After gaining a client, how do you get the contract and transfer payment? Is it via Stripe?

It's straightforward and depends on the platform. On Upwork they handle payments, escrow, and invoices, so beginners don't need Stripe or a business account. Otherwise, ask the prospect for a fixed-price or hourly offer based on your negotiation; you can split payments into milestones (e.g., 50% up front, 33% each). The prospect creates an offer, you accept, and the money goes into escrow—a neutral account that releases funds when you submit the agreed deliverables. To reduce drop-off, combine the proposal, contract, and invoice into one document after the sales call; the client signs, a payment page appears, and after the invoice you receive an email booking the onboarding call. This cuts the funnel loss from ~40% to ~20%. US companies tend to move faster through this process than European ones, which often require more steps.