Guide

How to create a payment link and get paid without chasing

Learn how to create a payment link in six steps, keep it secure, share it where clients will see it, and know what the payer sees when they click it.

Updated Nov 5, 2026 · By PayToMe Editorial

Here is how to create a payment link: open a payment provider’s dashboard, add the amount and a clear description, choose which payment methods to accept, generate the link, test it, and send it with the invoice. Most links take under five minutes to set up and need no website or code.

What a payment link is and when it beats an invoice chase

A payment link is a URL that opens a checkout page. The page shows who is being paid, how much, and what for. The payer chooses a method, enters their details on the provider’s secure page, and pays. The money goes to your account through the provider, and you get a notification.

It solves a very ordinary problem: the client has the invoice, means to pay it, and then has to find your bank details, open their bank app, copy an account number and hope they typed it correctly. A link removes every one of those steps. The client taps, pays and is done, usually from the phone that is already in their hand.

Links are most useful in four cases.

Deposits before work starts. A single link for the deposit amount lets you begin the same day.
One-off jobs and small clients. No account, no portal and no onboarding for someone who will pay you twice a year.
Messaging apps. A link fits inside a text or a chat message, where clients actually reply.
Late payments. A resend with a link is far easier to act on than a reminder that says “please pay the invoice.”

They are less useful when you need to track many line items, collect tax details or bill on a repeating schedule. For those, issue a proper invoice and put the link on it.

How to create a payment link, step by step

The screens vary between providers, but the sequence is the same everywhere.

Pick a provider and verify your account. You need a payment account that can accept the methods you want. Expect an identity check and bank account verification before payouts start. Do this before you need it, since it can take days.
Decide the amount and what it covers. Use the exact figure from the invoice, including tax. If it is a deposit, write that: “50% deposit, invoice INV-0042.”
Write a description the client will recognize. Use your business name, the invoice number and a short line about the job. The client sees this on the payment page and on their bank or card statement, and a vague label creates disputes.
Choose payment methods. Turn on cards for convenience and bank debit for large invoices. See ACH vs credit card for the cost gap. Leave off any method you do not understand.
Set the rules. If your provider offers it, make the link single use, set an expiry date, and ask for the payer’s email so they receive a receipt. Add a success message such as “Thank you, Harbor Studio will confirm by email.”
Generate the link and test it. Open it in a private browser window. Check the amount, the description, your name and the payment options. Pay a small amount to yourself if you can, or use the provider’s test mode.

Deposit now, balance later: a $1,200 website job

A designer quotes $1,200 for a small website and asks for half up front. She creates two links.

Link 1, deposit: $600.00, description “Harbor Studio, INV-0042 deposit 50%”.
Link 2, balance: $600.00, description “Harbor Studio, INV-0042 balance”, sent when the site launches.

Using the assumed US rates from one processor’s public price list (cards 2.9% + $0.30, bank debit 0.8% capped at $5.00, checked 2026-10-24):

Method for the $600 deposit	Fee	She receives
Card	600 x 0.029 + 0.30 = $17.70	$582.30
Bank debit	600 x 0.008 = $4.80	$595.20

Offering the bank option on both links saves the client’s choice from costing her $12.90 on the deposit alone, and about $25.80 across the whole job. Two links, two matching payments, and each one is tied to a specific line in her records.

Make the link safe

A payment link is a link that moves money, so scammers imitate them. You can protect your clients, and yourself, with a few habits.

On your side

Use your provider’s hosted page. Card numbers should be typed into the provider’s page, never into an email, a chat or a form you built. A hosted page also keeps card data off your own systems.
Create one link per invoice. A link tied to a single amount cannot be reused by someone else or misapplied to another client.
Set an expiry and single use. An old open link is a loose end. Close it when the invoice is paid.
Protect your account. Turn on two-step sign-in with an authenticator app. Anyone who controls your dashboard can change where payouts go.
Keep a log. Note which link went to which client on which date.

On the client’s side

Send it from a channel they know. If you normally email, email. If you normally text, text. A link from a new number is a red flag even when it is real.
Say what to expect. In the message, give your business name, the amount and the invoice number, so the client can compare them with the page.
Never ask clients to pay by gift card, cryptocurrency or a personal payment app unless that is already how you work. Unusual methods look like scams and make honest clients hesitate.
Tell them how to check. A short line works: “The page should show Harbor Studio and $600.00. If it shows anything else, call me.”

