Payment and finance
Payment Terms

Payment Terms & Conditions

Governs all financial transactions on the 49GIG platform. Last updated: January 6, 2026.

1. Overview

These Payment Terms govern all financial transactions on the 49GIG platform, including project payments, service fees, freelancer payouts, and related financial operations.

2. Service Fees

2.1 Platform Fees

49GIG charges service fees for facilitating connections and managing projects:

  • Client Service Fee: 5% of total project value
  • Platform Fee: A service fee applies and includes vetting, escrow, contracts, replacements, and support

2.2 Platform Fee

A platform fee applies to project and milestone amounts, and includes vetting, escrow, contracts, replacements, and support.

  • Platform fee covers: vetting, escrow, contracts, replacements, support

2.3 Fee Changes

49GIG reserves the right to modify fee structures with 30 days' notice. Active projects are subject to the fees in effect when the project began.

3. Payment Methods

3.1 Accepted Payment Methods

Clients can fund projects using:

  • Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express)
  • Debit cards
  • Bank transfers
  • PayPal
  • Cryptocurrency (select currencies)

3.2 Payment Currency

All transactions are processed in USD unless otherwise specified. Currency conversion fees may apply.

3.3 Payment Processing

Payments are processed through third-party payment processors. By using the platform, you agree to comply with their terms and conditions.

4. Project Funding and Escrow

4.1 Upfront Funding Requirement

Clients must fund the full project amount (including the service fee) in escrow before freelancers begin work.

4.2 Escrow Protection

Funds are held securely in escrow and released to freelancers only upon:

  • Client approval of completed milestones
  • Automatic release after dispute resolution
  • Mutual agreement between parties

4.3 Milestone Structure

Projects are divided into milestones. Each milestone must be funded before work begins on that phase.

5. Payment Release and Approval

5.1 Milestone Approval

Clients have 7 days to review and approve milestone deliverables. Approval triggers payment release to the freelancer.

5.2 Automatic Release

If a client does not respond within 7 days of milestone submission, funds are automatically released to the freelancer.

5.3 Revision Requests

Clients may request revisions within the scope of the original contract. Excessive or out-of-scope revision requests may require additional payment.

5.4 Disputed Milestones

If a client disputes a milestone, they must provide specific reasons and evidence. The dispute resolution process is initiated, and funds remain in escrow until resolution.

6. Freelancer Payouts

6.1 Withdrawal Methods

Freelancers can withdraw earnings via:

  • Bank transfer
  • PayPal
  • Payoneer
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Mobile money (select countries)

6.2 Minimum Withdrawal Amount

The minimum withdrawal amount is $50 to reduce processing fees.

6.3 Withdrawal Fees

Withdrawal fees vary by method and destination:

  • Bank transfer: $2 - $10 depending on country
  • PayPal: 2% + $0.30
  • Payoneer: $3
  • Cryptocurrency: Network fees apply

6.4 Processing Time

Withdrawals are processed within:

  • Bank transfer: 3-7 business days
  • PayPal: 1-3 business days
  • Payoneer: 2-5 business days
  • Cryptocurrency: 1-24 hours

7. Taxes and Compliance

7.1 Tax Responsibility

Users are solely responsible for determining and paying all applicable taxes on platform earnings or project payments.

7.2 Tax Reporting

49GIG may be required to report payments to tax authorities. We will provide necessary tax documentation (e.g., 1099 forms for US users) as required by law.

7.3 Withholding Taxes

For users in certain jurisdictions, we may be required to withhold taxes on payments. Withheld amounts will be remitted to the appropriate tax authorities.

8. Refunds and Cancellations

Refund eligibility is governed by our Refund and Cancellation Policy. Please review that policy for detailed information.

9. Failed Payments and Insufficient Funds

9.1 Payment Failures

If a client's payment method fails, we will attempt to re-process the payment. Projects will be paused until funding is successful.

9.2 Insufficient Funds

Clients must maintain sufficient funds in escrow for all active milestones. Insufficient funds may result in project suspension.

10. Chargebacks and Disputes

10.1 Chargeback Policy

Initiating a chargeback without first using the platform's dispute resolution process violates our Terms and may result in account suspension and legal action.

10.2 Chargeback Fees

If a chargeback is initiated, a $25 administrative fee will be assessed. If the chargeback is found to be fraudulent, additional penalties may apply.

11. Payment Security

11.1 Data Protection

Payment information is encrypted and processed through PCI-DSS compliant payment processors. 49GIG does not store complete payment card details.

11.2 Fraud Prevention

We use advanced fraud detection systems to protect against unauthorized transactions. Suspicious activity may result in payment holds or account review.

12. Bonus and Tip Payments

12.1 Bonus Payments

Clients may award bonus payments to freelancers for exceptional work. Bonuses are subject to platform service fees.

12.2 Tips

Tips are optional payments and are subject to freelancer service fees.

13. Currency Conversion

13.1 Exchange Rates

Currency conversions are performed at market exchange rates plus a conversion fee (typically 2-3%).

13.2 Conversion Timing

Exchange rates are locked at the time of transaction initiation.

14. Payment Holds

14.1 Reasons for Holds

Payments may be held for:

  • Verification requirements
  • Suspected fraud or unusual activity
  • Pending dispute resolution
  • Compliance investigations
  • Chargebacks or payment reversals

14.2 Hold Duration

Payment holds typically last 7-30 days depending on the reason. Users will be notified of holds and provided with resolution steps.

15. International Payments

15.1 Cross-Border Fees

International payments may incur additional fees from payment processors, banks, or intermediary institutions.

15.2 Compliance

International payments are subject to applicable regulations, including sanctions, AML requirements, and foreign exchange controls.

16. Contact Information

For payment-related questions or issues:

  • Billing Team: billing@49gig.com
  • Payment Support: payments@49gig.com
  • General Support: support@49gig.com