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Best Online Invoice Payment Processors

These services make invoicing easier and more convenient than ever and allow you to get paid faster than you would with manual invoicing.

    Erica Seppala
  • UPDATED

Advertiser Disclosure: Our unbiased reviews and content are supported in part by affiliate partnerships, and we adhere to strict guidelines to preserve editorial integrity.

Stop wasting time, energy, and office supplies with manual invoices and cashing checks, and consider online invoice payment processing. Sending online invoices and accepting online payments benefits you and your customers. And the best part? You can get paid faster — so why not give it a shot?

Whether you’re already using accounting software and want an integrated solution or starting from scratch, we have an online invoice payment solution for you. We’ll look at the benefits of online payments, the invoicing cycle, and a few great options to consider for your business. Keep reading to learn more about getting paid faster and easier than ever with online invoice payments.

Learn More About Our Top Picks

CompanySummaryNext StepsSummary
CDGcommerce

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  • High-risk processing, recurring billing, mobile payment processing
  • $0+/month
  • Starts at 2.75% + $0.30 per transaction
  • High-risk processing, recurring billing, mobile payment processing
  • $0+/month
  • Starts at 2.75% + $0.30 per transaction

Visit Site

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Stripe Payments

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  • Subscription billing, recurring billing, automated payment reminders, numerous integrations
  • No monthly fees
  • 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
  • Subscription billing, recurring billing, automated payment reminders, numerous integrations
  • No monthly fees
  • 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction

Visit Site

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Square Invoices

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  • Recurring invoices, auto-scheduling, payment reminders, invoice tracking
  • No monthly fees
  • 2.9% + $0.30 per invoice
  • Recurring invoices, auto-scheduling, payment reminders, invoice tracking
  • No monthly fees
  • 2.9% + $0.30 per invoice

Visit Site

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FreshBooks

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  • Recurring invoices, scheduled payments, partial payments, deposits, invoice tracking
  • $17+/month for FreshBooks subscription
  • 2.9% + $0.30 per invoice
  • Recurring invoices, scheduled payments, partial payments, deposits, invoice tracking
  • $17+/month for FreshBooks subscription
  • 2.9% + $0.30 per invoice

Start Trial

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QuickBooks Payments

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  • Recurring invoices, instant deposits, QuickBooks reconciliation, mobile invoicing, invoice tracking
  • $30+/month for QuickBooks subscription
  • Starts at 2.9% + $0.25 per invoice
  • Recurring invoices, instant deposits, QuickBooks reconciliation, mobile invoicing, invoice tracking
  • $30+/month for QuickBooks subscription
  • Starts at 2.9% + $0.25 per invoice

Visit Site

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Dharma Merchant Services

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  • Mobile processing, online reporting, payment links
  • $15/month
  • Starts at interchange + 0.10% + $0.08/transaction
  • Mobile processing, online reporting, payment links
  • $15/month
  • Starts at interchange + 0.10% + $0.08/transaction

Visit Site

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PayPal

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  • Invoice reminders, mobile invoicing, invoice tracking
  • No monthly fees
  • 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction
  • Invoice reminders, mobile invoicing, invoice tracking
  • No monthly fees
  • 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction

Visit Site

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Authorize.Net

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  • Recurring payments, mobile payments, invoice reporting, advanced fraud detection
  • $25/month
  • 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
  • Recurring payments, mobile payments, invoice reporting, advanced fraud detection
  • $25/month
  • 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction

Visit Site

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Braintree Payment Solutions

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  • International payments, recurring billing, transaction reporting
  • No monthly fee
  • 2.59% + $0.49 per transaction
  • International payments, recurring billing, transaction reporting
  • No monthly fee
  • 2.59% + $0.49 per transaction

Visit Site

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Stax by Fattmerchant

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  • Scheduled payments, recurring payments, automated reminders, invoice tracking
  • $99+/month
  • Starts at interchange + $0.08
  • Scheduled payments, recurring payments, automated reminders, invoice tracking
  • $99+/month
  • Starts at interchange + $0.08

Visit Site

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Read more below to learn why we chose these options.

Table of Contents

What Is An Online Invoice Payment?

Invoices typically contain a list of the products or services purchased, individual pricing (such as charges per hour or a set fee), the total sum due, and a due date or payment terms.

