How we work together
This page covers how an inquiry usually moves toward a project start — scope, contracts, and payment included. The exact process depends on the service type and what needs to be confirmed.
How services are structured
Sola Studio’s international business services are mainly structured across four service models: Consulting-Type Services, Report-Type Services, Scoped Services, and Ongoing Support Services. The service model affects how the inquiry proceeds, what needs to be confirmed, how pricing is handled, whether separate contract documents are needed, and when payment is requested.
How work usually starts
- 01
Send a request
Share a short outline of your current situation, what you want to clarify, and which consulting-type service you are interested in.
- 02
Request review
Sola Studio reviews the request to understand the stated need and context, and confirms whether the service can proceed.
- 03
Payment guidance
If the service can proceed, payment guidance and any service-specific conditions are shared before scheduling or service guidance moves forward.
- 04
Payment confirmation
The next step proceeds after the required payment has been confirmed.
- 05
Scheduling or service guidance
Depending on the service format, Sola Studio shares scheduling guidance, access guidance, or other practical next-step instructions.
- 06
Service start
The service starts in the stated format after the required payment and any stated preconditions have been completed.
A separate contract or separate NDA is not normally required in the standard flow, unless required by the applicable service-specific conditions or the information involved.
Payment
Payment timing and method depend on the service model and are confirmed through the relevant service page, payment guidance, quote, or other service-specific conditions.
| Service type | Payment timing |
|---|---|
| Consulting-type services | Advance payment in the stated format for the relevant service |
| Report-type services | Prepaid before substantive review work starts |
| Scoped services — under USD 5,000 | Full payment upfront |
| Scoped services — USD 5,000 or above | Full payment upfront by default. Split payment may be available depending on scope and terms. |
| Ongoing support | Monthly fees prepaid by default. A different billing cycle is available only where agreed in advance. |
Payment notes
- Unless otherwise stated, listed pricing is shown in USD. Payment is accepted in USD or JPY only. JPY amounts are calculated from the listed USD price using the exchange rate in effect when the invoice is issued.
- If JPY is requested, bank transfer may be available on request. For non-JPY currencies, payment is generally handled via Stripe unless otherwise stated.
- For ongoing support, the monthly fee reserves the agreed capacity for that month. Client-side underuse, pauses, or early stopping do not reduce the monthly fee, create a refund, or roll unused hours into a later month. If Sola Studio cannot provide part of the reserved capacity for its own reasons, the corresponding amount is refunded or, by agreement, credited to a later month.
- If post-payment is agreed for ongoing support, the invoice is issued at month-end and the standard due date is 14 calendar days after the invoice date. The monthly fee remains a fixed reserved-capacity fee regardless of billing timing. Late payment may result in work being paused and future capacity being withheld until payment is received.
- For ongoing support, work beyond the reserved monthly capacity requires prior agreement and is subject to availability. Additional hours are billed at USD 88 per hour. They are normally confirmed at month-end and invoiced with a due date 14 calendar days after the invoice date, although advance payment may be required depending on the amount, timing, or payment history. Repeated additional work may require a change to the monthly capacity from the following month.
- The initial ongoing-support term is one month and does not renew automatically. Continuation is normally confirmed no later than 10 business days before the initial term ends. After continuation is agreed, the engagement renews monthly. Termination or a reduction in monthly capacity requires notice no later than 14 calendar days before the next renewal date; after six months of continuous engagement, the standard notice period is 30 calendar days. Late notice takes effect from the following renewal date. An increase in capacity remains subject to availability and mutual agreement.
- For ongoing support, payment method, billing cycle, currency (USD or JPY), and any platform arrangement are confirmed before the engagement starts. Where both sides agree and it is the better operational fit, recurring billing and payment handling may be arranged through Deel.
- Tax treatment may differ where Japan-side contracting, billing, or other Japan-side legal handling applies. Where applicable, Japanese consumption tax may be included.
NDA
Consulting-type services
A separate NDA is not normally required in the standard flow. The baseline confidentiality framework is handled through the Terms of Service and related service conditions unless separate handling is specifically requested.
Report-type services
A separate NDA is not normally required for Report-Type Services. Public pages, non-confidential materials, and narrowly limited test access can usually be handled under the confidentiality provisions of the Terms. Login requirements, non-public pages, test accounts, or staging access do not by themselves require a separate NDA. Where personal, production, regulated, source-code, or other confidential information needs to be handled, the appropriate information-handling conditions and any NDA requirement are confirmed before payment, access sharing, or work begins. Some Report-Type Services may expressly require an NDA because of the codebase or environment access involved. In those cases, the applicable service-specific conditions prevail.
Scoped services
An NDA is typically arranged before detailed review and formal quoting begins.
Frontend Partner (ongoing support)
An NDA is handled as part of the contract setup process where needed.
Sola Studio has an NDA template available, and can also review your team's preferred NDA from a confidentiality, scope, and operational-fit perspective where appropriate.
Contracts
For Scoped Services and Ongoing Support Services, Sola Studio provides contract templates in an IMSA / SOW format and can also review your team's preferred contract format where appropriate. For Consulting-Type Services and Report-Type Services, the standard flow does not normally require a separate contract unless separate handling is specifically requested or stated in the relevant service conditions. The applicable scope, fees, payment terms, information-handling conditions where relevant, and start conditions are confirmed through the applicable service-specific conditions before substantive work starts.
Contracting across borders
This is a service contract, not employment — no visa or work permit is required on Sola Studio's side. Where a country-compliant contractor agreement, multi-currency payment handling, and tax documentation are needed, Deel's standard Contractor Management plan is usually the most straightforward route — covering a compliant agreement, multi-currency payments, and tax documentation, at USD 49 per contractor per month on your side. Sola Studio has been paid through Deel before and is familiar with the process from the contractor side. Requirements on your side depend on your own contracting and compliance process; Deel handles that check as part of onboarding.
Scope changes and additional work
For Scoped Services, changed assumptions, added deliverables, or work outside the agreed scope may require an adjusted quote, updated terms, a separate SOW, or a new engagement. For Ongoing Support Services, work beyond the reserved monthly capacity requires prior agreement and is billed separately at the applicable additional-hours rate. A recurring increase is handled by changing the monthly capacity from a later month, subject to availability and mutual agreement.
Working setup and communication
Remote by default
Sola Studio works remotely by default. Meetings are usually held via Google Meet or, where appropriate, your team’s preferred video tool.
Structured async collaboration
Sola Studio works across time zones using clear written communication, structured handoffs, and agreed meeting windows. Collaboration is planned around realistic overlap so decisions, next steps, and review context remain visible.
Context, rationale, and documentation
The working style emphasizes context, rationale, review notes, and decision records, so implementation and review work can move forward without relying on constant real-time availability.
Existing tools and workflows
Where appropriate, Sola Studio can work with your existing tools and workflows, such as GitHub, Jira, Linear, Slack, Notion, Figma, or Google Workspace. Access approval, permission limits, and security requirements are confirmed as part of the setup.
Access, materials, and timing
Project timing depends on timely access to the relevant materials, accounts, documents, repositories, or review targets. If access or feedback is delayed, the schedule may need to be adjusted.
Tooling and paid accounts
If a paid tool, dedicated account, client environment, or specific platform access is required for the engagement, the setup and any related costs are confirmed before work begins.
Have a potential project or support need?
Choose the contact option that works best for you. You can send the details through the inquiry form, contact Sola Studio by email or LinkedIn, or start with a free 30-minute call.