How to set up an online payment link

Key takeaways 

• Getting paid doesn’t have to be complicated, drawn-out, or expensive. Save money by regularly billing clients in native currencies and take advantage of mid-market exchange rates.

• Integrated online payment links give your business the security and flexibility you need over customer payments, helping you maintain better cash flow while improving the payment experience for your customers. 

• Airwallex makes the process of collecting money faster and cleaner, with access to a professional infrastructure that will scale as you do. Make good use of multi-currency support, better FX rates, and automatic reconciliation, transforming your financial processes.

Many French SMBs have to deal with late invoice payments. But we’re here to tell you that creating an online payment link for your customers can help reduce those late payments, shorten the days-to-payment, and, in some cases, get rid of follow-up time altogether. 

So, rather than sending invoices that sit unpaid for weeks or creating complex checkout systems, you can instead generate a secure payment link and share it directly with your customer. To pay, the customer simply clicks the link and pays. 

In this guide, we’re talking you through everything you need to know about creating and using payment links effectively for your French business.

What is an online payment link?

It’s a unique URL that directs your customer to a secure payment page to pay your outstanding invoice or for goods and services. They click the link and they can choose their preferred payment method, including digital wallets (Apple or Google Pay), bank transfer, or enter card details, etc.

You can share this link with your customers however you like, whether you want to include it in your invoice or an email. Or maybe a channel a little less formal, like Instagram or WhatsApp. The payment link stands alone, so you can share it with the customer however you want.

When to use a payment link instead of other methods

If you need payment quickly, then using a payment link is one of the fastest payment options. If you’re based in France but your supplier is in the UK, you don’t want to wait a few days for an international bank transfer to land in your bank account.

Instead, you can instantly generate a payment link, send it to the client via email, and they can pay you immediately. This fast payment process keeps cash flowing.

Here are four scenarios where you might want to consider a payment link:

For deposits. If you need a deposit from the client before you start working on their project, sending a payment link removes any unnecessary delays. They can pay you quickly, and you can get to working on their project promptly.

For unpaid invoices. If you are still awaiting invoice payments, instead of chasing needlessly, you can follow up with a payment link. This can remove friction from the outstanding payment process, but also helps improve the client’s payment experience. There’s no locating your IBAN or company details. Just click and pay.

97% of French companies have given customers invoice terms averaging 48 days. Yet, despite that, 82% of companies say they still recorded payment delays. That’s a cash flow stopper if ever we heard of one! But the good news is, payment links can drastically cut down this waiting time.

For remote service providers. If you’re a French freelancer, maybe you’re a consultant, a coach, a therapist, etc. You’ll benefit from payment links. If your clientele spans multiple borders, or customers schedule sessions or appointments last minute, you need a quick payment solution: enter payment links. Confirm bookings with immediate payments, keep your small business cash flow ticking over, and also completely bypass the awkward payment conversations.

For selling on social media. Customers come across your artisan bakery on Instagram and want to put in an order. Instead of directing them to your website, asking them to jump through hoops and losing the sale at that moment, issue a payment link and collect money before they’re gone. 

Basically, if you’re looking for a fast, secure way to collect customer payments and you’re sick of the hidden costs with traditional payment methods, then payment links are a fantastic alternative. No significant fees, or unnecessary payment delays and no security risks.

How to create a payment link (in four steps)

You can create a payment through a payment provider, like Airwallex. The process is quick (just 90 seconds) and easy. Just four steps stand between you and your instant payment link. 

Step one: Log in and find “Payment links”

After logging into Airwallex, find “Payment Links” under “Accept Payments” in your main menu. You can do this through the web platform or mobile app. This will bring up the payment link creation tool.

Step two: Enter amount, currency, and description

Fill in the exact amount the customer needs to pay, choose from our supported currencies i.e. Euros for French transactions or foreign currencies for international clients. Write an identifier description, something simple that tells both you and the customer what the payment is for. Include the customer’s email so they receive automatic payment confirmation, too. 

Step three: Generate, copy, and share the link

Press “Create Link” and your payment URL will instantly generate. Copy it to your clipboard and share it with your customer. Share however you want via email, SMS, WhatsApp, Instagram, etc.  

Step four: Track payment status

Through your payment provider’s dashboard, you can see whether your customer has viewed the payment link, if/when payment is complete, and confirmation of the settlement. Airwallex sends an automatic notification to the customer when the payment arrives.

Other elements you can change:

• Add an expiration date for the link if necessary

• Enable or disable specific payment methods

• Add custom notes for the payment page

Best practices to increase payment link conversion

Although online payment links facilitate quick and painless customer payments, it can’t force your customer to pay quickly. But, there are a few things you can do to increase your payment link conversion rate:

Add urgency to your message (and context). Make sure you’re clear about what the payment is for, what the payment amount is, whether it will expire within a certain timeframe, etc. This can take away the guessing on the customer’s side.