As a small business owner, you may send invoices to your customers for products or services you provide. You may also receive invoices from vendors, suppliers, and other businesses when you purchase supplies, inventory, equipment, or other products or services needed for business operations.

An “invoice payment” is a payment made toward the sum of this invoice. For example, if you receive an invoice for $100 for supplies, the $100 payment you submit is the invoice payment.

How To Accept Online Invoice Payments

There are a variety of ways to accept invoice payments. A business may take cash in person, a personal check, or a money order. However, many businesses are using technology to simplify invoice payments. Some offer the option of paying by phone using a virtual terminal. Others are investing in services and software that allow customers to pay their invoices online with a debit card, credit card, ACH payment, or even mobile payment services, such as Apple Pay.

We’re going to focus our attention on online invoice payments. If you aren’t offering this option to your customers, keep reading to learn why this method is necessary for your business and how to get started.

Why Online Invoice Payments Are A Must

Why should your business accept online invoice payments? Manual invoice creation, slow shipping times, delays by accounts payable and accounts receivable departments, invoicing errors, and waiting for the check can drag out the invoicing process. In other words, it can potentially take weeks to receive payment for products or services that have been provided.

A study by FIS and Amalto shows that 39% of invoices in the United States are paid late. Of these late invoices, 61% are delayed due to an invoicing error. The study also shows that 11% of customers never receive an invoice.

Concerned about spending money to automate your invoicing process? Your costs could actually be less by implementing online invoicing. In 2010, according to an article on Billtrust on how much invoices cost, a company using a high level of automation paid $6.31 to process an invoice, while companies with low levels of automation spent nearly $16 — a difference of nearly 250%!

The Benefits Of Online Invoice Payments

Still not convinced? Let’s break down the many benefits of online invoicing for your business:

  • Same-day invoice creation
  • Save money on printing & shipping supplies
  • Multiple payment options for customers
  • Get paid faster
  • No paperwork
  • Invoice tracking
  • Easily edit & resend corrected invoices
  • Save time with automations like recurring invoices & payment reminders
  • Customize invoices with logos & branding
  • Send invoices on the go with mobile invoicing
  • Reduce invoicing errors
  • View invoicing reports

10 Best Online Invoice Payment Processing Options For Small Businesses

Ready to start accepting online invoice payments? Start your search with these top payment services, including payment processors, merchant accounts, and payment gateways. These services make invoicing easier and more convenient than ever while also allowing you to get paid faster than you would with manual invoicing.

CDGcommerce: Most Affordable Online Invoice Payments

Total Rating 4.7
Fees & Rates4.6

Products & Services5.0

Contract5.0

Sales & Advertising Transparency5.0

Customer Service3.5

User Reviews4.9



Pros

  • Affordable pricing
  • Exceptional customer support
  • Processing for some high-risk businesses

Cons

  • Only available to US-based businesses

Why We Chose CDGcommerce For Best Invoice Payment Processing

CDGcommerce is a merchant services provider that offers many great features at competitive pricing with no hidden fees. Notable features include a free payment processor, multiple pricing options, processing for high-risk businesses, and a free virtual terminal. You can also add on mobile payments, credit card terminals, or a traditional POS system at competitive prices.

CDGcommerce also offers exceptional customer support, including 24/7 phone support. Its customer service and top-quality products have allowed this company to hold a 97% customer retention rate. Its public reputation is excellent, with very few negative customer reviews.

CDGcommerce Pricing

CDGcommerce has numerous pricing plans. This includes One-Rate plans with no monthly fees, Interchange Plus plans that range from $19 to $49 per month, and Membership plans that range from $49 to $199 per month.

CDGcommerce Features For Online Invoicing

Notable features for online invoicing include:

  • Free payment gateway
  • Free virtual terminal
  • Recurring billing
  • High-risk payment processing
  • Mobile payment processing
  • Chargeback protection

Payment Processing Costs

Payment processing costs vary based on the pricing plan you select. Processing costs for One-Rate plans start at 2.75% + $0.30 per transaction. Fees for Interchange Plus plans start at interchange + 0.25% + $0.10 per transaction. Fees for Membership plans start at interchange + $0.05.

