Invoice Payment Methods: Which Should You Accept as a Freelancer?
Adding the right payment methods to your invoice is one of the easiest ways to get paid faster. The fewer hoops a client has to jump through, the sooner the money lands.
In this guide
The most common invoice payment methods
Here's every mainstream payment method compared by what it is, who it's best for, what it costs you, and how fast it lands:
Bank transfer (SEPA / ACH / Faster Payments)
Direct bank-to-bank transfer. SEPA for EU, ACH for US, Faster Payments for UK.
Best for
Most B2B transactions
Cost to you
Free to receive
Speed
1–3 business days
iDEAL (Netherlands)
Dutch online banking payment with 95%+ adoption in the Netherlands.
Best for
Dutch clients — essentially mandatory
Cost to you
Free to receive
Speed
Instant
Credit / debit card via Stripe
Client pays by card through a hosted Stripe checkout page.
Best for
International clients or clients who want convenience
Cost to you
1.4–2.9% fee
Speed
Instant for client, 2 days to you
PayPal
Familiar wallet and card processor. Widely recognised but expensive.
Best for
Small amounts with international clients only
Cost to you
3–4% fee
Speed
Instant
Stripe payment link
A clean, shareable URL that takes clients to a hosted payment page.
Best for
Any client who prefers a one-click payment experience
Cost to you
1.4–2.9% fee
Speed
Instant for client, 2 days to you
Wise (Transferwise)
Multi-currency transfers at the mid-market exchange rate.
Best for
Cross-border invoicing in different currencies
Cost to you
Low fee, mid-market rate
Speed
1–2 business days
Cash
Physical notes and coins.
Best for
Very small consumer transactions only — avoid for B2B
Cost to you
Free
Speed
Instant
Which payment methods to include by region
The right default varies by where your clients are based. Here's what to include for each major market:
🇳🇱 Netherlands
- ✓iDEAL (must — 95%+ client adoption)
- ✓SEPA bank transfer (must)
- ✓Include your IBAN prominently on every invoice
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- ✓Faster Payments — free, instant, via sort code + account number
- ✓Card via Stripe (optional but speeds up payment)
- ✓Include sort code and account number clearly
🇺🇸 United States
- ✓ACH bank transfer — free but slow (3–5 days)
- ✓Credit card via Stripe — fast but 2.9% fee
- ✓Wise for cross-border USD invoicing
🌍 International
- ✓Wise or Stripe payment link for cross-border
- ✓Multi-currency IBAN if you have one (Wise, Revolut)
- ✓SEPA for any EU-to-EU transaction
🇪🇺 EU (general)
- ✓SEPA transfer is universal across 36 countries
- ✓Required for EU-to-EU B2B — just include your IBAN
- ✓Clients in EU expect to pay by bank transfer
How to add payment information to your invoice
Every invoice should make it crystal clear how the client can pay. Here's what to include for each method:
- →Bank transfer: IBAN, BIC/SWIFT, account holder name, and bank name. This is everything a client needs to make a payment from anywhere in the world.
- →Payment link: Include as a clickable URL in both the PDF and the email — e.g. "Pay now: [link]". Make it the most prominent element after the total.
- →QR codes: An emerging standard in NL and DE. A QR code linking to your payment portal removes even more friction for mobile-first clients.
- →Multiple methods: List them in order of your preference — free methods first. Most clients will choose whatever is easiest for them.
Reducing payment friction = faster payment
The data is consistent: the easier you make it to pay, the faster you get paid.
📊 Key stat
Invoices with a payment link included get paid up to 50% faster than those without one.
- →Every extra step a client has to take — finding your bank details, navigating to their online banking, typing in the reference — adds delay.
- →Chaser includes a payment link in every follow-up reminder email automatically.
- →Keep your bank details consistent across all invoices — save them once in Chaser and they appear on every invoice automatically.
How Chaser handles payment methods
Chaser is built so you set up your payment details once and never think about it again:
- 1
Add your bank details once
Enter your IBAN, sort code, or account number in account settings. It appears on every invoice automatically.
- 2
Add a Stripe payment link
Connect Stripe or add a payment link to any invoice. Clients see a 'Pay now' button in every reminder email.
- 3
Client clicks, pays, done
The client pays via their preferred method. Chaser marks the invoice paid and stops the reminders.
Stop chasing. Start automating.
Chaser sends escalating invoice reminders automatically. Add an invoice once — Chaser handles the rest. Free for 3 invoices.
Try Chaser free →No credit card required
Frequently asked questions
What's the cheapest way to accept invoice payments?
Bank transfer (SEPA in EU, Faster Payments in UK, ACH in US) is free to receive. iDEAL in the Netherlands is also free. Card payments via Stripe cost 1.4-2.9% — worth it for the speed if clients prefer it.
Should I accept PayPal for invoices?
PayPal is convenient for clients who already use it, but the fees (3-4%) are higher than Stripe. For occasional use or international clients, it's fine. For regular invoicing, Stripe is a better choice.
Do I need to include payment details on every invoice?
Yes — every invoice should clearly show how the client can pay: your bank IBAN, any payment link, and your preferred method. Don't make them chase you for payment details.
What is SEPA and do I need it?
SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) covers 36 European countries. Any EU bank account automatically supports SEPA transfers. If you invoice EU clients, just include your IBAN — they'll use SEPA automatically.
How do I add a payment link to my invoice?
In Chaser, go to invoice details and add your Stripe payment link. It will automatically appear in all reminder emails. Alternatively, create a Stripe payment link at stripe.com/payment-links — it's free to set up.