Getting paid on time is one of the biggest challenges for small business owners, freelancers, and service providers. You send out the invoice, wait for a response, follow up once or twice, sometimes even more, and still, the money doesn’t show up when you need it. Sound familiar? You’re not alone.
Smooth and reliable payment collection is something every business depends on to stay afloat. In fact, in 2025, the U.S. government is expected to collect around $1.89 trillion in revenue, 51% of that from individual income taxes and 36% from Social Security and Medicare taxes, proving just how crucial well-structured payment systems are at every level.
In this blog, we’ll explain the 13 best ways to collect money from clients and customers online. Whether you’re looking for faster payments, more convenience, or less hassle, you’ll learn practical ways that work. From payment links to invoicing tools, we’ve covered everything you need to know about how to collect money.
Getting paid on time is essential for keeping your business running smoothly. Whether you provide services, sell products, or operate an online business, you need reliable ways to collect money from customers. Here are some of the best ways to collect payments online, along with practical tips to make the process easy.
Best for: Businesses that sell online and need a secure payment processing system
Payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, and Square process payments from credit cards, debit cards, and bank accounts. These systems are a middleman between your business and your customer’s bank, ensuring secure transactions.
How it helps:
Pro Tip: Choose a payment gateway with low transaction fees and support for U.S.-based banks and cards.
Best for: Businesses that deal with frequent transactions and need a direct way to accept card payments
Credit card processors like Authorize.Net and merchant accounts allow businesses to accept payments directly from customers’ credit or debit cards. Unlike third-party gateways, these services give you more control over transactions.
How it helps:
Pro Tip: Clearly display accepted card types (Visa, Mastercard, etc.) on your checkout page to make it easy for customers to know their options.
Best for: Small businesses, freelancers, and service providers who want quick and easy payment options
Apps like Venmo, Zelle, and Cash App allow customers to send money using their mobile phones. These apps are especially popular for peer-to-peer transactions and small business payments.
How it helps:
Pro Tip: Use business accounts within these apps to track transactions separately from personal payments.
Best for: Membership-based businesses, SaaS companies, and service providers who need to bill customers regularly
Recurring billing platforms like Chargebee, Recurly, and Stripe Subscriptions automate payments for subscription services. Customers authorize ongoing charges, and the system deducts the amount at regular intervals.
How it helps:
Pro Tip: Offer a discount for customers who sign up for auto-pay to encourage timely payments.
Best for: Businesses that want to provide a seamless checkout experience for mobile users
Digital wallets like Apple Pay store customer payment details securely, allowing one-tap purchases without manually entering card details.
How it helps:
Pro Tip: Ensure your website or payment system supports mobile payments to cater to tech-savvy customers.
Best for: Large transactions, B2B payments, and businesses looking for lower transaction fees.
ACH (Automated Clearing House) transfers allow customers to send money directly from their bank accounts. Platforms like Plaid and QuickBooks Payments facilitate ACH transfers securely.
How it helps:
Pro Tip: Use ACH for high-ticket transactions to avoid hefty credit card processing fees.
Best for: Freelancers, consultants, and businesses that bill clients for services.
Software like FreshBooks, and Zoho Invoice allows businesses to create, send, and track invoices. These tools also offer built-in payment links, so clients can pay directly from the invoice.
How it helps:
Pro Tip: Enable automatic reminders to reduce the need for manual follow-ups on overdue invoices.
Best for: Online stores and businesses selling physical or digital products.
Platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Wix provide built-in payment processing and shopping cart features. These platforms integrate with multiple payment methods, allowing customers to pay seamlessly.
How it helps:
Pro Tip: Ensure your checkout process is mobile-friendly and easy to navigate to increase conversions.
Best for: Businesses that don’t have a website but still need to collect payments.
Services like PayPal, and Square let you generate payment links that customers can click to complete transactions. You can share these links via email, text messages, or social media.
How it helps:
Pro Tip: Customize your payment link with a business logo and description to build trust.
Best for: Businesses selling higher-priced items and looking to boost sales.
Services like Klarna, Afterpay, and Affirm let customers split their purchases into installments. The business gets paid upfront, while the customer pays in scheduled payments.
How it helps:
Pro Tip: Clearly display BNPL options at checkout to encourage customers to use them.
Best for: Businesses catering to tech-savvy customers who prefer decentralized payments.
Platforms like Coinbase Commerce and BitPay allow businesses to accept cryptocurrency as payment. While not widely used, crypto payments can attract a niche audience.
How it helps:
Pro Tip: Convert crypto payments into fiat currency immediately to avoid volatility risks.
Best for: Fundraising campaigns, new product launches, and creative projects.
Platforms like Kickstarter, GoFundMe, and Indiegogo let businesses and individuals raise funds from supporters. These platforms are great for projects that need upfront funding before launching.
How it helps:
Pro Tip: Offer rewards or early access to backers as an incentive to contribute.
Best for: Businesses struggling with unpaid invoices.
If customers consistently fail to pay, using a debt collection agency can help recover funds. While this is a last resort, it ensures you don’t lose revenue due to unpaid bills.
One trusted solution is South East Client Services Inc. (SECS), which specializes in managing and servicing delinquent account receivables. With over a decade of experience, they use a comprehensive collection strategy to convert distressed receivables into cash.
The image above highlights the homepage of SECS, a reliable third-party agency known for its expertise.
Why choose SECS?
Now that you know how to collect money from clients and customers online, it’s time to implement these strategies. You can ensure a smooth and efficient payment process by offering multiple payment options like credit cards, digital wallets, invoicing software, and recurring billing. Automating reminders and setting clear payment terms will help reduce delays and improve cash flow.
Despite your best efforts, some payments may still go unpaid. When that happens, professional debt collection services like SECS can assist. As a third-party agency, they use proven collection strategies, advanced analytics, and strict legal compliance to recover outstanding payments while preserving client relationships.
So, get in touch with SECS today for expert solutions!
This communication is from a debt collector. This is an attempt to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.
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