Generate an online payment link
A payment link is a secure URL a client can click to pay an invoice online — by card or ACH through BuddyPay. Use it for phone conversations, text messages, and custom email follow-ups.
Before you start
Section titled “Before you start”You need BuddyPay set up. See Set up BuddyPay.
- Open the invoice you want to collect payment on.
- Click More Actions in the top-right → Send Payment Link.
- (Optional) Enter a specific amount if the client is only paying part of the invoice. Leave blank for the full remaining balance.
- Click Create Link.
- Copy the link and share it however you like:
- Paste into a text message
- Email it with a personal note
- Read it over the phone
What your client sees
Section titled “What your client sees”The link opens a secure payment page with:
- A summary of what they’re paying for
- Payment method options: credit/debit card and ACH bank transfer
- An option to save their payment method for future invoices
Once they pay, the page confirms the payment and emails them a receipt.
What happens next
Section titled “What happens next”- The invoice status moves to In-Progress while the payment is being processed.
- Once the payment clears (usually instantly for cards, a few business days for ACH), the invoice updates to Paid.
- The payment appears on the invoice’s Activity log with the method used and a transaction reference.
- Settled funds are deposited into the bank account connected to BuddyPay on the standard processor schedule.
What’s the difference between a payment link and just sending the invoice by email?
A regular invoice email includes a link to the invoice page (which has a Pay Now button). A payment link from Send Payment Link is a standalone URL you can copy anywhere — text message, separate email, dictated over the phone — without sending the full invoice email again. Use payment links for follow-ups; use Send an invoice for the original delivery.
Can clients pay only part of the invoice with a payment link?
Yes — when you create the link, enter a specific amount instead of leaving it blank. The page will collect exactly that amount and the invoice updates to Partially Paid.
Do payment links expire?
No — they stay valid until the invoice is fully paid. If you cancel, void, or rewrite the underlying invoice, generate a new link so the client doesn’t accidentally pay against the old one.
Can I send a payment link without an invoice?
No — every payment link is tied to a specific invoice in Service Buddy. If you want to collect money before there’s an invoice (a deposit before the measure, for example), require a deposit on the quote instead. See Collect deposits on quotes.
What if the client says the link doesn’t work?
Most “broken link” complaints are spam-folder issues or copy-paste errors. Resend the link directly from the invoice with More Actions → Send Payment Link and confirm the URL goes through cleanly. If the link itself errors when opened, see Payment failures.
Do I need BuddyPay set up to use payment links?
Yes — payment links rely on BuddyPay to actually accept the payment. Whether your account runs on Rainforest (US) or Stripe (international), the Send Payment Link flow is the same. See Set up BuddyPay.