Pay by link UK: how it works and which businesses should use it

Getting paid should be simple. But for many UK small businesses, it's anything but. You finish a job, send an invoice, and then wait — chasing emails, leaving voicemails, wondering when the money will land.

Pay by link changes that. It's one of the most practical payment tools available to small businesses today, and most people still don't know it exists.

This guide explains exactly how pay by link works, which businesses benefit most, and how to start using it.

What is pay by link?

Pay by link is exactly what it sounds like. You generate a payment link and send it to your customer — by text, email, WhatsApp, or any other channel. The customer clicks the link, enters their card details, and pays. You get notified. Done.

There's no card machine involved. No payment terminal to carry around. No need for a payment gateway on your website. Just a link, sent in seconds, that lets anyone pay you from their phone or computer.

The link takes the customer to a secure, hosted payment page — usually branded to your business — where they can pay by card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.

Why pay by link is growing in the UK

A few years ago, pay by link was mainly used by e-commerce businesses and large retailers. Now it's become a practical tool for trades, wellness, hospitality, professional services, and anyone who invoices clients or takes bookings.

The shift has happened for a few reasons:

• More customers expect to pay digitally — and want to do it quickly
• Mobile payments have made it natural to click a link and pay on your phone
• Small businesses are looking for faster alternatives to BACS transfers and cheques
• Payment platforms have made it easier than ever to generate and send links

The result: pay by link is now a mainstream payment option for UK SMEs across almost every sector.

Which businesses benefit most from pay by link?

Pay by link works particularly well in situations where you can't hand a card machine to the customer in person, or where you want to streamline the payment process.

Tradespeople and field service businesses

Plumbers, electricians, builders, cleaners — anyone who works on-site can text a payment link when the job is done. The customer pays from their phone, you get notified immediately, and there's no awkward conversation about cash or waiting for a bank transfer.

Pay by link also works brilliantly for collecting deposits before a job starts. Send the link with the booking confirmation and the deposit is secured before you set foot on-site.

Salons and wellness businesses

For salons, beauty therapists, and personal trainers, pay by link solves the problem of clients who want to pay remotely — for sessions booked in advance, packages, or gift cards. It's also useful for handling cancellations where a client needs to settle a no-show fee.

Hospitality and event businesses

Restaurants, caterers, and event venues can use pay by link for group booking deposits, event payments, and outstanding balances. Send a link after the event and avoid the awkwardness of chasing a table for payment at the end of a long night.

Freelancers and professional services

Consultants, designers, photographers, and anyone who invoices clients can include a payment link directly in their invoice. Instead of waiting for a BACS transfer that might arrive whenever, the client pays by card in seconds.

Retail and pop-up businesses

For market stalls, pop-up shops, and businesses that don't carry a card machine everywhere, a payment link covers transactions when you're not carrying your usual setup.

How to send a pay by link: step by step

The process is straightforward with the right platform.

• Log in to your payments dashboard (on your phone or computer)
• Create a new payment link — enter the amount and a description (optional)
• Copy and share the link — paste it into a text, WhatsApp message, or email
• Customer clicks and pays — on their phone or computer, via card or digital wallet
• You get notified and the money is on its way

The whole process from your end takes about 30 seconds.

With Stored, you can generate payment links from your dashboard and share them instantly. Payments land in your account with next-day settlement (Monday to Friday) — so you're not waiting around for the money to arrive.

Pay by link vs other payment methods

It's worth understanding how pay by link fits alongside other tools.

Pay by link vs card machine: A card machine requires the customer to be physically present. Pay by link works remotely — useful for deposits, remote clients, or situations where you've already left the site.

Pay by link vs bank transfer: Bank transfers require your customer to log into their banking app, enter your account details manually, and wait for the transfer to process. Pay by link is faster and far more likely to get paid promptly.

Pay by link vs invoice with BACS details: Traditional invoices often sit unpaid for weeks. An invoice with a payment link embedded means the customer can pay in seconds without leaving their inbox. Payment rates and speed both improve significantly.

Pay by link vs setting up a full e-commerce website: A payment link lets you take card payments online without building or maintaining a website. It's the fastest way to get started with online payment collection.

What to look for in a pay by link provider

Not all pay by link tools are equal. Here's what to check before choosing.

Ease of use

Generating a link should take seconds, not minutes. If the process is complicated, you won't use it consistently.

Payment methods accepted

Your customer should be able to pay by card (credit and debit), Apple Pay, and Google Pay. More options means fewer abandoned payments.

Security and compliance

The payment page should be hosted securely (HTTPS) and fully PCI DSS compliant. Your customer's card data should never touch your systems.

Settlement speed

How quickly does the money arrive? Next-day settlement is the gold standard for SMEs managing cash flow.

Fees

Check the transaction fee for pay by link payments. Some providers charge more for online payments than in-person ones.

Branding

A branded payment page looks more professional and builds customer trust. Check whether you can add your logo and business name.

Common questions about pay by link

Is pay by link safe?

Yes — when you use a reputable payment platform. The payment page is hosted by the provider and is fully encrypted. Your customer's card details are processed securely and never stored by you.

Can I set a payment link to expire?

Most platforms let you set an expiry date on links — useful if you're offering a time-limited offer or want to ensure a deposit is collected by a specific date.

Can I send the same link to multiple customers?

Some platforms offer "payment links" that work for one customer and one amount, while others offer "payment pages" that can be shared more broadly. Check what your provider supports.

Do I need a website?

No. Pay by link works entirely through the hosted payment page. You don't need a website, a payment gateway, or any technical setup.

How Stored makes pay by link simple

Stored's pay by link tool is built for UK SMEs who want to get paid quickly without the complexity of a full e-commerce setup.

With Stored, you can:

• Generate a payment link in seconds from your dashboard
• Share it via any channel — text, email, WhatsApp, social media
• Accept card payments, Apple Pay, and Google Pay
• Get notified when payment is made
• Receive funds with next-day settlement

Online payments with Stored are processed at 1.0% — straightforward, with no hidden charges. In-person rates start at 0.8%, with low-cost hardware from £1 per month. Bespoke rates are available for businesses processing over £200k.

It's part of the wider Stored platform, which also includes card terminals, digital invoicing, QR payments, and a virtual terminal — so however your customers want to pay, you're covered.

Start getting paid faster

Pay by link is one of the quickest wins available to any small business that invoices clients, takes deposits, or works remotely. It takes seconds to set up and immediately reduces the friction around getting paid.

Sign up to Stored or book a quick demo to see how pay by link fits into your payment setup.

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