Three Common Payment Routes — and Where They Break
Most freelancers in Kisumu rely on one of three ways to get paid by a US client. Each has real trade-offs.
Direct international bank transfers sound simple, but they come with steep SWIFT fees, intermediary bank deductions, and exchange rate losses when the funds land in KES. Clients often balk at the paperwork and the cost.
Freelance platforms like Upwork or Fiverr handle payments and provide some structure, yet their fees can take a significant slice of your earnings. You also depend on platform rules that can change overnight.
Forming a US LLC is another path — it gives you a US bank account and a professional front, but it requires registration costs, annual compliance fees, and tax filings that quickly add up for a solo freelancer.
A fourth option is working with a merchant of record. You issue invoices under a US company name without owning the entity. The client pays domestically, you avoid platform fees and company maintenance, and the money arrives in a form you can use.
How the Merchant of Record Route Works with PANORAMA SYSTEMS
When you work with PANORAMA SYSTEMS FLORIDA LLC, your client receives an invoice from a US company based in Florida. For their accounts-payable department, it’s a domestic transaction — no international wires and no currency conversion from their side.
The client pays PANORAMA SYSTEMS by standard US methods: ACH transfer, wire, or check. After PANORAMA SYSTEMS receives the funds, it deducts the agreed service fee and sends the remainder to you.
You are not an employee of PANORAMA SYSTEMS. The company does not withhold taxes for any country, nor does it offer tax guidance. You invoice the client for your services, and PANORAMA SYSTEMS acts as the billing intermediary, making the payment experience smooth for the client while you stay in charge of your own business.
Payouts in USDT Only — No Bank Transfers Available
For freelancers in Kenya, PANORAMA SYSTEMS settles payouts exclusively in USDT, a US dollar-pegged stablecoin. You can receive funds to your wallet on TRC-20, ERC-20, BEP-20, TON, or Solana networks.
Bank transfer options — including Wise, SWIFT, SEPA, or local KES transfers — are not available for this location. If you depend on a bank account to receive your earnings, this route will not work for you.
USDT can offer fast settlement and keep the value tied to the dollar, but it requires that you manage a crypto wallet and handle any conversion to KES on your own. Network fees for the blockchain you choose are your responsibility.
The Practical Side of Freelancing from Kisumu
The timezone in Kisumu, Africa/Nairobi (UTC+3), overlaps comfortably with US East Coast business hours. Mornings in Kisumu line up well with the American afternoon, giving you a solid window for live calls and quick communication. West Coast clients require a bit more evening work, but it’s manageable.
English is widely spoken and used professionally in Kenya, so the language barrier with US clients is minimal. Video calls and written deliverables tend to flow easily.
Kisumu’s growing reputation as an innovation hub means more freelancers are building networks here, though most client relationships remain remote. The key is finding a billing setup that doesn’t distract you from the work itself.