Getting-paid guides · 07
When a client asks how to pay you, don't just send an accountThe first time you get paid from overseas: what info each channel needs, and what a clear invoice looks like.
The client is ready to pay and asks you, "Can you send me your payment details?" Plenty of newcomers reply with a single email or account number and leave it at that, only for the client to pay the wrong thing, get stuck halfway, or have the money bounce back. Payment details that are clear and correct are what let the money arrive smoothly.
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01Give the wrong info and the money won't reach you
Payment details are not "just send any account number". A mistyped email, an unstated currency, a USDT chain that doesn't line up: at best the money arrives late, at worst it bounces back or even gets lost. Spending one extra minute giving the info in full and correct saves you days of back-and-forth.
02What to give for each channel
| Channel | Key info to give the client |
|---|---|
| PayPal | Your receiving email; note that it's for receiving payment; agree on who covers the fee |
| Wise | The local receiving details for the currency (account number / routing, etc., as Wise gives you); the payee name must match the account |
| Payoneer | Your Payoneer receiving account info, or your sign-up email if the client also uses Payoneer |
| USDT | Receiving address plus the exact chain; always align the chain with the client and check the address character by character |
USDT is the one most likely to go wrong: if the address or the chain doesn't match, the money can be lost, and it's irreversible. See guide 4 for the details.
03What a clear invoice should contain
- Your name / studio name, matching the receiving account.
- The client's name, invoice number, and date.
- The service, quantity, unit price, and total, with the currency spelled out.
- The payment method and the receiving details it needs.
- The payment deadline, and a note on who covers the fee. A stated deadline is what makes an invoice overdue in the first place; the guide on chasing an overdue invoice picks up from there.
A clear invoice isn't just about looking professional; it's also your record if a dispute ever comes up (see guide 10).
If the client is in the US, their finance team will often ask for a W-8BEN before the first payment, to confirm you are not a US person. Having it ready alongside your payment details saves a round of emails; the W-8BEN guide goes through it line by line.
04Three things to re-read before you hit send
- Currency: is it spelled out after the amount whether it's US dollars or something else? Don't make the client guess.
- Matching account name: is the payee name exactly the same as the one registered on your account?
- USDT chain and address: copy and paste, compare the first and last characters, and confirm in writing with the client which chain you're using.
05Don't send sensitive info over unsafe channels
Receiving-account details are fine to send through your normal channel of communication with the client. But stay alert: if a "support agent" or a stranger comes to you asking for your password, verification code, private key, or recovery phrase, that is always a scam; legitimate payments never need any of that. What you give the client is only the kind of info used to receive money, such as a receiving address or account number, never the kind used to log in or touch your account.
06Common mistakes when sharing payment details
Just give an account number; the client will figure out the rest.
If the currency, account name, and chain aren't stated clearly, the client can easily pay the wrong thing. Giving the info in full is how you save yourself the rework.
Sending an invoice is too formal; small jobs don't need one.
Even a one-line, simple invoice cuts misunderstandings and leaves a record that speaks for you if there's a dispute.
07FAQ
The client is in a different country; does the info change?
A channel's key info generally stays the same, but the currency and the client's preferred payment method may differ. When in doubt, go by the official receiving details your payment platform gives you.
Do I have to use dedicated invoicing software?
No. As long as you list the items it should contain clearly, a document or an email works fine. What matters is that the info is complete and can be kept on file.
08What to read next
Fees, rules and regional availability are whatever each official page shows in real time.