Offer many different payment methods. Where one payment method might be more suitable for one customer, the other might prefer to pay a different way. That’s why it’s crucial that all available payment methods are clearly visible for the customer; the payment provider should present all options clearly on the payment page, so just check.

Make sure your payment page is mobile-friendly. We’re all attached to our mobile devices, so making it user-friendly on mobile is essential. That means customers can pay you wherever they are. 

Use a trusted payment provider. This one goes without saying, but you need a payment provider that is trustworthy, secure, and professional-looking. When it comes to making payments, your customers need to know their transaction details are safe and the payment will reach the intended recipient.

Ensure your payment provider is transparent about fees. Providers should have the fees clearly highlighted on the payment link page before the customer confirms their payment. This helps build trust and helps customers make informed payment decisions. 

Respectfully follow up on unpaid links. Sometimes customers just need to be reminded. Send a quick email to follow up after a few days, confirming whether they received your payment link. This can be enough to elicit quick payment.

Security and compliance considerations in France/EU

As long as you use a compliant provider, payment links can enhance security compared to other methods. Here’s how:

PCI DSS compliance

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) outlines some strict requirements to ensure proper storage, processing, and transmission of card data. By working with a PCI DSS-compliant provider (like Airwallex), customer card details don’t come anywhere near your email servers or your systems. That means the payment service provider is the one responsible for keeping that sensitive data safe. This is much more secure than sharing payment details over the phone or email. 

PSD2 and Strong Customer Authentication (SCA)

SCA is automatically managed by the payment provider when the customer completes their payment. This is usually done through a 3D secure verification process with their bank. The PSD2 is the EU’s Payment Services Directive 2. This regulates electronic payments and online banking for payment service providers operating within the EEA (European Economic Area).

Avoiding exposure of sensitive financial information

To meet GDPR requirements and maintain trust, it’s important you don’t send or request sensitive financial information like IBAN or card details over email, text, or chat apps. These channels are not secure, which opens you up to potential data breaches. Payment links remove this risk; the secure, encrypted payment page is hosted by your provider (i.e. Airwallex) and is the only place customers enter their card details.

Audit and traceability for finance teams

Having audit trails and traceability is essential for finance teams. And it gets even more essential as you scale. Every payment needs a detailed record; you want to know who created the payment link, when you received the payment, which customer paid, etc. You need all this information for tax audit purposes, VAT reporting, and internal financial controls. If you’re using a professional provider like Airwallex, we automatically create this paper trail for you.

If you operate an e-commerce business, you’ll need to be able to process refunds, so make sure your provider allows you to easily do this, too.

How Airwallex makes payment links easy

For businesses looking for speed and simplicity, Airwallex’s payment link functionality delivers just that. Whether you’re a freelancer operating internationally or an e-commerce business using the Airwallex plugin for WooCommerce, collecting deposits from domestic customers, you need a payment link solution that connects professionalism with global reach. 

• Create links from the dashboard or API in seconds. Admin and finance team members can create links directly from the Airwallex dashboard in seconds. This is perfect for occasional link generation. If your business processes higher volumes, you can programmatically generate payment links within your workflows through an API.

• Accept local and international payments with FX savings. With a payment link, you no longer lose 3-5% on foreign exchange margins from banks. Save significantly with our mid-market exchange rates and generate payment links in over 60 currencies.

• One-off or recurring links. If you’re operating on a subscription or instalment plan model, you can set the link up once with defined intervals. Or create standard payment links for single transactions. Our setup is flexible to cater to your specific business needs.

• Real-time settlement and reconciliation. Traditional payment methods can take days to settle, but payment links mean incoming payments automatically match the links sent. That means no manual reconciliation; instead, your available balance is always accurate.

• Trusted, compliant infrastructure. Airwallex holds multiple licences across many jurisdictions, and we maintain PCI DSS Level 1 compliance and automatically implement SCA for European transactions. We’re a regulated financial institution committed to robust security measures.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long does it take to create a payment link?

It only takes 90 seconds to create a payment link. Simply log in to your provider, enter the amount and currency, and generate your payment link. Then, you can share it with your customer.

Are payment links secure for collecting customer payments?

Yes, as long as you work with a PCI DSS-compliant provider. This means customers’ card details go through an encrypted payment page and completely bypass your systems.

Can I use payment links for international clients?

Yes, you can. Airwallex supports payment links in over 60 currencies. This means you can bill your clients in their local currency and access better FX rates.