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Stripe: Best Online Invoicing For SaaS Businesses

Stripe Payments

Total Rating 4.7
Fees & Rates4.7

Products & Services4.5

Contract5.0

Sales & Advertising Transparency5.0

Customer Service4.5

User Reviews4.1



Pros

  • Supports 135+ currencies
  • Numerous developer tools
  • Good customer support

Cons

  • Potential account holds & terminations
  • Users may need developing experience

stripe online invoice payments

Why We Chose Stripe For Best Invoice Payment Processing

Stripe offers a variety of developer features that make it an ideal choice for online businesses, especially SaaS businesses or any business that accepts recurring payments. You have the option to use a Stripe plugin or integrate the payment service via one of its integration partnerships. You can use Stripe with your existing invoicing solution or send invoices through Stripe Billing.

Businesses can accept payments online, in person, or via mobile apps with Stripe. Stripe also has a comprehensive set of developer tools for quick and easy integration.

Stripe Pricing

There are no monthly fees to use Stripe Payments — you’ll simply pay processing fees. Additional processing fees apply if you use services such as Stripe Billing or Stripe Invoicing.

Stripe Features For Online Invoicing

Notable Stripe features for online invoicing and payment processing include:

  • Subscriptions, trials, & recurring billing with Stripe Billing
  • Automated payment reminders
  • Support for 135+ currencies
  • Numerous integration options
  • Shareable payment links
  • Mobile SDKs

Payment Processing Costs

Stripe charges a flat rate of 2.9% + $0.30 for credit card transactions and 0.8% (capped at $5) for ACH transactions.

If you use Stripe Invoicing, the flat rates above apply plus an additional 0.4% to 0.5% per paid invoice. For recurring invoices, you’ll need to sign up for Stripe Billing, which will cost 0.5% to 0.8% per recurring payment and/or one-time invoice.

Additional Stripe costs and fees may apply if you opt to use other Stripe services.

Get Started With Stripe Payments

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Square Invoices: Overall Best For Online Invoice Payments

Square Invoices


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Invoice Limit

Unlimited

Pricing

$0-$20/month

Business size

Small to mid-sized businesses

Get a free card swiper from Square at no cost when you create a free account. Claim your card reader.

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Excellent mobility
  • Works with other Square products

Cons

  • No invoice templates
  • Not suitable for high-risk businesses

square online invoice payments

Why We Chose Square Invoices For Best Invoice Payment Processing

Square Invoices is part of the Square ecosystem and integrates seamlessly with other Square products, including Square POS and Square Installments. This free option is ideal for businesses that already use Square, but it’s an easy transition for businesses that are new to Square, as well.

Square Invoices has a well-designed UI and is easy to use once you grasp everything Square offers. Square Invoices users like the ease of use, mobility, and customizability of invoices.

Square Invoices Pricing

There are no monthly fees to use Square Invoices. Sending invoices and accepting payments by cash are all free. Additional Square software and add-ons are available for a fee.

Square Invoices Features For Online Invoicing

Square Invoices has a number of great features for online invoicing, including:

  • Automatic payment reminders
  • Recurring payments
  • Auto-scheduling
  • Add attachments, discounts, tips, and sales tax to invoices
  • Works with other Square products, including Square Installments
  • Customize the Square Invoices template with colors and logos
  • Request partial payments
  • Invoice tracking

Payment Processing Costs

Square’s online payment processing rates are 2.9% + $0.30.

Get Started With Square Invoices

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FreshBooks Payments: Best Online Invoicing For FreshBooks Users

Total Rating 4.1
Pricing3.9

Ease Of Use4.4

Features3.9

Customer Service4.9

User Reviews4.1

Accounting Method

Accrual Only

Pricing

$19 - $60/month

Business Size

Smaller to mid-sized businesses with a limited number of users

Pros

  • Easy setup
  • No hidden fees
  • Excellent customer service

Cons

  • Requires a FreshBooks accounting subscription

freshbooks online invoice payments

Why We Chose FreshBooks Payments For Best Invoice Payment Processing

FreshBooks Payments integrates with your FreshBooks accounting software, allowing you to add an online payment option to your invoices easily. Payments are automatically recorded to your FreshBooks account, so there’s no more worrying about reconciliation.

You’ll also be able to take advantage of features such as recurring invoices and other automations. FreshBooks Payments also doesn’t require a separate merchant services account. Transparent pricing, good customer support, and easy setup all add to the reasons why we like FreshBooks Payments.

FreshBooks Payments Pricing

FreshBooks Payments is available to FreshBooks users for no additional monthly fee — just pay for payment processing. However, you will need to have a FreshBooks subscription to use this feature. FreshBooks pricing starts at $17/month.

