How to Accept Online Payments
Guide • Canada • last updated October 2026
Ways to let clients pay invoices online, the fees and tradeoffs, and how online payment gets you paid faster.
The easiest way to get paid faster is to make paying effortless. Online payments turn an invoice into a one-click transaction. This guide covers the options, the fees, and how it speeds up cash flow. Add payments in the FacilInvoice app.
Online payment options
The common choices are credit and debit cards, and bank transfers (such as pre-authorized debit or e-transfer). Cards are instant and familiar; bank transfers are cheaper for large amounts. Offering more than one option removes excuses not to pay.
Fees and tradeoffs
Card processing carries a percentage fee, typically a few percent, while bank transfers are often flat and lower. Weigh the fee against getting paid days or weeks sooner, which is usually worth it. You can choose to absorb the fee or build it into your pricing.
How it speeds up payment
A pay-now button on the invoice removes the friction of manual transfers and gets many invoices paid the day they arrive. Combined with reminders, it sharply cuts your average days-to-paid.
Setting it up
Connect a payment provider in your invoicing software, enable the methods you want, and send invoices with a payment link. Reconcile payments automatically so your records stay clean.
A worked example
A studio adds card payment to its invoices. A $2,000 invoice costs about $60 in fees but is paid in two days instead of three weeks, so the faster cash easily justifies the cost.
Choosing the right mix of methods
Offer the methods your clients actually use. Cards are instant and expected for smaller amounts; bank transfers and pre-authorized debit are cheaper for larger or recurring bills. Giving clients a choice removes the most common excuse for a late payment, which is friction at the moment of paying.
Understanding the fees
Card processing usually costs a percentage plus a small fixed fee per transaction, while bank transfers are often a low flat fee. Decide whether you absorb the cost or build it into your pricing, and weigh it against the real benefit: getting paid in days instead of weeks is almost always worth a couple of percent.
Keeping payments secure and reconciled
Use a reputable payment provider so card data never touches your own records, and let the provider handle compliance. Automatic reconciliation, matching each payment to its invoice and issuing a receipt, keeps your books clean and saves hours of manual matching every month.
Getting set up
- Connect a payment provider in your invoicing software.
- Enable cards for speed and bank transfer for larger bills.
- Add a pay-now link to every invoice.
- Turn on automatic receipts and reconciliation.
Passing on or absorbing the fee
Every business that takes cards faces the same choice: absorb the processing fee or pass it on. In Canada you can surcharge credit card payments within set rules, but many businesses simply build the cost into their pricing to keep the checkout clean. Whichever you choose, be transparent, a surprise fee at payment time causes more friction than it saves.
For large or recurring invoices, steer clients toward lower-cost bank transfer or pre-authorized debit, and keep cards for the convenience cases where speed matters most.
Online payment checklist
- Offer cards and bank transfer.
- Decide clearly whether you absorb or pass on fees.
- Add a pay-now link to every invoice.
- Reconcile payments automatically.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best ways to accept invoice payments online in Canada?
The common options are credit and debit cards for speed, and bank transfer, e-transfer or pre-authorized debit for lower fees on larger or recurring bills. Offering more than one removes the client's excuse to delay. A pay-now link on the invoice gets many paid the same day.
How much do online payment fees cost?
Card processing typically costs a few percent plus a small fixed fee per transaction, while bank transfers are often a low flat fee. Weigh the cost against getting paid days or weeks sooner, which usually makes it worthwhile.
Can I pass the credit card fee on to my clients in Canada?
Yes, surcharging credit card payments is allowed within set rules, though many businesses build the cost into their pricing to keep checkout simple. Whichever you choose, be transparent, since a surprise fee at payment time causes friction.