You can accept checks. Cash transfer apps, banking apps, straight cash, payment processors aren't hard to come by. For local clients, if you speak their language and aren't in a field like financial services, they don't expect you to be super corporate. A basic signed agreement on a napkin in crayon is a valid contract.This is a very good advice but how will you manage the local clients asking for invoice, contracts and such when you are just starting out and you aren't a registered business yet?