What Payment Methods Should I Offer?
Offer at least bank transfer and card, and add common digital wallets where you can. The more ways a customer can pay, the fewer reasons they have to delay — within reason for the fees involved.
In this answer
- Choose a sensible mix of payment methods
- Balance customer convenience against processing fees
- Understand the trade-offs of bank transfer, card and wallets
- Present payment options clearly on your invoice
6 min
More options, fewer excuses
Every customer has a preferred way to pay, and every method you do not offer is a small reason for someone to put your invoice aside until later. Offering a sensible range means whoever receives your invoice can pay the way that is easiest for them, right now, rather than waiting until your one accepted method is convenient.
You do not need every option under the sun, but offering only one — particularly only a method that takes effort, like manual bank transfer — quietly slows your payments. Think about how your customers actually like to pay and cover the main ways, then make all of them visible on the invoice.
Bank transfer
Direct bank transfer (EFT) is the workhorse of Australian business payments. It is widely accepted, has no card-processing fee, and suits larger B2B amounts. The downside is friction: the customer has to log into their banking, enter your details and a reference, and that extra effort can mean it gets done "later" rather than now.
If you offer bank transfer, reduce the friction by putting your BSB, account number and a clear reference directly on the invoice so nothing has to be hunted down. Bank transfer pairs well with a faster option like card for customers who would rather just click and pay. See how to take payment online.
Cards and online payment
Card payments — whether in person, over the phone or via an online link — are fast and familiar, and they are often the quickest way to actually get paid because the customer can settle on the spot. The trade-off is the processing fee, which eats a small percentage of each transaction.
For many businesses the fee is worth it: getting paid immediately beats waiting days for a transfer that might be forgotten. You can also consider passing on a card surcharge where it is allowed and clearly disclosed, though many businesses simply absorb it for the convenience. See whether to accept credit card payments.
Digital wallets and other methods
Digital wallets and tap-to-pay options are increasingly expected, especially for smaller and consumer-facing jobs, because they let customers pay in seconds from a phone. If your payment setup supports them, turning them on costs little and removes friction for a growing share of customers.
Be more cautious with buy-now-pay-later and similar arrangements: they can lift conversion but usually carry higher fees, so weigh them against your margins. The principle stays the same — offer the methods your customers actually use, and skip the ones that cost more than the convenience is worth to your business.
Make the options clear on the invoice
Offering methods only helps if the customer can see them. List your accepted payment options plainly on the invoice, with the details or link needed to use each one. A customer scanning your invoice should immediately see how to pay, not have to email you asking for bank details.
A tidy invoice that presents the amount, the due date and every payment route in one place removes the last bit of friction. Merion's invoice generator lets you set out your payment options clearly, and you can explore more free tools to round out your payment process.
Key takeaways
- Offer at least bank transfer and card so customers can pay their preferred way
- Bank transfer avoids fees but adds friction that can delay payment
- Cards and online links get you paid fastest, at the cost of a processing fee
- Add digital wallets where supported; weigh buy-now-pay-later against its fees
- Show every accepted method and its details clearly on the invoice
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to accept cards if I already take bank transfer?
You don't have to, but adding cards usually speeds up payment because customers can pay on the spot. Weigh the processing fee against the value of getting paid days sooner.
Can I charge a surcharge for card payments?
In Australia you can pass on a card surcharge, but it must reflect your actual cost of acceptance and be clearly disclosed. Many businesses absorb the fee instead for simplicity.
Is it worth offering buy-now-pay-later?
It can lift conversion for consumer-facing work, but fees are typically higher. Weigh it against your margins and only offer it where the extra sales clearly justify the cost.
Build a compliant invoice in minutes
Use the free Invoice Generator, then let Merion recover anything that goes unpaid — commission-only.