What Is Pay by Link? How It Works and Why More Businesses Are Switching

Common issues include chasing invoices, taking card details over the phone and reconciling payments after the fact.

In this article, we’ll explain what pay by link is, how it works in practice, and why it has become such a popular payment method. We’ll also look at how pay by link fits into Klipboard Money and why integrated payment links can have such a meaningful impact on cash flow and admin.

What is pay by link?

Pay by link is a digital payment method that enables a business to request payment by sending a secure URL directly to a customer. That link can be shared by email, SMS or messaging apps, and when the customer clicks it, they’re taken to a secure online checkout page where they can complete the payment.

Instead of asking customers to manually arrange a bank transfer or read out card details over the phone, pay by link mirrors the kind of checkout experience people are already familiar with from online shopping. Customers can pay at a time that suits them, on a device they’re comfortable using, with no additional setup required on their side.

Because the payment page is hosted securely by the payment provider, sensitive card details never pass through staff or internal systems. That makes pay by link not only more convenient, but also significantly more secure than many traditional payment methods.

How does pay by link work?

From the customer’s perspective, pay by link feels very straightforward. They receive a message with a link, click it, and pay.

Behind the scenes, the process follows a simple flow:

• A business generates a pay by link request inside their payment system or invoicing software, setting the amount and reference in advance.
• The payment link is sent to the customer via email, SMS or another communication channel.
• The customer clicks the link and completes the payment on a secure checkout page.
• Once payment is successful, the business receives confirmation and the funds are processed according to the provider’s settlement times.

Because the payment amount and reference are pre‑defined, pay by link removes much of the ambiguity that can delay payments or complicate reconciliation with other payment methods.

Why pay by link is growing in popularity

The growth of pay by link reflects a simple shift in expectations, with industry research showing that the global pay by link market is growing at around 17–19% per year.

Customers are used to paying online, quickly and on their own terms. When payments require extra steps - logging into banking apps, making manual transfers, or calling back later - delays creep in.

Pay by link removes that friction.

For businesses, pay by link helps remove several common payment bottlenecks. Payments tend to happen sooner because customers don’t need to leave the moment and “come back to it later”. The process is also far less admin‑heavy than raising invoices, taking phone payments, or manually matching bank transfers.

Payments can be taken immediately, without waiting for bank transfers or follow-up calls. Admin is reduced because payments are linked directly to the original request, and customers benefit from a clearer, simpler payment experience.

There’s also a growing awareness of the risk associated with taking card payments over the phone, often referred to as Mail Order / Telephone Order (MOTO) payments. Pay by link shifts payment entry to the customer and reduces exposure to fraud, chargebacks, and compliance burden.

Pay by link compared to traditional payment methods

When you compare pay by link to more traditional ways of getting paid, the differences quickly become clear.

For businesses that rely on deposits, staged payments, or remote transactions, pay by link offers a more efficient and predictable route to payment.

How pay by link works with Klipboard Money

With Klipboard Money, pay by link isn’t a separate tool. It’s built directly into the workflows your team already uses.

That means payments can be requested at the right moment – when a quote is approved, when a job is booked, or when work is completed – without switching systems or creating extra admin.

Payments are automatically linked to the correct invoice or job, giving your team clear visibility of what’s been paid and what’s outstanding, without manual reconciliation.

This integration removes the need to switch between platforms or manually match payments after the fact.

In practical terms, this means businesses can:

• Request payments in seconds.
• Secure deposits before work begins.
• Get paid faster at job completion.
• Reduce bad debt and no‑shows.
• Cut time spent on payment admin.

Pay by link becomes part of a joined‑up payment journey, rather than a disconnected step at the end.

Is pay by link secure?

When delivered through a compliant payment platform, pay by link is a highly secure way to take payments. Transactions are processed through encrypted, PCI‑compliant checkout pages, and card details are handled entirely by the payment provider.

For businesses, this reduces exposure to card data, lowers compliance burden, and provides greater protection against fraud and chargebacks compared to manual payment methods.

Is pay by link right for your business?

Pay by link is particularly well suited to businesses that take payments remotely, rely on invoices or deposits, or want to reduce the time spent chasing customers for payment.

If your current payment process still involves phone calls, manual invoicing, or disconnected systems, pay by link can deliver immediate improvements in efficiency, cash flow, and customer experience.

If you are already a Klipboard customer, we can set up pay by link in minutes within your business management software, free of charge. Simply contact the Klipboard Money team here.