[TheCoelacanth]

You certainly don't need a notarized physically signed copy to have a valid contract in the US.

That makes it easier to prove you have a valid contract, but even just a verbal agreement can be an enforceable contract.

[soco]

Same in Switzerland, although of course nobody will recommend relying on verbal contacts exactly because of all too possible "you said/he said" litigation. But yeah it happens, for both smaller and bigger contracts.

[petesergeant]

and it significantly lowers the chance that the client will fuck around and claim they don’t have to pay