How to accept payments from international customers as a US business
International customers can pay by card, PayPal, wire or local bank transfer. Card and PayPal are easiest for small sales; local bank details are cheapest for invoices.
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"How to accept payments from international customers" is one of the top completions after "how to accept payments from". US businesses usually start with cards and move invoices to bank transfer once volumes grow.
Four ways
| Method | Customer's cost | Your cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Card (Stripe, US pricing) | None | 2.9% + 30¢, +1.5% international, +1% conversion | Online checkout |
| PayPal | None | Rate + 1.50% international + 3.00% conversion spread | Small sales, trust |
| International wire | Their bank's fee | Possible incoming and intermediary fees | Large one-offs |
| Local bank details in their currency | Domestic transfer | Low | B2B invoices |
A $5,000 invoice to a UK client
- By card on Stripe: about $145 base, $75 international, $50 conversion. About $270.
- By wire: the client pays a fee, and the amount may arrive short.
- By Faster Payments to GBP details: arrives in full in pounds. Convert when you choose.
Practical setup
- Keep a card processor for online sales.
- Put local bank details on invoices for your main customer countries.
- Hold those currencies if you have costs in them.
Paying into the United States: the local rail
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Local rail | ACH for batch payments; RTP and FedNow for instant transfers |
| Run by | Nacha for ACH; The Clearing House for RTP; the Federal Reserve for FedNow |
| Settlement | Same-day ACH within the business day, standard ACH the next; RTP and FedNow in seconds, 24/7, where both banks take part |
Source: Nacha: Same Day ACH. Checked when this guide was last updated; the scheme's own page has the current figures.
Where Rivet fits
Rivet gives registered companies USD details on Starter and EUR and GBP details on Growth, in the company's name, so customers in Europe and the UK pay domestically. Scale adds CAD, HKD and 25 more currencies. Rivet is not a bank; regulated partner institutions hold the funds. See how to receive international payments as a business.
Questions people ask
What is the best way to accept international payments?
For online checkout, a card processor. For B2B invoices, local bank details in the customer's currency, which are cheapest for both sides.
How much does Stripe charge for international cards?
2.9% plus 30 cents, plus 1.5% for international cards and 1% if conversion is required, on US standard pricing.
Should I invoice in USD or the customer's currency?
Invoicing in their currency often gets you paid faster. Holding that currency lets you avoid converting until you choose.
Do I need a foreign bank account?
No. Multi-currency providers give US companies euro, sterling and other local details in their own name.
Sources
Alexia compares the accounts, cards and payment tools companies weigh before they switch, and writes Rivet's market guides for founders in a specific country. Prices in Alexia's comparisons come from each provider's own pricing page on the date given in the article, rules come from the regulator or tax authority that sets them, and every source is listed at the end.
More from Alexia M. →This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and fees change; check the sources above and the provider’s current terms before you act on them.
- international payments
- stripe
- paypal
- local bank details
- us business
