Invoices and Payment Links — Getting Paid Without a Card Reader
Last verified: October 2026
A plain-English guide to getting paid when the customer isn't in front of you — invoices and payment links they can pay from a phone, what it costs, and how to collect faster. Rather have a hand? My number is (330) 200-8042.
Invoices and Payment Links, at a Glance
When a customer isn't in front of you — a deposit, a remote job, a phone order — you don't need a card reader. You send an invoice or a payment link and they pay from their phone. It's a card-not-present payment, so it costs more than an in-person tap; many systems also offer cheaper ACH bank payment for bigger bills. Send by text, set due dates and reminders, and let a link be one-off or reusable. There's a printable version up top.
Common Questions
1 Does getting paid online cost more than in person?
Yes. A card-not-present payment is treated as higher risk and carries a higher rate. As of late 2026 Square's invoice rate is 3.3% + 30 cents versus 2.6% + 15 cents in person, for example — confirm current rates for your system.
2 Can I make a big invoice cheaper?
Often, yes — offer ACH, a bank-to-bank transfer that usually costs far less than a card (Square's is 1% with a small minimum as of late 2026 — confirm current). It clears a touch slower, so weigh fee against speed.
3 How do I send an invoice or link?
By text or email — a texted link usually gets opened soonest. Add a due date and turn on automatic reminders, and the system follows up for you instead of you chasing.
4 What's the difference between an invoice and a link?
An invoice is a detailed, itemized bill with a due date — best for services and jobs. A link is a simple pay page for a set amount — quick for deposits and orders. Both land the money the same way.
5 Is getting paid this way risky?
It carries more fraud and chargeback risk than an in-person tap, with no chip and no customer present. Send to people you can identify, keep records, and never write down a card number — let them pay through the link. See our chargebacks guide.
6 Can one link be used by more than one customer?
Yes — a reusable buy-now link for a set product or price can be shared and paid by many people. Post it or add it to your email signature. It's a tiny storefront without building a whole website.
Would You Rather I Just Help?
Invoices and payment links are the tool that ends the 'I'll mail a check' wait for good. I'll set up your template, turn on the reminders that save you chasing, and show you the cheap-versus-fast trade on fees — so you get paid faster with nothing to sell you. $99 flat for a visit, 30-day come-back-free.
Would you rather I just do this for you?
No shame in it — plenty of folks would rather hand it off, and that's what I'm here for. I'll come to your home, set it up right, and make sure it's working before I leave. Flat $99 per visit — no jargon, no upsell, and every visit is 30-day come-back-free.
Not a hardware job? I can often fix it remotely for $49 — a secure screen-share, up to 2 hours, that you watch the whole time and can end whenever (included free for $39/mo Support Plan members, and it counts toward the $99 if it turns out I need to come out).