Guide
2026-09-27
Zelle, ACH, Venmo, or a check: the US payment note
US clients delay invoices when the payment method does not match how their company is allowed to pay. Put the rail they can use in every reminder.
A lot of unpaid US invoices are payable in theory and blocked in practice. The freelancer wrote “Zelle or Venmo.” The client’s company can only pay by ACH or check. The bill sits until someone emails for routing numbers, and that email waits over a weekend.
Ask, before the invoice goes out, how they pay contractors. Then put that method in the payment note so every reminder repeats it.
What each method is good for
ACH or bank transfer is what many companies can do. Include the account name, account number, routing number, and the invoice number as the memo. Expect one to three business days after they initiate it.
Zelle is fast between people, but many business accounts cannot Zelle a personal profile, and daily limits are easy to hit on a large invoice. Offer it only if the client has already paid you that way.
Venmo and PayPal are fine when the client uses them as a person or a small business. Say whether you need “goods and services” or a friends transfer, and who covers the fee, or the amount that arrives will be short.
A check is slow and gets lost. If they insist, put the payable-to name and mailing address on the invoice and ask them to email the check number and mailed date.
Put it in the chase, not only the PDF
People reply to the reminder and never reopen the PDF. A useful US chase says: invoice number, amount in USD, due date, and the one way to pay.
Example: “Hi Alex, invoice INV-18 for $2,400 was due May 15. Please ACH to the account in the note, memo INV-18, or reply with the payment date. Thanks.”
Save that note on the due in JobPay so the next draft already contains it. Then mark paid only after the credit hits, not when they tap send.
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