How web3 agencies typically bill
Billing usually splits between project-based smart contract or dApp development and a retainer for ongoing protocol maintenance or security monitoring.
- Smart contract development: milestone-based, often with a portion held until a security audit passes
- Security audits: typically a fixed fee, billed on delivery of the audit report
- Protocol/dApp maintenance: a monthly retainer for ongoing development, monitoring and upgrades
Common invoice line items
Web3 project line items should reflect the actual development and audit stages, since "smart contract development" alone tells a client little about what's been delivered.
- Smart Contract Development (core logic) — $8,000
- Security Audit — $6,000
- Frontend / dApp Integration — $5,000
- Monthly Protocol Maintenance Retainer — $2,000/month
Stablecoin payments as the default, not the exception
Where a typical invoicing tool treats crypto as an add-on, a web3 agency's clients often prefer to pay in USDC or another stablecoin directly. Hanko marks an invoice paid only once the payment is confirmed on-chain, with a block-explorer receipt for both sides — critical for a client base that expects on-chain verification as a baseline, not a novelty.
- Stablecoin payment option on every invoice, verified by on-chain confirmation
- Fiat fallback (card, ACH, wire) for clients or vendors who need it
- Off-ramp received stablecoins to a bank account when needed
Paying auditors and contributors
Web3 agencies frequently subcontract audits or pay a distributed group of contributors. Batch payouts let an agency pay multiple contributors or subcontracted auditors in a single transaction once the client milestone is collected, rather than sending individual payments one at a time.
Frequently asked questions
How should a web3 agency bill a smart contract project?
Most bill by milestone, often holding a portion of the fee until a security audit passes, with the audit itself typically billed as a separate fixed fee on delivery of the report.
Do web3 agency clients have to pay in crypto?
No — Hanko invoices support stablecoins alongside card, ACH and wire, so clients or vendors who need fiat aren't excluded, while stablecoin remains a first-class, on-chain-verified option.
Can a web3 agency pay its own contributors in one transaction?
Yes, through batch payouts — multiple contributors or subcontracted auditors can be paid in a single transaction once the client invoice is collected.