FreshBooks Payments Features For Online Invoicing

Here’s what you’ll receive when you use FreshBooks Payments for online invoicing:

  • Scheduled payments
  • Recurring invoices
  • Partial payments
  • Request deposits from customers
  • International currency acceptance with Stripe
  • Invoice tracking
  • Mobile invoicing
  • Reporting

Payment Processing Costs

Payment processing using a credit card, debit card, or Apple Pay will cost you 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.

Get Started With FreshBooks

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QuickBooks Payments: Best Online Invoicing For QuickBooks Users

QuickBooks Payments

Total Rating 4.2
Fees & Rates4.2

Products & Services4.0

Contract4.6

Sales & Advertising Transparency4.9

Customer Service2.9

User Reviews4.0



Pros

  • Numerous integrations
  • Numerous features
  • Integrates with QuickBooks accounting software

Cons

  • Long hold times for customer support
  • Limited invoice customizations

quickbooks online invoice payments

Why We Chose QuickBooks Payments For Best Invoice Payment Processing

QuickBooks Payments (also known as Intuit Merchant Services) has a lot of benefits, especially if you’re already using QuickBooks software. The biggest draw for many users is that QuickBooks Payments seamlessly integrates with QuickBooks. Payments are automatically reconciled to invoices, helping you keep your books balanced.

QuickBooks Payments also has solid customer service and a good reputation among its users. If you already use QuickBooks or are looking for a full accounting and invoicing solution, QuickBooks Payments may be the right choice for you.

QuickBooks Payments Pricing

The pricing for QuickBooks Payments is based on what version of QuickBooks you’re using.

Pricing ranges from $0/month for QuickBooks’ pay-as-you-go plans to $20/month for a monthly plan that comes with reduced payment processing fees. These charges are in addition to your monthly software fees.

QuickBooks Desktop pricing and QuickBooks Online pricing can get complicated, so make sure you fully understand your monthly and per-transaction costs before signing up.

QuickBooks Payments Features For Online Invoicing

Here’s what to expect from QuickBooks Payments:

  • Get paid via debit cards, credit cards, and mobile payments
  • Recurring invoices
  • Scheduled payments
  • Instant deposits
  • Next-day deposits
  • Automatic reconciliation
  • Mobile invoicing & payments
  • Invoice tracking
  • Payment links

Payment Processing Costs

Payment processing costs vary based on the QuickBooks product you use and the payment processing plan you select. Invoiced payments range from 2.9% + $0.25 per transaction to 3.5% + $0.30 per transaction.

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Dharma Merchant Services: Best Online Invoice Payment Processing For B2Bs

Dharma Merchant Services

Total Rating 5.0
Fees & Rates5.0

Products & Services5.0

Contract5.0

Sales & Advertising Transparency5.0

Customer Service4.8

User Reviews4.5



Pros

  • No contracts
  • Transparent pricing
  • Good customer support

Cons

  • May be unsuitable for low-volume businesses

Why We Chose Dharma Merchant Services For Best Invoice Payment Processing

Dharma Merchant Services has a vast selection of products and services to help your business tackle accepting online invoice payments. This includes B2B processing, the MX Merchant virtual terminal and invoicing system, and MX Merchant Express mobile processing. If you need a payment gateway, Dharma has you covered by offering the choice between Authorize.Net and NMI Gateway.

Other benefits of Dharma include transparent pricing with no contracts, early termination, PCI compliance fees, or batch fees. This certified green business has an outstanding reputation among its customers and consistently provides solid customer support.

Dharma Merchant Services Pricing

Dharma offers four rate plans based on different business categories. Pricing ranges from $12-15/month plus per-transaction fees. Additional features such as ACH processing, invoicing, and recurring billing are available for an additional fee.

Dharma Merchant Services Features For Online Invoicing

These features make Dharma a standout for online invoicing:

  • Mobile processing
  • Virtual terminal
  • Online reporting
  • B2B program with discounted rates
  • Funding in two business days
  • Payment links
  • Customer database

Payment Processing Costs

Payment processing fees range from interchange + 0.10% + $0.08 per transaction to interchange + 0.20% + $0.11 per transaction.

