Wise for Business Invoices: A Guide to Getting Paid Internationally
For US-based businesses and freelancers with international clients, invoicing is only half the battle. Getting that invoice paid quickly and without losing a chunk of it to bank fees and poor exchange rates is a major challenge. Wise provides a streamlined solution that makes international invoicing as simple as a domestic transaction, saving you time and money.
The Short Answer: How Wise Simplifies Invoicing
Wise is the best way to get your international invoices paid. By providing you with local bank account details in multiple currencies (like EUR, GBP, CAD), you can add them to your invoices, allowing your clients to pay you with a simple, free local bank transfer. This eliminates the high fees and delays of international wire transfers.
The Problem with Traditional International Invoicing
When you send an invoice from the US to a client in, say, the UK, and ask for a wire transfer to your US bank, you create friction for both sides:
- For Your Client: They have to initiate a costly and complicated international SWIFT transfer, often facing high fees from their bank. This makes paying you a hassle.
- For You: The transfer can take 5-7 business days to arrive, and your bank may charge you an incoming wire fee. Even worse, intermediary banks can take a cut along the way, so the amount you receive is less than what the client sent.
This process is slow, expensive, and unprofessional.
Make it easy for your clients to pay you. And keep more of what you earn.
Get Your Wise Business Account →The Step-by-Step Wise Invoicing Method
Open Multi-Currency Balances in Wise
In your Wise Business account, open balances for the currencies your clients use. This is a one-click process. For each balance, Wise instantly provides you with unique, local bank details.
Create a Professional Invoice
Use your existing invoicing software (like QuickBooks, FreshBooks, or even a simple template). Create the invoice in your client's currency (e.g., invoice a French client in EUR).
Pro-Tip: Invoicing in the client's local currency is a professional courtesy that makes it much easier for them to pay and process on their end.Add Your Wise Bank Details
In the "Payment Instructions" section of your invoice, instead of your US bank's SWIFT/wire details, add the local bank details from your Wise account. For a client in France, you would provide your Wise EUR account's IBAN.
Your Client Pays You Like a Local
Your client now sees a familiar set of bank details. They can pay your invoice with a standard, free local bank transfer (a SEPA transfer in Europe). The payment arrives in your Wise EUR balance, usually within 1-2 business days, with no fees deducted.
You Control the Funds
The money is now in your Wise account. You can hold it as EUR to pay European suppliers, convert it to USD at the real mid-market rate when you choose, or spend it using your Wise Business debit card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Wise integrate with accounting software like QuickBooks or Xero?
Yes, Wise Business accounts can be connected to accounting software like QuickBooks, Xero, and more. This automatically syncs your transactions across all your currency balances, making bookkeeping and reconciliation much simpler.
Can I send an invoice directly from Wise?
Yes, Wise has a "Request a Payment" feature that allows you to create a simple invoice or payment link that you can send directly to your client. This is great for simpler, one-off jobs.
What if my client still wants to pay me in USD?
That's fine too. You can provide them with your Wise USD account details (which include an ACH and Wire routing number). This is still often better than using your traditional bank, as Wise's fees for receiving wires are typically lower.
Conclusion: The Smartest Way to Bill Globally
Using Wise for international business invoices transforms a slow, expensive process into a fast and efficient one. It reduces the barriers for your clients to pay you and eliminates the surprise fees that eat into your profits. By adopting this modern workflow, you present a more professional image, improve your cash flow, and ensure you are getting paid the full value of the work you deliver.
Related Reading
- Wise for Freelancers: A Guide to Getting Paid Internationally
- Wise vs PayPal: The Definitive Fee & Speed Comparison
- Using Wise Virtual Cards for Business Expenses
Community Discussion
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