Where you put the link decides how fast it gets paid.

On the invoice itself. Place a clearly labeled “Pay now” button or link near the total. A client who opens the PDF should not have to hunt for it.
In the email or message that delivers the invoice. Put the link on its own line, after one sentence about the amount and due date.
By text for small jobs. Keep it short and personal. Our guide on sending an invoice by text covers consent and wording.
In reminders. Resend the same link with a polite note. Avoid creating a new link for every reminder, since two live links for one invoice cause double payments.
In person. If you are on site, show the page on your phone, or display a code that opens it, so the client can pay before you leave.

What the payer sees

Knowing the payer’s experience helps you write a better message. Most hosted pages follow the same flow.

The client taps the link and lands on a page showing your business name, the description and the amount.
They choose a method, such as card, a digital wallet or a bank account.
They enter details or sign in to their bank, then confirm.
The page shows a confirmation, and an emailed receipt follows when you ask for the payer’s email.

Two things go wrong most often. First, the client does not recognize the business name, so they hesitate. Use the name your clients know. Second, the amount is different from the invoice, often because tax or a late fee was added. Double-check the figure before you generate the link, and create a new link if the amount changes.

Common mistakes

Sending the link without the invoice. The client has no record of what they are paying for, and you have no document if a dispute follows.
Reusing one link for several clients. Reconciling payments becomes guesswork.
Leaving the description blank. A blank or generic label looks suspicious and is hard to match on a statement.
Forgetting fees in the quote. If you promised $600 net, the client should pay enough to cover the fee, or you should absorb it knowingly.
Not testing it. A broken link on the day the client is ready to pay costs you days.
Leaving expired work open. Close or archive links when the invoice is paid.
Ignoring local rules about card fees. Some places restrict surcharges. Check before you add one.

Checklist before you send

The amount matches the invoice, including tax and any deposit.
The description shows your business name, the invoice number and the purpose.
You turned on the payment methods you can support and understand.
The link is single use, or you accept that it can be reused, and you set an expiry if the provider allows it.
You opened the link yourself in a private window and checked every detail.
The message names your business and the amount so the client can verify the page.
You sent it through your normal channel for that client.
The link sits on the invoice as well as in the message.
You noted the link in your records against the client and invoice.
Two-step sign-in is on for your payment account.

Where PayToMe fits

The free invoice generator is live, and in PayToMe you can send an invoice with a public link where a client pays online through Stripe by card, bank transfer or wallet. PayToMe is in public beta. Read more in payment links for small business, and for broader context see accept online payments. Sign in to PayToMe to try it.

Sources

This is general information, not legal or financial advice. The statement that accepting payments through a Payment Link carries no extra charge on standard pricing, and the card and bank rates used in the worked example, come from Stripe’s pricing page, checked on 2026-10-24. They are labeled assumptions, not PayToMe prices. Other providers charge differently, so read your own provider’s current terms before you quote a net amount.

Frequently asked questions

What is a payment link?

A payment link is a web address that opens a hosted checkout page for a fixed or open amount. The payer taps it, chooses a method such as card or bank debit, and pays. You do not need a website, a shopping cart or code. You create it in a payment provider's dashboard or app and send it by message or email.

Is a payment link safe to send and to click?

A link from a reputable processor is hosted on the processor's secure page, so card details never touch your email or phone. The risk is lookalike links. Send links only from channels the client expects, tell them your business name and the amount in the message, and warn them never to pay a link that arrives unexpectedly.

Can I reuse one payment link for many clients?

You can for a fixed product or a standing price, such as a monthly retainer, but it is a poor fit for invoices. A reused link cannot tell you which client paid which bill. Create one link per invoice, or use a single-use link, so every payment matches a specific amount owed.

Does a payment link replace an invoice?

Not for most businesses. An invoice is your record: line items, tax, dates and terms. A payment link is the easiest way to collect against it. Put the link on the invoice rather than sending a bare link, so the client has both the document and the button.

What does it cost to use a payment link?

It depends on the provider. Stripe's published pricing says accepting payments through a payment link carries no extra charge on standard pricing, so its normal card and bank rates apply. Other providers differ. Check your provider's current fee page before you quote a net amount to a client.

Does PayToMe offer payment links today?

Yes. PayToMe is in public beta. Every invoice has a public link where a client can pay online by card, bank transfer or wallet through Stripe. This guide is a general walkthrough that applies to any provider.