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PayPal: Best Online Invoicing For Low-Volume Businesses

Total Rating 4.2
Fees & Rates3.8

Products & Services4.2

Contract4.6

Sales & Advertising Transparency5.0

Customer Service4.1

User Reviews3.3



Pros

  • Good customer service
  • Good tech support
  • Mobile processing

Cons

  • High transaction fees
  • Potential account holds & chargebacks

paypal online invoice payments

Why We Chose PayPal For Best Invoice Payment Processing

If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution that’s easy to set up and use for accepting online payments, look no further than PayPal. You can send invoices and receive online payments exclusively using PayPal’s business products and services, or you can use a PayPal integration with your existing third-party solutions.

PayPal offers a variety of additional features and benefits for merchants, including customizable invoices with no monthly fees, mass payouts, and the PayPal Here mobile processing app. PayPal also has solid customer service and tech support and is viewed favorably by most users.

PayPal Pricing

There is no monthly charge to use PayPal Checkout for invoicing and payments. However, there are upgraded payment options — PayPal Payments Pro and PayPal Payments Advanced — that some users may be interested in purchasing for a monthly fee.

PayPal Features For Online Invoicing

PayPal’s standout features for online invoicing payment processing including:

  • Mobile invoicing
  • Invoice reminders
  • Track unpaid invoices
  • Convert estimates to invoices
  • Personalized payment links

Payment Processing Costs

PayPal Checkout’s processing fees are 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction.

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Authorize.Net: Best For Online Invoice Payment Integrations

Total Rating 4.6
Fees & Rates4.7

Products & Services5.0

Contract4.8

Sales & Advertising Transparency4.6

Customer Service4.7

User Reviews2.0



Pros

  • Excellent customer support
  • Transparent pricing
  • Integrates with numerous third-party solutions

Cons

  • User complaints about billing issues

authorize net online invoice payment

Why We Chose Authorize.Net For Best Invoice Payment Processing

Authorize.Net offers payment processing services that integrate with numerous third-party shopping carts. You’ll also receive free virtual POS software (with a card reader available for a fee), a free mobile POS app (again, a card reader is available for an additional fee), the Customer Information Manager that allows you to store customer data securely, and Automated Recurring Billing.

Authorize.Net supports numerous payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, Chase Pay, Visa Checkout, and echecks. You’ll also have access to excellent customer support, transparent pricing and sales, and no hidden fees.

Authorize.Net Pricing

Authorize.Net has two monthly payment plans: one that includes just a payment gateway and another than includes a payment gateway plus merchant account. Each plan costs $25/month. Additional processing and daily batch fees apply (more on that later).

Authorize.Net Features For Online Invoicing

Authorize.Net has a wide range of features for online invoicing, including:

  • Accept credit cards, debit cards, echecks, & contactless payments
  • Mobile payments
  • Recurring payments
  • Discounts & partial payments on invoices
  • Invoice reporting
  • Advanced fraud detection

Payment Processing Fees

Users that subscribe to Authorize.Net’s payment gateway only will pay $0.10/transaction and a $0.10 daily batch fee. Users that subscribe to Authorize.Net’s all-in-one solution will pay 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.

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Braintree Payment Solutions: Best For International Payments For Online Invoices

Braintree Payment Solutions

Total Rating 4.5
Fees & Rates4.4

Products & Services5.0

Contract5.0

Sales & Advertising Transparency4.8

Customer Service3.8

User Reviews3.1



Pros

  • Good customer support
  • Supports 130+ currencies
  • Transparent pricing

Cons

  • Lengthy account setup times
  • Limited fraud protection

Why We Chose Braintree Payment Solutions For Best Invoice Payment Processing

Braintree Payment Solutions stands out for its support of numerous payment methods, including debit, credit, ACH Direct Debit, Android, Apple Pay, Venmo, Google Pay, PayPal, MasterPass, and Visa Checkout.

Braintree also offers international processing and allows you to accept payments in over 130 currencies. Add in solid customer support and an excellent public reputation, and you’ll quickly see why this solution makes our list.

Braintree Payment Solutions Pricing

There is no monthly cost for using Braintree Payment Solutions. You simply pay payment processing fees.

Braintree Payment Solutions Features For Online Invoicing

Standout features of Braintree Payment Solutions include:

  • Recurring billing
  • Third-party integrations
  • Account updater
  • Developer-friendly SDK
  • Simplified PCI compliance
  • Transaction reporting

Payment Processing Costs

Braintree’s rates are 2.59% + $0.49 per transaction for domestic transactions with a card or digital wallet. International transactions come with a 1% fee, and payments made on cards issued outside the US are also charged a 1% fee.

