amounts</b> — your local-currency conversion is your operational matter, not a contract term; (2) payment method named (ACH/wire instructions go on the invoice, not the contract); (3) jurisdiction clause acknowledges cross-border reality — "laws of [client's state/country], disputes first by good-faith negotiation" is commonly accepted and avoids unenforceable fantasy clauses; (4) W-8BEN mentioned as a compliance exhibit where the client requests it (<b><a href="w8ben-explained.html">explained</a></b>).</p> |
| <p><b>Ghana/Nigeria/Kenya enforcement reality:</b> for typical freelance amounts, the contract's real function is <b>prevention and clarity</b> — it stops scope drift and payment ambiguity before they happen — not courtroom drama. Get paid via rails with receipts (<b><a href="fee-receipts.html">receipts page</a></b>), keep the signed PDF in the client folder, and file for tax records (<b><a href="tax-ghana.html">GH</a></b> · <b><a href="tax-nigeria.html">NG</a></b>). The pack ships US-client and local-client variants.</p> |
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| <h2>Two variants, fill-in ready.</h2> |
| <p>The Kit's contract pack: US-client and local-client versions, every clause annotated with why it exists. $19 founding through Dec 31, with invoice and rate card. 14-day refund.</p> |
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| <a class="btn btn-lime" href="calculator.html" title="Run your own numbers in the free fee leakage calculator">Run the free calculator</a> |
| <a class="btn btn-ghost" href="kit.html" style="color:#EDEAF6;border-color:rgba(255,255,255,.25)" title="Get the Dollar Client Kit - $19 founding price">Get the Kit — $19</a> |
| <span class="mono">Card · MoMo · 14-day refund</span> |
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| <section> |
| <div class="wrap"> |
| <h2>Questions.</h2> |
| <div class="q"><h3>Is a freelance contract legally valid across borders (US to Ghana/Nigeria/Kenya)?</h3><p>Yes — parties may agree in writing which law governs; cross-border service contracts are routine. Enforceability across jurisdictions is the practical limit, which is why the contract's main job is prevention and clarity rather than litigation.</p></div> |
| <div class="q"><h3>Can I use a contract for small projects under $500?</h3><p>Yes — and you should: even a one-page agreement with scope, price, due date and IP-on-payment prevents the two common small-project disputes (undefined revisions, delayed payment). The pack's short form fits under $500 work.</p></div> |
| <div class="q"><h3>Who should govern the contract — my country or theirs?</h3><p>US clients typically propose their state's law; that is common and acceptable for standard freelance work. The clause's value is that it exists (no ambiguity). Negotiate jurisdiction only on large contracts with real dispute risk.</p></div> |
| <div class="q"><h3>When does IP transfer to the client?</h3><p>On full payment — this is standard and payment-gated IP belongs in every agreement. Until the invoice is cleared, work remains yours; the license to use drafts can be granted for evaluation purposes.</p></div> |
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| <span>THE DOLLAR CLIENT KIT · CONTRACT PACK · GH NG KE · US-CLIENT VARIANTS</span> |
| <span>FEES CHECKED — OCT 2026 · NEXT — NOV 2026</span> |
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| <p class="disc">ESTIMATES ONLY — ranges, not quotes. Fee schedules, FX spreads and provider terms change without notice; verify with your provider before moving large amounts. Not affiliated with Payoneer, Wise, Fiverr, Upwork, Grey, Raenest, Cleva or any provider named. Nothing here is tax, legal or financial advice.</p> |
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