How to request a payment online
The fastest way to get paid in 2026 is to send a payment request — by email, SMS, WhatsApp or a shareable link — that takes your customer straight to a one-click checkout. This guide shows you how, with templates, examples and the best tools for the job.
- Email + payment link gets paid 3x faster than email + IBAN.
- SMS has 99% open rate — use it for urgent payments.
- Automatic reminders cut overdue payments by 40-60%.
- Offering multiple payment methods (iDEAL + cards + Apple Pay) boosts conversion by 20-30%.
Step-by-step: request a payment in under 2 minutes
From signup to first paid request.
- 1Sign up for a payment request toolUse a free tool like PayRequest. Connect Stripe, Mollie or PayPal as your provider.
- 2Create your payment requestEnter the customer's email or phone, amount, and a short description ("Website redesign — Phase 1 deposit"). Optionally set a due date.
- 3Pick a delivery channelEmail, SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram, QR code or a copyable link. Use SMS for urgency, email for formal B2B, WhatsApp for friendly outreach.
- 4Set automatic remindersEnable follow-ups (daily, every 2 days, weekly, or monthly) with a cap of 3-5 reminders. Auto-stops when the customer pays.
- 5Get paid and notifiedCustomer clicks the link, picks a payment method, completes checkout. Funds route to your provider. You get an instant notification.
Which delivery channel should I use?
Six ways to send a payment request — each with its own strengths.
Professional, formal, asynchronous. Best for B2B clients and formal billing.
SMS
Highest open rate. Best for urgent payments and consumers.
Conversational and fast. Best for retail, service businesses and customer-facing teams.
Telegram
Strong for tech-savvy customers and international markets where Telegram dominates.
QR code
Best for in-person payments — events, retail, signs, business cards.
Shareable link
Most flexible — drop in bio, post on socials, embed in an email signature.
Payment request templates
Copy, paste, customize. Works for any client.
Hi [Name], Thanks for choosing [Your Business]. Here's your payment link for [project / product]: [Pay €[Amount] →] Due by [Date]. Accepts iDEAL, cards, Apple Pay and SEPA. Any questions, just reply to this email. Best, [Your Name]
Hi [Name], here's your [service] payment link: [pay.payrequest.io/your-name/abc123] · €[Amount] · Pay by card or iDEAL.
Hi [Name]! 👋 Thanks for [project]. Here's the payment link: [pay.payrequest.io/your-name/abc123] Total: €[Amount] Methods: card, iDEAL, Apple Pay Due: [Date] Let me know if anything's unclear!
7 best practices for requesting payment
What separates the fastest-paid businesses from the slowest.
Payment request vs invoice — which do I send?
Use a payment request when the charge is informal, the amount is simple, or you just need to get paid fast — deposits, milestones, custom services, one-off charges, tips and donations.
Use a full invoice when you need formal accounting — line items, VAT, an invoice number, and a paper trail your accountant will accept. Most businesses use both: a payment request for speed, an invoice for the books.
With PayRequest, you can do both from the same dashboard, and even upgrade a paid payment request into a full invoice retroactively for your accounting.
FAQ
How do I request a payment online?
+
Sign up for a payment request tool like PayRequest, enter the customer's email or phone, the amount, and a short description. Share by email, SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram, QR code or copyable link. The customer clicks, picks a payment method (card, iDEAL, SEPA, Apple Pay) and pays through a secure hosted checkout. You get notified the moment the payment lands.
What's the best way to request payment from a client?
+
Use a dedicated payment request tool rather than emailing your IBAN. Send a clear request with amount, description and a one-click payment link. Enable automatic reminders. Use a professional template with your branding. Clients pay 3x faster from a one-click link than from a traditional invoice.
How do I politely request payment from a client?
+
Be specific, professional and direct. Mention the work, the exact amount, due date, and include a one-click payment link. Example: 'Hi [Name], here's the payment link for the [project]: [link]. Total is €[amount], due by [date]. Thanks for working with us!' Clarity gets paid faster.
What's the fastest way to receive a payment?
+
iDEAL (Netherlands) arrives within 1 hour. Cards via Stripe/Mollie typically fund within 2-3 business days. Apple Pay and Google Pay are instant from the customer's perspective. Avoid manual IBAN transfers — they're slow and have higher abandonment rates.
Can I request a payment via WhatsApp?
+
Yes. PayRequest lets you send payment requests directly via WhatsApp — your customer sees a preview card with the amount and taps to pay through a hosted checkout. Works for any amount, any currency, in 195+ countries. No WhatsApp Business account required.
Can I automate payment reminders?
+
Yes. PayRequest's automatic reminder system sends follow-ups on your schedule (daily, every 2 days, weekly, or monthly) with a configurable cap (1-50). Reminders stop the moment the customer pays. Best practice: 3-5 reminders over 2-3 weeks.
Is it free to request payments online?
+
PayRequest is free to start with no monthly fee. You pay 2% per successful payment (capped at €25 per transaction) on top of your provider's processing rate. The Free plan includes unlimited payment requests and every feature.
Related guides
Send your first payment request
Free to start. Email, SMS, WhatsApp or shareable link. Customers pay by card, iDEAL, SEPA or Apple Pay — no account needed.