Guides
How to get paid online by your customers with a payment link
Short answer
Create a payment link for the exact charge, with a clear description and amount, and send it where you are already talking to the customer: WhatsApp, chat or email. They open it on their phone, pay by card on a secure page and you both get proof. For larger jobs, charge a deposit first and the balance at the end. Before choosing a tool, check what it charges per payment, how payments are recorded and whether it fits your quotes and receipts.
Key points
- A payment link opens a card payment page for one specific charge.
- Send it in the same conversation where the customer said yes.
- Describe what is being paid, so nobody has to ask later.
- Deposits and balances keep big jobs safe for you and fair for the customer.
- Make sure every payment lands in your records next to the right customer.
What a payment link is and why it beats chasing transfers
A payment link is a web address that opens a payment page for one charge. You send it, the customer taps it, enters their card and pays. Nobody dictates account numbers, nobody sends a blurry screenshot as proof, and you do not have to check your bank statement three times to see if the money arrived.
It works for almost any business that charges at a distance: a contractor collecting a deposit, a consultant charging a session, a bakery taking an order over WhatsApp, a clinic charging a video consultation. The customer pays at the moment they are most willing, which is right after they agreed.
How to charge with a payment link, step by step
The details change from one tool to another, but a clean charge always follows the same path.
- Define the chargeWrite what is being paid in plain words: the product, the service or the deposit for a job, with the amount and the currency.
- Tie it to a quote, receipt or appointmentA link linked to a document is easier to track than a loose amount. You know what it was for months later.
- Send it where the conversation isIf the customer said yes on WhatsApp, send the link there. Moving them to another channel adds a step where people drop off.
- Let the customer pay from their phoneThey open the link, pay by card and see a confirmation. You should not need to ask for proof.
- Check that it was recordedThe payment should appear in your records with the customer and the document it belongs to.
Deposits, balances and paying in parts
For jobs that take days or materials, charging everything at the end is a risk, and charging everything at the start can scare a new customer. A deposit splits the difference: the customer commits, you cover your costs, and the balance is paid when the work is delivered.
The key is keeping track. When a receipt shows what was paid and what is still pending, you never have to guess whether someone already sent the second part. The same logic works for appointments: charging when the customer books protects the time you set aside for them.
| Method | What the customer does | What you have to do |
|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Copies your details and sends proof | Check the bank and match it by hand |
| Cash on delivery | Pays in person | Handle change and record it later |
| Payment link | Taps the link and pays by card | Send the link and confirm it was recorded |
| Online store | Adds to cart and pays at checkout | Keep products, prices and stock up to date |
What to check before choosing how to charge
Most tools look the same at first glance. The differences show up after a few weeks of real use, so ask these questions first.
- Cost model: a monthly fee, a commission on each payment, or both. What makes sense depends on how often you charge.
- Records: does each payment land next to the customer and the document, or do you still copy it by hand?
- Deposits: can you charge part now and the rest later without losing track?
- Channels: can you send the link by WhatsApp, chat and email from the same place?
- Who can send it: only you, or also your team and your assistant?
- Refunds: how you return money if a job is cancelled, and how clear your policy is to the customer.
Keeping payments safe for you and your customer
Never ask a customer to send their card number by message or email, and never type it in for them. A payment link exists so the card details go straight into a secure payment page, not into your chats. Tell customers which link to expect, so they can spot a fake one.
Keep a clear trail: the quote they accepted, the receipt, the messages where they agreed. If a customer later disputes a charge with their bank, that trail is what shows the service was agreed and delivered.
How Autorys handles online payments
Autorys Online Payments gives you card payment links for your quotes, receipts, appointments and sales. The customer pays from their phone and the payment is logged in your CRM with that customer, so you see who paid and who still owes you. Receipts handle deposits and balances. When a customer accepts a quote online, it moves to a receipt and payment in the same flow.
Your team sends the link from the CRM, and if you use Autorys AI on WhatsApp, Telegram or your website chat, the AI can send it during the conversation. With Autorys online booking, appointments can be charged in advance. If you sell products, an Autorys online store comes with a shopping cart and card payments. Online Payments has no monthly fee: a commission is charged on each payment you collect.
Frequently asked questions
Is a payment link safe for my customer?
Yes, as long as the card details go straight into the payment page and never through your chats. Ask customers to pay only through the link you send and never to share their card number by message. Keep the quote and receipt as proof.
Can I send a payment link on WhatsApp?
Yes. A payment link is just a web address, so you can send it on WhatsApp, Telegram, website chat or email. With Autorys, your team sends it from the CRM, and the AI that handles your chats can send it when the customer is ready.
How do I charge a deposit and the rest later?
Create a receipt for the whole job, charge the deposit with a link now and the balance with another link when you deliver. In the Autorys CRM, receipts show what has been paid and what is still pending for each customer.
Does Autorys charge a monthly fee for payment links?
No. Autorys Online Payments has no monthly fee. A commission is charged on each payment you collect. Karla, the Autorys AI assistant, gives you the details and sends your quote right away on WhatsApp, Telegram or the website chat.
Do I need an online store to get paid online?
Not if you sell services or custom work: a payment link for each quote, receipt or appointment is enough. A store makes sense when you sell many products with fixed prices and want customers to buy without asking first.
