Providing your customers with their preferred invoice payment methods is one way to improve the payment experience. This means including multiple payment options such as credit cards and bank transfers on the invoices you send to customers. Doing so can signal to customers how much you value them and build steady relationships between them and your business.

Below, we’ll cover common invoice payment methods, how to choose the ones suitable for your business, and best practices for offering multiple payment methods on invoices.

What’s in this article?

• What are the most common invoice payment methods?
  
• How to choose the best payment methods for your business
  
• Best practices for offering multiple payment options on invoices
  
• How to integrate payment links into invoices
  

What are the most common invoice payment methods?

When it comes to paying invoices, businesses can choose from a variety of payment methods—each with its own strengths, traits, and ideal use cases. Here are the most common methods:

Bank transfers

Reliable, direct, and familiar, bank transfers are often a go-to for invoice payments. They’re particularly popular for larger transactions or among businesses that have an established relationship. With developments such as same-day Automated Clearing House (ACH) in the United States and the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) in Europe, transfers are faster and easier than ever. But they can still feel a little slow because of factors such as manual data entry and the need to cross-check account numbers. For recurring invoices, implementing standing orders can save time.

Credit and debit cards

Cards can make payments effortless, especially for smaller businesses or freelancers who want to simplify the payment process. They suit digital invoices because payers can click a link, enter their details, and settle instantly. But cards have processing fees, which can add up for small businesses, though the speed and convenience can often outweigh the cost.

Digital wallets

Digital wallets (e.g., Apple Pay, Google Pay) are designed for simplicity. They let customers pay invoices almost instinctively—often with a tap or click. Platforms that enable digital wallet payments are particularly useful for international transactions because they handle currency conversion. Though digital wallets are not yet universally accepted for business-to-business (B2B) transactions, they’re used in situations in which speed matters and traditional methods are too cumbersome.

Checks

Checks are becoming a relic in the digital age. They’re most common in industries or regions where tradition still dominates—or where businesses haven’t modernized yet. Checks are slow, easy to misplace, and must be manually processed. Still, they provide a tangible way to pay and track invoices, which can be comforting for some people.

Wire transfers

Wire transfers are a great option for high-value or time-sensitive payments. They’re direct and can move money quickly, even internationally. The downside is they can be expensive, with fees for sender and recipient. This makes them a better fit for one-off, large-ticket payments rather than smaller, everyday invoices.

Payment platforms

The rise of all-in-one payment solutions such as Stripe has facilitated payments for businesses and their customers. These platforms enable multiple payment methods—such as bank transfers, cards, and installment plans—through one interface. They also make invoicing easier by managing processes including payment reminders and reconciliation in one place. The cost is typically a percentage of the transaction, but for many, the convenience more than makes up for it.

How to choose the best payment methods for your business

Consider what payment methods customers prefer for different situations as you craft your payment experience. For example, they might use Apple Pay on their phones, settle invoices with ACH transfers, or use credit cards for larger purchases. The transaction data can provide further insight on the most used methods and adoption trends. Offering the right payment methods can offer a convenient payment experience and signal you’re in sync with the ways customers work and live.

Beyond consumer preferences, here are other considerations that can help you pick the best payment methods for your business:

Industry standards

Your payment methods should match the pace of your business. Here are examples:

• Fast-paced retail or ecommerce sales demand speed and simplicity. Credit cards, digital wallets, and one-click payments are suitable options.

• Project-based services or high-ticket sales might require ACH transfers or split payments to give customers flexibility for larger invoices.

• Subscriptions and other recurring payments, whether paid through credit cards or bank debits, greatly benefit from automation.

Fees

Transaction fees matter, but don’t choose the cheapest option. Balance effectiveness with value. For instance, credit cards might cost more, but they might provide the most comfort for customers. ACH transfers are cheaper but might not offer the same psychological ease. Consider the cost of not including the method your customer prefers and whether that’s pricier than the transaction fees you’re trying to avoid.

Speed

The speed of a transaction can shape expectations. Though methods such as digital wallets and credit cards are authorized quickly, often within seconds, options such as ACH transfers are slower. You should communicate timelines clearly so customers know what to expect. Speed is also about how quickly customers feel their payment is acknowledged. Instant confirmations and receipts reassure customers that payment is complete.