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Stax By Fattmerchant: Best Invoice Payment Processing For High-Volume Businesses

Stax by Fattmerchant

Total Rating 4.0
Fees & Rates3.6

Products & Services5.0

Contract4.6

Sales & Advertising Transparency3.5

Customer Service4.0

User Reviews3.6



Pros

  • Numerous add-ons available
  • Excellent customer support
  • Easy to use

Cons

  • Limited customization options
  • May be too expensive for low-volume businesses

Why We Chose Stax By Fattmerchant For Best Invoice Payment Processing

Stax by Fattmerchant offers a decent amount of features and is easy to use. It also offers a unique pricing structure. Where Stax stands out, though, is its customer support, which customers frequently praise. Stax offers 24/7 phone and email support and a variety of other resources to help you get the most out of the service.

Stax provides invoicing through Stax Pay. You can also add on other Stax merchant services (such as mobile payments, a physical terminal, and an online shopping cart) since they are all compatible to create your personalized payment solution.

Stax By Fattmerchant Pricing

Stax by Fattmerchant’s pricing is based on processing volume. Businesses that process up to $250,000/year will pay $99/month. Businesses that process $250,000 to $500,000 per year will pay $199/month. Businesses that process over $500,000/year will need to obtain a custom quote.

Add-ons including a QuickBooks integration, next-day funding, and custom branding are available for an additional fee.

Stax By Fattmerchant Features For Online Invoicing

Notable features for online invoicing with Stax include:

  • Scheduled payments
  • Recurring payments
  • Automated invoice reminders
  • Payment links
  • Mobile payments
  • Invoice tracking

Payment Processing Costs

Payment processing costs for Stax are $0.08 + interchange for swiped, dipped, and tapped transactions, and $0.15 + interchange for keyed-in transactions.

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Payment Processing Rating Methodology

Merchant Maverick has been researching the payment processing industry since 2009. Our writers have reviewed hundreds of credit card processors, merchant account services, and mobile payment apps, evaluating each provider carefully on several different metrics.

When comparing different payment processing companies and applications to one another, we consider numerous data points. Our experts start by comparing credit card processing rates, the presence of additional fees, contract length, sales practices, and the presence or absence of additional features and services, like point of sale software. Each provider is judged on its own merits and how well it stacks up to industry standards; then it is weighed against the other providers on the list.

We spend an average of 10-15 hours researching and updating each one of our lists, making sure every company or application included meets our internal standards for quality and reputation. Any list of recommended payment processors on our site might contain a mix of standard merchant accounts, third-party payment processors, mobile payment devices, and high-risk payment processors, depending on what our expert feels is the best fit for certain scenarios or business types.

For additional details about Merchant Maverick’s review and rating processes, please refer to any or all of the following methodology pages:

15

Years reviewing payment processors

100+

Providers evaluated

25

Attributes and features assessed per vendor

40+

Years combined experience


How To Offer Online Invoice Payments For Your Customers

Online invoicing isn’t just beneficial for your business; it’s also more convenient for your customers or clients, especially if they can pay their invoices online.

To accept invoice payments online, you have a few different options:

  • Invoicing & Payment Processing Solution: Some invoicing programs already have built-in payment processing. Square Invoices, for example, allows you to send invoices and accept payments from your customers.
  • Payment Services: Software you’re already using in your business may also offer online invoice payments. If you use QuickBooks, try QuickBooks Payments, or FreshBooks users can give FreshBooks Payments a try.
  • Payment Gateway & Merchant Account Solution: You can also choose your own payment gateway and merchant account to process online payments. A payment gateway allows the customer to initiate the online payment. A payment processor confirms the information and processes the payment. Think of the merchant account as the middleman that receives the customer’s payment and transfers it to your business bank account.

Once you have your online payment solution set up, it’s time to send out your first invoice. Let’s explore the online invoicing cycle so that you know what to expect during the process.

Step 1: Create & Send The Invoice

Accepting Online Invoice Payment

Using your invoicing software, you’ll first create your invoice. Depending on your software’s customization options, you may use a basic template, or you could completely customize your invoice with your company’s logo, colors, and branding.

