Adding Payment Services to Your Invoices: Get Paid Faster, With Less Chasing
- Mar 4
- 3 min read
If you’re a sole trader doing your own bookkeeping, you’ve probably had that moment: you send an invoice, feel relieved, and then spend the next two weeks wondering if it’s been seen, approved, or forgotten.
One of the simplest ways to improve cash flow (without taking on extra work) is to add payment options directly to your invoices. The easier you make it for clients to pay, the quicker you tend to get paid.
Why offering multiple payment options works
Your customers don’t all pay the same way. Some prefer a bank transfer, others want to use a card, and some businesses will only pay by Direct Debit.
When you include more than one option, you:
Remove friction (fewer “How do I pay?” messages)
Reduce delays (clients can pay immediately, in the moment)
Improve cash flow (money in sooner = less stress)
Cut down on chasing (fewer overdue invoices to follow up)
Look more professional (clear, modern payment process)
Option 1: BACS / bank transfer (the classic)
BACS is still one of the most common ways to pay invoices in the UK.
Pros - Low cost (usually free) - Familiar and trusted - Works well for business-to-business payments
Watch-outs - It relies on the customer manually setting up the payment - It’s easy for them to mistype details or “forget to do it later”
Make BACS easier by including: - Account name - Sort code and account number - Payment reference instructions (e.g., “Use invoice number as reference”) - A clear due date
Option 2: Card payments (Stripe and similar)
Card payments are ideal when you want clients to pay instantly, especially for smaller invoices or consumer-style services.
Stripe is one of the best-known options. It lets you add a “Pay now” button or link so your client can pay by debit/credit card.
Pros - Very fast payments (often same day) - Convenient for clients - Great for impulse/quick approval payments
Watch-outs - Transaction fees - You’ll want to factor fees into pricing or decide whether to absorb them
Option 3: Direct Debit (GoCardless & Adfin)
If you invoice the same clients regularly (monthly services, retainers, payment plans), Direct Debit can be a game-changer.
GoCardless & Adfin are popular options that allow you to collect payments automatically once your customer has authorised the mandate.
Pros - Predictable cash flow - Less admin and fewer late payments - Great for recurring invoices
Watch-outs - Setup takes a little longer at the start but it’s worth it for faster future payments.
So… which payment options should you offer?
You don’t need to offer everything. A simple approach for most sole traders is:
BACS (for clients who prefer bank transfer)
Card payment link (for speed and convenience)
Direct Debit (if you have repeat clients or payment plans)
That combination covers most customer preferences and reduces the chances of an invoice sitting unpaid because paying feels like “a job for later.”
A few best-practice tips (so it actually works)
Put payment options near the total so they’re impossible to miss
Use plain English (e.g., “Pay by bank transfer” / “Pay by card”)
Include the due date prominently
Automate reminders where appropriate (especially if you hate chasing)
Make it easy on mobile—many clients will open invoices on their phone
Yes, getting paid faster helps cash flow, but it also reduces mental load. When your invoicing process is smooth, you spend less time worrying about what’s outstanding and more time doing the work you actually enjoy.
If you’d like help choosing the best payment setup for your business (and making sure it fits neatly into your bookkeeping process), get in touch with Josie Dayment Bookkeeping and we’ll point you in the right direction.
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