Security

Your payment methods need to inspire confidence without making the process more difficult. Security features such as encryption, fraud monitoring, and two-factor authentication should work in the background. Find a balance between making customers feel safe and keeping the experience smooth.

Scalability

If you’re planning to expand globally, work with larger clients, or expand your customer base, choose methods that can scale with you. Payment systems that can handle multiple currencies, cross-border transactions, or higher volumes make it so you won’t have to play catch-up later. Ask yourself, “If my business doubled next year, would my payments infrastructure keep up?”

Best practices for offering multiple payment options on invoices

Offering multiple payment options shows you understand your customers’ needs, respect their time, and want the payment experience to be as smooth as possible. This helps you get paid faster, strengthens relationships, and makes your business one that people want to continually work with. Here are best practices to remember when you integrate multiple payment options:

• Include your customers’ preferred payment methods: Choose payment options that are relevant to how your customers operate. Do your customers prefer automated bank transfers because they’re predictable and secure? Or do they prefer paying with a tap through Apple Pay or Google Pay? Knowing your audience’s habits helps you offer payment options that feel familiar to them. This can increase your chances of being paid on time.

• State payment options clearly: Many businesses lose payments because their payment options are buried in fine print or poorly explained. If a customer has to scroll, search, or call to ask how to pay, you’ve already lost momentum. Use icons, bold text, or a short call to action such as, “Pay now with your credit card, ACH transfer, or digital wallet.”

• Give your payment terms a positive spin: Frame your terms in a way that creates a win-win scenario rather than an ultimatum. This can set the right tone. For instance, you can say, “Settle this invoice within 10 days to enjoy a 2% discount.”

• Give automated reminders a friendly tone: Automated invoices and reminders should still sound like you. A friendly message such as, “Just a reminder that your invoice is due soon. Let us know if you have any questions!” feels much better than a cold message such as, “Payment overdue. Late fees might apply.”

• Refine your invoices for mobile: Many customers look at your invoice on their phones. If your payment options don’t load instantly or look like they were built in 2005, you risk losing their attention entirely. Make them modern, fast, and compatible for any screen.

• Represent your business well: Your invoice is a reflection of your business. A messy, outdated, or confusing payment experience signals your business is disorganized or doesn’t value customers’ time; a friendly, well-organized invoice sends the opposite message.

How to integrate payment links into invoices

Integrating secure payment links into your invoices is one of the simplest ways to make paying easier for your customers. Payment links turn an invoice from a static document into an actionable experience—customers click and pay, and you get paid faster. Here’s how to insert payment links and how tools such as Stripe Invoicing can help:

Start with an intuitive invoice design

First, ensure your invoice is clean and easy to understand. Place your payment link where it’s highly visible: near the total amount due or in a prominent call to action. If you send digital invoices, use hyperlinked text such as, “Pay this invoice now,” or embed a button with text such as, “Pay Online.” If you send invoices as PDFs, embed clickable links into the document using tools such as Adobe Acrobat and built-in PDF editors.

Stripe Invoicing lets you create and send invoices from your Stripe Dashboard, and each invoice automatically includes a link to a Stripe-hosted payment page that supports multiple payment methods. Because of this feature, a majority of Stripe invoices are paid within 24 hours.

Create payment links with built-in security

A payment link should always direct customers to a secure payment page (hypertext transfer protocol secure [HTTPS]) to safeguard sensitive information such as card details. Stripe handles this natively by generating a secure, Payment Card Industry (PCI)-compliant payment page for each unique link. Every Stripe payment link also includes Stripe Radar, which monitors for fraud and helps prevent it.

Enable multiple payment options

Your payment link should lead customers to a page that lets them choose how to pay—whether through card, bank transfer, or digital wallet. You can customize Stripe payment links to include all the payment methods you’ve enabled (e.g., credit cards, bank transfers, wallets such as Apple Pay).

Track payment status

A major advantage of payment links is their traceability. When you use Stripe-hosted payment links, for example, Stripe automatically updates the invoice status to “paid” when the customer pays through that link. This eliminates manual tracking or reconciliation and gives you real-time insight into outstanding balances.

Automate follow-ups with the same link

When late payments happen, payment links make following up more manageable. With Stripe, you can implement automated reminders that include the original invoice and payment link. These reminders are sent via email and include friendly nudges to pay, with no additional setup required on your part.