Your invoice should include several key details, such as:

  • The name and contact info of your business
  • The name and contact info of the customer
  • Description of services and/or products provided
  • Breakdown of costs of services and/or products provided
  • Sales tax, additional fees, and other applicable charges
  • Balance due
  • Payment terms and the due date

Online Invoice Payment Email

Once you’ve created the invoice and all information has been verified as accurate, you can send it to your customer.

Step 2: Customer Opens Client Portal

Online Invoice Payment Email

Your customer then receives an email. Through this email, they can view the invoice. If you accept online payments, there will also be a link or information about how to make a payment.

Step 3: Customer Enters Payment Information

Online Invoice Payment Portal

If your customer is paying the invoice online, they enter their payment information, such as a credit card number or bank routing and transfer numbers, and the amount being paid. Once all information has been entered, the customer submits the payment.

Step 4: Payment Gateway Routes Information To The Payment Processor

This part doesn’t require action on the part of you or your customer. The information submitted through the payment gateway is then routed to the payment processor.

Step 5: Payment Processor Routes The Payment & Deposits Funds

The payment processor communicates with the customer’s bank and your bank to process the transaction. This data is routed to the appropriate institution, and funds are deposited into your account.

Step 6: Invoice Is Marked As Paid

Online Invoice Payment Received

Your invoice has now been paid! If you’re using invoicing software with integrated online payments, your software may do this for you. However, you may have to open the invoice and mark it as paid manually.

Paid Online Invoice

Which Invoice Payment Processor Is Right For Your Business?

If you aren’t using the internet to send invoices and accept payments, what are you waiting for? You’ll save time and money, get paid faster, and simplify your invoicing process — does it get any better than that?

When choosing the right payment processor and payment services for your business, keep a few things in mind. Your budget, processing volume, and experience with software and payment services can influence your decision. Do your research to find the best option for your business, and don’t forget to take advantage of free trials to find the one that works best for you.

Looking for more ways to get paid? With a few easy steps, you can get your invoices paid faster. Another option for increasing your cash flow is to use a factoring company for your unpaid invoices. Before you know it,  you’ll be getting paid in no time. Good luck!

FAQs About Online Invoice Payments

How do I accept an invoice payment online?

To accept an online invoice payment, you’ll need to find an online invoice payment solution. Options include a combined invoicing and payment processing solution, payment services, and a payment gateway and merchant account solution.

What is the best online invoice payment processor?

Square Invoices is our pick for the overall best option for online invoice payments. This solution integrates with Square’s suite of products, is easy to use, and doesn’t have any contracts or monthly fees.

What is an online invoice?

An online invoice is a digital invoice that can be sent to clients in several ways, including email or text messages. An online invoice reduces paperwork and doesn’t have to be mailed, helping you save time and money. Additionally, an online invoice can be paid online, helping you get paid faster than ever.

Can I accept invoice payments online?

With the right online invoice payment solution, you will be able to accept invoice payments online easily. Depending on the solution you choose, you may be able to accept payments made by credit cards, debit cards, ACH transfers, or digital payments, such as Apple Pay.

How do I pay online invoices?

If you’ve received an online invoice, read over the invoice for instructions on how to pay. Typically, your invoice will include a link for you to make an online payment with a debit card, credit card, or another form of payment. Additionally, the merchant may include instructions for making payments via other methods such as cash, check, or money order.

Are online invoices better than paper invoices?

Online invoices hold many advantages over paper invoices. Time-saving automations, easy customization, reduced paperwork, and the ability to receive fast online payments are just a few of the reasons many small business owners are making the switch to online invoicing.

How do I send an online invoice?

To send an online invoice, you will need to sign up for software or apps that support invoicing. From there, you can customize your invoice, enter customer information, add details about the products or services being sold, and send the invoice directly to your customer. Some programs allow you to accept online payments, communicate with clients, and track your invoices.

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Erica Seppala

Erica Seppala

Editor & Senior Staff Writer at Merchant Maverick
Erica began writing on small business topics in 2008. She joined Merchant Maverick in 2018 and focuses on loans, accounting, and POS. She is a Certified ProAdvisor for QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Payroll. She has been cited in MSN, Reader's Digest, Vox, U.S. News & World Report, and Real Simple. She is a graduate of Limestone University and resides in Greenville, South Carolina.
Erica Seppala
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