Bloom
When you own a freelancing business, your primary goal is to find clients. Your second is receiving payment for the goods and services you sell to your clients. You want your freelance payment methods to be as streamlined as possible and use the best invoicing for freelancers available.
It would also benefit your freelance business if you could provide everyone with a free payment method. The good news is that whether you are a writer, photographer, developer, or entrepreneur, there are several online payment options you can offer clients that do not have a monthly service charge or a processing fee to sign up.
1. Bloom
Bloom is a popular online payment solution, offering more than the usual features that other accounting software and payment apps like PayPal and Stripe do. You’ll get your own free invoice generator here too, but with more unique customizable branding options and available payment solutions. Once that invoice is sent to your client, they’ll be directed to their own personal portal where they can make a debit or credit card payment or ACH bank transfer. You can even set up automatic payments.
The best part? This software for freelancers ditches any extra fees for ACH transfers and payment processing costs. Bloom also offers Stripe, Square, Venmo, PayPal, Cash App, and Zelle integration, so your clients can make electronic payments using their preferred method. This is a great all-in-one solution for all your online invoicing, reporting, and payment needs, whether you’re accepting one-off or monthly payments, cross-border transactions, or domestic transfers. And with automatic reminder emails, you’ll never have to track down a late payment again.
2. Stripe
Stripe is a fast up-and-comer for freelancers, primarily due to its ease of service and ability to engage in international transactions. From eCommerce to subscription business to the gig economy, Stripe is a well-rounded platform.
Like PayPal, you can create and send invoices from the Stripe dashboard. Along with other accounting tools, the invoicing feature allows you to keep your financial reports all in one place and receive payments via credit or debit card, ACH, wire transfer, bank transfer, and many other payment types.
When it comes to freelance payment methods, Stripe’s online payment fee is a bit on the higher end and is assessed per swipe; 2.9% + 30¢. However, credit card transactions and ACH charges are very reasonable.
3. PayPal
PayPal is one of the world’s most recognized payment options. It is accepted worldwide. There aren’t many people out there who don’t have a PayPal account or haven’t heard of PayPal. Like the traditional account, a PayPal for business account is usually linked to a personal or business bank account through an email address, phone number, or PayPal debit/credit card.
Payment methods act the same as with a personal account. You send an invoice to your client and they make a payment. This is great because, with multiple clients, you can easily keep track of who has paid and who may be delinquent, heaven forbid. While it is free of a monthly service charge, there are extra fees for debit and credit card transactions. For example, in the US, you’re looking at a 2.9% debit card fee + a .30¢ flat fee. So, as someone looking for freelance payment methods that are more affordable, these extra fees might make you want to look for alternative payment methods.
4. Square
Square is a new kid on the block and is more of a dedicated invoicing software, like Bloom. Their free service is easy to set up. First, you download the app to your phone. Next, set up your square account with your bank account information. The app says it can take up to a few hours to approve your bank, but if it is a well-known financial institution and your account is established, it should be instantaneous. Once accepted, when your customer makes a purchase, you can easily take their payment information, and you are good to go.
Within Square, you can send invoices or accept payments live. This is great for freelancers or artists when you have a showing and need to take live payments. Square offers you a free POS device for you to be able to receive payments. You plug into your mobile device, input the details and purchase amount, and swipe a customer’s credit card, and that’s it. Other more elaborate POS devices are purchasable. Square has a 2.6% + 10¢ fee per swipe. It generally deposits the next business day into your attached bank account, but there is an instant deposit option for an added fee.
5. Venmo
Venmo is a great online payment platform for any freelancing business with the second lowest fee per swipe at 1.9% + 10¢. It is simple to create your business profile, begin your next freelance assignment, and bill your client for completed work or purchase. Venmo’s free payment method allows you to develop your unique business QR code to streamline the billing and payment process.
If you have a Venmo account, you can easily create a business account under your existing profile. Having a separate account enables you to plan and sell better. Here you can add all the information about your freelance business, including images of products, stories of your business, and specifics like forms of payment and hourly rates.
How to Benefit Your Business
While these 5 freelance payment methods are just a few of the many, they are among the most popular used by freelancers. They allow freelancers to connect to their clients, make payments for services rendered, and ensure future projects run smoothly. Each has its benefit, and each freelancer depending on their industry will find one better suiting than the other.
Whether you are a freelance photographer shooting a wedding, a designer working on a new website, or a writer typing a blog for a freelancer like you, payment for services rendered can be a big deal when you choose to spend the money that you have worked hard for. When looking for the best free payment option for you and your client, always look at what it will cost you to make instant withdrawals from your account. Many of the choices we have reviewed do not have fees for one to three days. The fees, some higher than others, tend to kick in if you need to access your money immediately. Sometimes the best does come to those who wait.
Try the #1 freelance payment method – Bloom. The free plan includes unlimited invoicing and projects. Upgrade to the full suite of tools for $39/month.
Ready to get hired? At Twine, we have dozens of top-quality jobs being posted each and every day. From design to marketing, development to copywriting – there’s a job ready for your skills. Join the marketplace of diverse creative talent here.
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Svitlana Popovska
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