Support & FAQ

Lance helps Indian freelancers and small studios run client projects from kickoff to final payment. It splits a project into milestones, sends each one as a GST-ready invoice with a plain-language contract attached, and tracks delivery and sign-off so nothing slips. Think of it as a delivery-and-contract tracker first, not accounting software — the goal is simple: get paid on time, and don't get burned.

Yes. Lance is free while we work closely with our first users to get it right. You can create projects, send invoices and contracts, and track milestones at no cost. If we introduce paid plans later, we'll give you clear notice — and anything you've already created stays yours.

No, and that's on purpose. Your client pays you directly, the way you already work — bank transfer, UPI, or wire — so there's no middleman, no cut, and no waiting on a payout. In Lance you just mark a milestone as settled once the money reaches you, which keeps your timeline and records accurate.

You break a project into stages — for example Concept, Revisions, and Final delivery — each with its own amount. Lance sends the first milestone's invoice and contract together; once your client accepts the terms and you mark that stage settled, the next milestone's invoice goes out automatically. Work moves forward one paid stage at a time, so you're never delivering the next phase for free.

Before any work proceeds, your client reviews and accepts your terms, and Lance records that acceptance with a timestamp. That gives you a clear, documented agreement on scope, payment, and ownership — far stronger than a verbal yes on a call or a line in a chat. It's a solid record to stand on, though for high-value contracts it isn't a replacement for advice from your own lawyer.

No account needed. Your client opens the link you send and sees only that invoice and its contract, in clean, plain language, with a button to accept the terms. They never see your other clients, projects, or earnings — only what you've shared with them.

Yes. Lance includes a sensible default contract written for Indian freelance work, and you can edit the terms — scope, payment schedule, late fees, ownership — to match how you operate or to drop in wording your lawyer prefers.

Your account and everything in it is private to you. Clients can only ever see an invoice you've explicitly shared, and nothing more. Your information is stored securely and is never sold — Lance is built so that what's yours stays yours.

For most states in India, the threshold is ₹20 Lakhs in a financial year. However, if you are exporting services outside India, mandatory registration may apply regardless of turnover.

RCM shifts the GST payment liability from the freelancer to the client. The tax is calculated on the invoice for compliance, but the client pays it directly to the government.

The most common SAC (Services Accounting Code) for software development, frontend architecture, and IT consulting in India is 998314. For graphic design and branding, it is typically 998391.

Generally, no. However, if you are providing services to clients outside your home state (inter-state) or exporting services internationally, GST registration is often required regardless of your turnover limit.

Yes. If you want to export your services without paying 18% IGST upfront, you must file an LUT with the GST portal for the current financial year and explicitly cite your LUT number on your invoice.

No. A standard digital invoice is valid without a wet signature as long as it includes a computer-generated document disclaimer stating that a physical signature is not required.

Yes. If you are billing an international client, you can generate your invoice in USD, EUR, or GBP. However, for Indian compliance, the amount received must be realized in INR through authorized banking channels.

If the invoice has already been sent and filed, you cannot simply delete it. You must issue a Credit Note to cancel the original invoice value, and then generate a new, corrected invoice with a new unique invoice number.

A B2B (Business-to-Business) invoice includes the client’s GSTIN, allowing them to claim Input Tax Credit (ITC). A B2C (Business-to-Consumer) invoice is for unregistered clients and does not require the buyer’s GSTIN.

An MSA (Master Services Agreement) outlines the general, long-term rules of your working relationship (like payment terms and IP transfer). An SOW (Statement of Work) defines the specific deliverables and price for a single project.

A kill fee is a non-refundable percentage of the total project cost paid by the client if they cancel the project before completion. It protects the freelancer for the time and resources already invested.

Unless stated otherwise in your contract, IP rights remain with the creator. Best practice is to include an IP Transfer Trigger in your MSA that states IP and source files are only released to the client upon full and final payment of all invoices.

Under Section 194J of the Income Tax Act, Indian clients are required to deduct 10% Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) on payments made for professional or technical services.

While possible for small, occasional amounts, the RBI strongly recommends routing business payments through a Current Account. This ensures proper FEMA compliance, smoother FIRC generation, and prevents your account from being flagged.

Industry standard for freelance contracts is typically a 1.5% to 2% penalty per month on the outstanding balance. However, this must be explicitly stated in your Master Services Agreement (MSA) or invoice terms before the project begins to be legally enforceable.

A FIRC (Foreign Inward Remittance Certificate) is a document acting as proof of a foreign money transfer to India. It is crucial for freelancers to prove to the GST department that their international payment was a valid export, exempting them from IGST.

Supplies to an SEZ unit are treated as zero-rated supplies (similar to exports). You can supply services under an LUT without charging IGST, but your invoice must explicitly state: "Supply to SEZ Unit for authorized operations under LUT".