PayPal Business: How to Request Money
Three ways to get paid with PayPal: Request Money, Invoicing, and PayPal.Me. Learn which method fits your business and how to minimize fees.
3 Ways to Request Money with PayPal
PayPal offers multiple ways to request payments. Each has different features, fees, and best use cases.
Request Money
Send a simple payment request via email. Best for quick, informal requests between individuals or small amounts.
- Email-based delivery
- Simple amount request
- PayPal notification to recipient
- 10-day expiry
- No itemization
- Limited customization
- No automatic reminders
PayPal Invoicing
Create professional invoices with your logo, itemized line items, and payment terms. Best for business transactions.
- Professional branded invoices
- Itemized line items
- Partial payments & tips
- Payment reminders
- Invoice templates
- Higher fees than Request Money
- More setup time
PayPal.Me
Your personal PayPal link that anyone can use to pay you. Share it anywhere — no request needed.
- Permanent shareable link
- Pre-set amounts in URL
- Works without PayPal account
- No expiry
- Share anywhere
- One link per account
- Can't change username
- No payment tracking
Invoice vs Request Money vs PayPal.Me
Which PayPal method should you use? Here's a quick comparison:
| Feature | Request Money | Invoice | PayPal.Me |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professionalism | Basic | High | Basic |
| Itemization | No | Yes | No |
| Branding/Logo | No | Yes | No |
| Payment Reminders | Manual | Automatic | Manual |
| Expiry | 10 days | Custom | Never |
| Partial Payments | No | Yes | No |
| Fee (Domestic) | 2.99% | 3.49% | 2.99% |
| Guest Checkout | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Setup Effort | Low | Medium | Low |
PayPal Request Money Fees (2025)
PayPal fees vary by payment type, location, and payment method. Here are the current rates:
| Type | Domestic | International | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Send/Request (Goods & Services) | 2.99% + €0.35 | 3.99% + fixed fee | Lowest fee option |
| PayPal Invoicing | 3.49% + €0.35 | 4.49% + fixed fee | Professional invoices |
| PayPal Checkout | 3.49% + €0.35 | 4.49% + fixed fee | Website/app integration |
| QR Code Payments | 2.29% + €0.09 | N/A | In-person only |
Fees as of January 2025. Rates may vary by country and account type. Always check PayPal's fee page for current rates.
How to Request Money with PayPal
Send a Money Request
Log in to PayPal
Go to paypal.com or open the PayPal app and sign in to your account.
Click Send & Request
Select the 'Send & Request' option from the main menu, then click the 'Request' tab.
Enter Recipient Details
Enter the recipient's email address or phone number. You can request from multiple people at once.
Set Amount & Description
Enter the amount you're requesting and add a note describing what the payment is for.
Send Request
Review the details and click 'Request Now'. PayPal will email the recipient with a link to pay.
When to Use Each Method
Request Money
- Splitting bills with friends
- Quick payments from known contacts
- Small amounts under €100
- Informal business transactions
Best for speed and simplicity when you don't need a formal record.
PayPal Invoice
- Client work and freelancing
- Itemized services or products
- Tax documentation needed
- Recurring business clients
- Professional appearance matters
Use when you need professional documentation or plan to claim business expenses.
PayPal.Me
- Tips and donations
- Social media payments
- Event registrations
- Quick sales via messaging
- Website payment button
Perfect when you want a permanent link to share anywhere without creating new requests.
PayPal Payment Request Limitations
10-Day Expiry
Money requests expire after 10 days. If unpaid, you must send a new request. Invoices can have custom due dates.
Single Payment Provider
Customers can only pay via PayPal or card through PayPal. No iDEAL, SEPA, Bancontact, or other methods.
Limited Automation
No automatic payment reminders for Request Money. Invoicing has basic reminders but limited customization.
No Multi-Currency Invoicing
You can't easily invoice in multiple currencies. PayPal handles conversion at their rates with additional fees.
Fixed PayPal.Me Username
Once you set your PayPal.Me username, it cannot be changed. Choose carefully.
No Payment Tracking
Limited visibility into whether recipients opened or viewed your request — only if they paid.
Better Alternative: PayRequest
PayRequest lets you accept PayPal plus 20+ other payment methods including iDEAL, SEPA, Bancontact, and cards via Stripe and Mollie. Get professional invoices, automatic reminders, and real tracking.
PayPal vs PayRequest
| Payment providers | PayPal only | PayPal + Stripe + Mollie |
| Payment methods | PayPal, Card | 20+ methods (iDEAL, SEPA, etc.) |
| Professional invoices | Basic | Fully branded |
| Automatic reminders | Limited | Email + SMS |
| Payment tracking | Paid/Not paid | Opens, clicks, paid |
| Subscriptions | Basic | Advanced recurring billing |
Frequently Asked Questions
Start Getting Paid with PayPal
Whether you use PayPal directly or combine it with PayRequest for more payment options, getting paid online has never been easier.